Last names offer a glimpse into the rich history and cultural tapestry of a nation, and Pakistan is no different. As the fifth-most populous country in the world, with over 212.2 million residents and a significant Muslim population, Pakistan showcases a diverse array of surnames that reflect its intricate heritage. These surnames can be broadly categorized into three groups: those adhering to Arabic naming conventions, tribal identifiers, and ancestral names. The variations in these names often stem from the family’s ethnicity, the languages spoken, and their geographic roots, with many names having Persian, Turkish, or Arabic influences.
Pakistani surnames frequently feature prefixes or suffixes that convey additional familial information. For instance, the prefix “Haji-” signifies that an individual has completed the pilgrimage to Mecca, while “Mir-” denotes a noble lineage. Similarly, “Syed-” indicates descent from the family of the Prophet Muhammad. On the other hand, suffixes like “-dad” mean “given by,” and “-bakhsh” translates to “granted by.” Explore the following popular Pakistani last names along with their meanings and origins:
- Aamir
Meaning: Abundant, full
Origin: Urdu - Abdul
Meaning: Servant of
Origin: Arabic - Achakzai
Meaning: Son of Achak
Origin: Pashto - Adil
Meaning: Just
Origin: Arabic, Urdu - Advani
Meaning: Descendant of Adu
Origin: Indian, Sindhi - Agarwal
Meaning: Originating from Agroha in Haryana, India
Origin: Hindi/Punjabi - Akhtar
Meaning: Star
Origin: Persian - Alakozai
Meaning: Son of Alako
Origin: Pashto - Alam
Meaning: World, universe
Origin: Arabic, Bengali, Urdu, Persian - Arora
Meaning: From the ancient city of Aror, now in Sindh, Pakistan
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi - Ashiq
Meaning: Lover, admirer
Origin: Punjabi, Urdu - Azmat
Meaning: Glory, majesty
Origin: Urdu - Bai
Meaning: Lady
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Baig
Meaning: Ruler, chief
Origin: Indian, Turkish - Bajwa
Meaning: Great hawk
Origin: Persian - Bakshi
Meaning: Paymaster, scribe
Origin: Indian, Bengali, Punjabi - Bansal
Meaning: Lineage, bamboo
Origin: Indian, Sanskrit - Begum
Meaning: Lady, madam
Origin: Indian, Persian - Bhagat
Meaning: Devotee, worshipper
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Bhasin
Meaning: Ray of light
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Bux
Meaning: Portion, fortune
Origin: Urdu, Persian, Sindhi - Chand/Chanda
Meaning: Moon
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu - Chauhan
Meaning: Hero
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Danyal
Meaning: Known intellectual
Origin: Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Turkish - Dass
Meaning: To dare
Origin: Indian, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu - Daud
Meaning: Dear friends
Origin: Arabic, Urdu - Dawlatzai
Meaning: Son of Dawlat
Origin: Afghanistan and western Pakistan - Dawood
Meaning: Dear
Origin: Arabic, Urdu - Dayal
Meaning: Compassionate
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi - Devi
Meaning: Goddess
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Dhawan
Meaning: Runner, messenger
Origin: Indian, Punjabi, Hindi - Gandhi
Meaning: Perfume seller
Origin: Sanskrit - Gul
Meaning: Flower
Origin: Pakistani, Pashto - Haq
Meaning: Real, true
Origin: Arabic - Imam
Meaning: Leader, guide
Origin: Arabic, Bengali - Jafri
Meaning: Yellow flower
Origin: Persian, Arabic - Jha
Meaning: Teacher
Origin: Sanskrit - Junejo
Meaning: Sons of Juno
Origin: Pakistani, Sindhi - Kakar
Meaning: Name of a Pashtun tribe
Origin: Pashto, Urdu, Hindi - Kamaliazad
Meaning: Perfection of the free
Origin: Pakistani, Persian - Kapoor
Meaning: Camphor
Origin: Indian, Hindi, Punjabi - Kazimi
Meaning: Descendant of Imam Musa al-Kadhim
Origin: Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India - Khalil
Meaning: Friend
Origin: Arabic - Khalsa
Meaning: Pure
Origin: Indian (Sikh), Persian - Khan
Meaning: Ruler or chief
Origin: Turkish - Khokhar
Meaning: Agricultural community name
Origin: India - Kumari
Meaning: Young girl, princess
Origin: Indian, Hindi - Mahajan
Meaning: Great number of people
Origin: Sanskrit - Malek
Meaning: People from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh
Origin: India, Pakistan - Musharaff
Meaning: Elevated, honored
Origin: Arabic - Niazi
Meaning: Desire, friend
Origin: Persian - Pathak
Meaning: Learner, reader
Origin: Sanskrit - Qayyum
Meaning: Sustainer
Origin: Arabic - Rajput
Meaning: Prince, son of a king
Origin: Sanskrit - Seth
Meaning: Appointed one
Origin: Hindi - Siddiqi
Meaning: Truthful
Origin: Arabic - Sinai
Meaning: Writer
Origin: Arabic, Hebrew - Soltani
Meaning: Pertaining to a ruler
Origin: Arabic - Srour
Meaning: Joy
Origin: Arabic - Sulaiman
Meaning: Man of peace
Origin: Arabic - Sultan
Meaning: Ruler
Origin: Arabic - Syed
Meaning: Leader, master
Origin: Arabic - Tabatabai
Meaning: Rightly guided
Origin: Arabic - Tabet
Meaning: Strong, well established
Origin: Arabic
Delve deeper into the captivating world of Pakistani names and explore the beauty of their meanings. If you’re curious about other cultural names, check out our post on home insemination kits or discover related resources from Kindbody.
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In summary, the vast landscape of Pakistani surnames reflects the country’s diverse ethnicities and historical influences. From Arabic origins to tribal identifiers, these names tell stories of lineage, culture, and identity. For those interested in the deeper meanings behind names, this collection serves as a rich resource for exploration.