The most common surnames in Kazakhstan. Kazakh names Kazakh surnames nowadays

How often do you meet namesakes? Personally, I've met it a couple of times at most. I think that I would meet them more often in Russia. Why would I do this? The thing is that the other day the press service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported that the most common surnames in the country were the surnames Akhmetov, Omarov and Kim..

The surname Akhmetov (Akhmetova) was in first place in popularity; there were 73,627 people with this surname. The second most common name was Omarov (Omarova) - 45,123 people. And finally, closing the top three among common surnames are people with the surname Kim, of whom there are 42,274. In fourth place are 41,068 Ospanovs, and in fifth place are 39,296 Ivanovs. The following is the list: Aliyevs - 36,084, Suleimenovs - 33,940, Iskakovs, Abrahmanovs, Kalievs, Sadykovs, the Ibraevs close the top ten, there are 26,531 of them. The list of the most common surnames also included the Kuznetsovs, Popovs, Nurgalievs, Sultanovs, Karimovs, Smagulovs, Yusupovs, Lee, Tsoi, Bolat, Bondarenko and Kusainovs.

Surprisingly, the most common surname in the world is Lee. There are more than 100 million of them on the planet. The majority of owners of this surname live in China, where they make up almost 8% of the total population. There are many Lee surnames in Vietnam.

Have you met namesakes?

History of Kazakh surnames.

In ancient times, Kazakhs had only a name. Later, they began to add a word to the name that somehow characterized the person. For example, Batykhai-batyr (Batykhai-warrior), Chotar-sholak (Chotar-armless). Particular importance was attached to the name of the genus, which consisted of several components. After the merger of the Kazakhs with the Russian Empire, history of Kazakh surnames V modern understanding. Russian officials, as a rule, assigned surnames to Kazakhs after their father, grandfather or great-grandfather. At the same time, they strictly followed the instructions not to allow any hint of the nobility of the family. Even a direct descendant of Genghis Khan could get nothing telling surname Valikhanov, except indicating the name of his father - Valikhan. Before the revolution dictionary of Kazakh surnames was quite meager, since hereditary names were given only to those Kazakhs who either entered public service, or went to study at educational establishments. IN Soviet time formation process Kazakh surnames became widespread, their meaning was still associated with the names of ancestors.

Various formations of Kazakh surnames.

If you look at the list of Kazakh surnames in alphabetical order, you will notice that they are formed using the Russian endings -ov, -ev, -in, Kazakh particles -ula, -kyzy, and the Persian ending -i. Linguists consider such education to be incorrect, since it does not correspond to traditional norms Kazakh language, does Kazakh surnames unrecognizable and makes it difficult for them interpretation. In addition, some people began to write their surnames in two words - Kuanysh-Baev or Kudai-Bergenov, and some ascribe locality and clan to their surname. In a word, such multivariance leads to confusion in documents and becomes a cause of dissatisfaction among citizens if their names are distorted.

Peculiarities of assigning surnames to a child.

Now in Kazakhstan there are two options for assigning a surname to a newborn. At the request of his parents, he may be given his father's surname or a new surname formed on behalf of his paternal grandfather. For example, Bakhyt Aslanovich Mustafin had a son, Dosken. He can become both Dosken Bakhytovich Mustafin and Dosken Bakhytovich Aslanov. In the Kazakh version, these names sound like Dosken Bakhytuly Mustafin and Dosken Bakhytuly Aslan. Declension of Kazakh surnames with Russian endings occurs according to the rules of the Russian language. Followers national traditions in the Kazakh nominal formula, they propose to write all Kazakh surnames only with the addition of -ula and -kyzy, so that the nationality of the bearer of the surname is immediately clear.

Top Kazakh surnames shows which surnames are on this moment are considered the most common and popular.

Personal Name

They are of Kazakh (Turkic), Persian, and Arabic origin. Some names appear in several forms at once, for example Shara, Sarah and Zara (which are essentially different pronunciations of the same name).

Turkic names

Some Turkic names have a direct translation, for example Arman (Dream), Sholpan (Venus (planet))

Other Turkic names are compound - they consist of two roots different words(noun + noun or noun + adjective), and among them there are many poetically sublime ones, for example “Ainur” (Ay+Nur) - “Light of the Moon”, “Aigul (Ay+Gul) - “Moon Flower”, Nurgul (Nur+ Gul) - “Flower of Light”, Gulnur (Gul+Nur) - “Light of the Flower”, Gulzhan (Gul+Zhan) - “Soul of the Flower”, Aizhan (Ai+Zhan) - “Moon Soul”, Nurzhan (Nur+Zhan) - “Solar Soul”, Togzhan (Tog+Zhan) - “Pure Soul”.

Many Turkic compound names have the form<существительное + глагол>, which gives them a complex semantic load. This includes names given for some special characteristic that accompanied the birth of a child, or describing the physical or behavioral characteristics of a person (in the old days, names could change with age or after some events). For example, the name “Aytugan” (Ai+Tugan) is translated as “born at the beginning of the month”, “Kudaiberdy” (Kudai+Berdi) - “given by God” - (Bogdan), “Kutken” (Kutken) - “Long-awaited” or “ Aidar" - "tuft".

Children are also given names-wishes so that the child in the future contains the qualities that the name denotes. For example, Bolat (Bulat) is translated mighty, steel, indestructible, courageous, brave, strong, good. Temir (Timur), Temirlan - iron, iron, unshakable, strong as iron

There is also the most interesting and unusual category of names, which are essentially wish names. For example, the name “Amangeldy” (Aman + Keldi) is translated as “So that he returns alive,” and female name“Kyztumas” (Kyz+Tumas) is translated “So as not to give birth to girls.” There are also female names in which a girl is called a boy: Ulbolsyn (Ul+Bolsyn) “let there be a boy” and Ulbala (Ul+Bala) “boy”. Such name-wishes-programs could have determined from the very beginning life path person. This is a purely Turkic nomadic tradition, originating in the rich oral culture of the Kazakhs.

There are also names, both Turkic and Arab origin, the direct translation of which is forgotten, for example, Elmira, Zhamal, Ariman.

In former times, Kazakhs, in order to protect children from the evil eye, gave deliberately bad-sounding names, for example: “Kotibar” - “he has a butt”, “Sasikbay” - “stinky bai”, etc.

Male names often end in -bai, -bek, -khan, -gali. After the establishment of Soviet power, names ending in -bai became rare due to the meaning of the word. Bai is translated as rich man, wealthy. But many current surnames end in -baev, -baeva. In modern Kazakhstan, it is fashionable to give 5-6 letter 2-syllable names, which have no or few specific letters of the Kazakh alphabet, and often they begin with the letter “A”.

Female names often end in -gul, -nur.

Arabic loanwords

Arabic form of data names in honor historical figures, is traditional, for example Al-Iskander (Alexander the Great).

The Arabic form of names from the Koran is also traditional: Mәria/Mariam/Mariam (Virgin Mary), Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), Hawa (Eve), Israel (Israel), Zakaria (Zachary), Mikael (Michael), Ibrahim /Ibrahim (Abraham), etc. Adam is less common. There are also Danial, Sarah/Shara/Zara, Zhusup/Jusp/Yusuf (Joseph). As for other Arabic names that do not belong to historical figures and biblical characters, traditionally only female names are found. And male names are uncharacteristic, although they can be found among Kazakhs living abroad. For example, the female name Jamal is traditional. In the same time male name Mustafa is uncharacteristic for the Kazakhs of Kazakhstan, but this name was the name of Mustafa Ozturk, a repatriate who returned to his historical homeland from Turkey.

Sometimes there is a mixture of Turkic and Arabic/Iranian roots in the name. For example Gulzada (Turkic ghoul+ Iranian butt).

From the abbreviation of long Arabic names, new ones arose short names. For example: Abdrahim - Abish, Gulbakhram - Kulyash, Saduakas - Saken, .

The name Asel is also common, which translated from Arabic means: oriental sweetness, sweet as honey.

Among Kazakh women (not necessarily in international families) occasionally there are names of female Russian names. The names Svetlana and Rimma are especially common

Persian loanwords

Less common are names borrowed from the Persian language. Moreover, this borrowing often occurred through the Arabic language. Some Kazakh names consist of two roots - Persian and Turkic.

Other borrowings

After October revolution revolutionary names were added, such as the Council, Mels (Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin), Marlene (Marx, Lenin), there is also the name Ciez in honor of the congress of parties, which are currently no longer given to newborns, but are found among those born in Soviet time. Although among the Kazakhs the name Mels or Marlene has been completely adapted and is no longer perceived as a revolutionary name - nowadays newborns are often called this name. TO Soviet period Rarely encountered names also include: Berlin, Washington.

The name may be given in honor of current events. For example: Summit (During the OSCE summit in Astana), Congress (During the congresses of the Communist Party), Zhenis (In honor of the victory), Asian Games (In honor of the Seventh Asian Winter Games).

The non-Arabized form of names given in honor of famous historical figures, although rare, is found, for example: Archimedes (Archimedes of Syracuse), Aplaton (Plato), Henry, Ramses, Genghis (Genghis Khan).

The name Elvira, similar in sound to traditional name Elmira, and sometimes given to girls for the sake of “eki kyzdyn aty uksas bolsyn!”

Moreover, some of the non-Arabized historical names (mostly female) are found everywhere, for example: Indira (Indira Gandhi) and Jeanne (Joan of Arc). Moreover, Jeanne usually appears as an abbreviation of another name, for example Zhanar, but Indira is not an abbreviation.

Interethnic families (Kazakh-Russian) are characterized by Russian and European or Russian names of Turkic origin, names that are similar to Kazakh ones. For example: Albina, Sabina, Timur, Ruslan, etc.

IN Lately Names borrowed from the Iranian-speaking ancestors of the Kazakhs - the Saks-Massagets - began to be widely used. These names are especially widely used (although they are not typical for Turkic-speaking Kazakhs) after Kazakhstan gained Independence. The most common are Tomiris, Zarina, Rustam, Rustem, etc. Less common are Sogdiana, Roksolana.

Consonance of names

When several children of the same sex are born, they usually try to ensure that their names are consonant (Kazakh ukas, uksas), that is, they rhyme (not necessarily exact). For example, if the first daughter’s name was Aigul, then for the sake of consonance I can call the second one Ainur (consonance with the first syllable) or Nurgul (consonance with the second syllable). Sometimes, for the sake of consonance, they can also give an unconventional name, for example, if one daughter’s name is Gulmira, and the other is Elmira, then for the sake of consonance, the third may be called the unconventional name Elvira.

Surname

It has three options: Kazakh, Russian and Arabic. At the same time, the Kazakh version has a literal translation: kyzy / uly (daughter/son of such and such), and Arabic is usually used semi-officially religious figures. During the mass distribution of surnames, which was organized by the Soviet government in order to combat tribalism, there were cases of confusion between patronymics and surnames, when for some people, instead of a surname, the father’s name was officially recorded in the passport, and the “patronymic” column remained empty.

Surname

Due to the fact that family names (see below) were not officially considered surnames, even in tsarist times, when Kazakhs were enrolled in educational institutions, they came up with surnames, usually derived from the name of their father, grandfather or great-grandfather. Thus, Chokan, who is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, received the surname not Tore and not Genghis, but Valikhanov, after the name of Uali Khan’s grandfather. And his patronymic was assigned to him after his father, Chingizovich. Which also coincides with the name of the ancestor - Genghis Khan, which causes certain parallels with the surname Rurikovich - given by the name of the founder of the Rurik dynasty.

When married, the maiden name is usually retained, similar to the family name, which never changes.

Nowadays there are two options for assigning a surname to a child. The first is that the child inherits the surname from the father. Second, the child’s surname is formed from the name of the paternal grandfather. For example, the son of Bakhyt Aslanovich Mustafin, named Dosken, may receive full name Dosken Bakhytovich Mustafin or Dosken Bakhytovich Aslanov, depending on the choice of the parents. In Kazakh it sounds like this: Dosken Bakhytuly Mustafin - Dosken Bakhytuly Aslan(s) - Dosken Bakhytuly, or Dosken Bakhyt. Many Kazakhs in given time that’s how they write on their ID cards, mostly oralmans, and before joining Russian Empire Kazakhs called each other that way.

There are other options. For example, oralmans from China have neither a surname nor a patronymic, they only have a first name, as the ancestors of the Kazakhs had. The ancient Kazakhs had only a name, and after some time some word was added to it, denoting its essence at one time or another, for example, Bogenbay was a batyr, which means he was called Bogenbay-batyr, Bukhar was a great zhyrau, which means Bukhar- zhyrau, or Baluan-sholak, because he was sholak - without a hand, that is, their social status gave them their full name.

The full name in the Middle Ages sounded like Kara Kypshak Kobylandy Batyr. (Subgenus Genus Name Title)

In addition, there is now a tendency to replace endings -ov and -ev with “tags” (Kazakh tegi), this literally means “of the kind.”

Generic name (ru/el)

Family names were abolished during the Soviet era to combat tribalism and aristocracy, and surnames were introduced instead. Currently, family names are in unofficial circulation and, as a rule, are communicated only to close people.

The generic name consists of RU(genus) and from ate(people). The exception is the descendants of Genghis Khan - the Genghisids, called tore(ruler/tore-tөr ie-literally the one who is the owner of the tor (tөr-place of honor), and the descendants of the Central Asian Arabs, called leather(Kozhaiyn-owner/by the way, it also passed into the Russian language from Turkic).

El - people

Ate(people, read: spruce) - the name of a real people who once became part of the Kazakh Khanate, and who were mentioned in the chronicles as a separate people, for example, Kipchaks, Uysuns, Naimans. However, the word should not be confused El/ru(people) with words halyk(population, people, residents of the country), ult(nation) and Bukhara Halyk(common people, ordinary people, Bukhara). The same el/ru may be part of several Turkic peoples, and some el/ru are also part of the Mongols, this circumstance is explained by the common origin of the Turkic and Mongolian peoples from the same tribes.

Ru - genus

Links

The origin of surnames is closely related to cultural, historical and religious traditions people. Kazakh surnames in this regard are quite unique and multivariate. For long period they have undergone multiple changes due to economic and political conditions in society. Their analysis from the point of view of history and linguistics is indispensable for solving issues related to anthroponymy.

Historical excursion

Kazakhs' proper names were formed over a long period of time. Each specific segment contained one or another feature. There are five stages:

1. V-X centuries
2. XI-XIV centuries
3. XVIII-XIX centuries
4. 1917−1986
5. 1986 - present.

At first, names were formed from the names of animals (bull, horse), elements in the sky, personal signs (toothless, crooked), place of birth (Balkhash, Tashkenbai). The basis for the name was family circumstances, age of parents, long absence of children, order of appearance, family craft, first syllables in the names of mother and father, illustrious ancestors and fellow countrymen, plants, birds, animals.

And to this day, Kazakhs believe in close connection people and names. The latter acted as spells, amulets, wishes for beauty, courage, prosperity and success.

The ancient Kazakhs had only a name. Later, one or another nickname began to be added to it to determine status. For example, Sanzhar-alyp (hero Sanzhar), Tagai-sokyr (blind Tagai), Bakhyt-aksak (lame Bakhyt), Atyntay-akyn (poet Atyntay). Until the second half of the eighteenth century, there were generic names are common, which included two parts - el and ru (people and clan): Karabaly Oibas Batyr. Only the offspring of Temujdin (Genghisids) and Arabs were called Tore and Khoja, respectively.

Further development

The end of the eighteenth century can be considered the period when Kazakh surnames began to appear. The names of clans did not have official status and the tsarist government had to change the situation. This was necessary for admission to the civil service, study and the army.

The great-grandfather's, grandfather's or father's name was taken as the basis. The process was chaotic, but spread during the census.

Surnames in the Russian manner began to appear after the entry Central Asia into the Russian Empire. But this affected only the merchants and those who had a relationship with Russia. The main changes happened after the Soviets arrived there. Massive changes occurred in the twenties and thirties of the last century. Last names and patronymics began to be assigned to representatives of all social strata, although their use in everyday life was extremely rare.

The endings -ev, -ov, -in, added to father's or grandfather's personal names, became widespread. It looked like this:

• Abdulla - Abdullaev;
• Serikbay - Serikbayev;
• Omar - Lobster;
• Karim - Karimov;
• Orazal - Orazalin;
• Gabdulla - Gabdullin, etc.

Modern tendencies

The commonality of the formation of the name explains the family resemblance in different ethnic groups. Due to the regional coincidence of Muslim-Turkic names, similar Turkmen, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Karakalpak and Kazakh surnames for women and men arose. If Nurgaliev, Rymbaev, Kunaev, Akhmetov are mainly national, then Yusupov, Aliev, Ashurov, Kamilov, Ismailov are also Uighur, Azerbaijani, and Uzbek.

Interethnic marriages and borrowings from the past played an important role in the coincidence, so there is a discrepancy between name and nationality. Representatives of many nationalities live on the territory of Kazakhstan. Kazakh surnames male and female include, in addition to Kazakh and Turkic surnames, Russian, Ukrainian, Korean and German.

List of the most common surnames. Listed in alphabetical rather than numerical order:

• Abdrakhmanov;
• Abdullaev;
• Aliyev;
• Amangelde;
• Akhmetov;
• Bolat;
• Bondarenko;
• Ibragimov;
• Ibraev;
• Ivanov;
• Isaev;
• Iskakov;
• Ismailov;
• Kaliev;
• Karimov;
• Kuznetsov;
• Kusainov;
• Marat;
• Murat;
• Nurgaliev;
• Lobster;
• Ospanov;
• Popov;
• Sadykov;
• Serik;
• Serikbay;
• Smagulov;
• Suleimenov;
• Sultanov;
• Yusupov.

The tradition of introducing oneself by the family name was persecuted in the USSR. But it has been preserved and is informally used in confidential communication. As for the patronymic, which is widespread in official and colloquial speech intelligentsia, then he can be found in different options. It uses both Russian -ovna/-evna, -ych/-ich, and Kazakh “kyzy” and “uly” (daughter and son): Zholdasovich, Kaisarovna, Mukagalievna, Raiymbekuly, Nygmetkyzy, etc. Taking into account the gradual return of Kazakh name traditions it is possible to transform a patronymic into a surname(for example, Oraz Targyn).

Nowadays, surnames are given in two ways: inherited from the father's name or derived from the grandfather's (paternal) name.

For example, the son of Azamat Baktiyarovich Zhunusov, whose name is Erbolat, may be called Erbolat Azamatovich Zhunusov or Erbolat Azamatovich Baktiyarov. In the Kazakh version it will sound like Erbolat Azamatuly Zhunus (Baktiyar) or Erbolat Azamatuly. Although the three-term form remains a priority. In addition, there were unsuccessful attempts, prohibited by the executive branch, add “tags” (genus) and “urpagi” (offspring) instead of -ev/-s.

Now there are two ways to change the Russified sound. One - the root is left, the ending is cut off. Another is adding ula/kyzy. It is strictly forbidden to use abbreviated forms of ancestor names. Surnames of Arabic origin with - and at the end are rare. Kazakh surnames for girls are often do not change in marriage. The girls pay tribute to the clan, the name of which is constant, although the majority adhere to generally accepted norms in this matter.

Kazakh repatriates from Mongolia and China also have difficulties with paperwork, since many do not have a patronymic and surname. There are problems with complex forms based on ancient Arabic names. There is no clear definition of the concept of “Kazakh surname”, its difference from the name and patronymic. There is debate about the forms female surname, if it changes in marriage, about the universal national-characteristic ending of Kazakh names without taking into account the gender characteristic.

In the long Central Asian list, beautiful Kazakh surnames stand apart. They are distinguished by some kind of mystery and attractive power of sound:

• Abitbekov;
• Aigaziev;
• Baykulov;
• Beysimbekov;
• Gabitov;
• Ganiev;
• Dandaev;
• Daniyarov;
• Edigeev;
• Erasylov;
• Zhangaliev;
• Zharylkasynov;
• Ziyatbekov;
• Zulkarnaev;
• Iltyasov;
• Itimbaev;
• Karamergenov;
• Kairgaliev;
• Markhabatov;
• Musaraliev;
• Nabiev;
• Nurlybekov;
• Lobster;
• Ordabaev;
• Rakimov;
• Rysmukhambetov;
• Saimasaev;
• Saurykov;
• Temirkhanov;
• Tursingaliev;
• Ualiev;
• Umbetov;
• Khaidarov;
• Khudaibergenov;
• Shashubaev;
• Sherkhanov.

Famous Kazakhs

The Kazakh people are rich in talents. There is practically no sphere where the names of representatives of this ethnic group are not heard. Here is a partial list:

• Alibasov Bari (music producer);
• Arinbasarova Natalya (actress);
• Asylmuratova Altynay (ballerina);
• Bekmambetov Timur (film director);
• Berkalieva Gaukhar (businesswoman);
• Bisengaliev Marat (violinist);
• Buribaev Alan (conductor);
• Zhylanbaev Marat (marathon runner);
• Serik Konakbaev (boxer);
• Kumangaliev Eric (countertenor);
• Moljanova Gulzhan (financier);
• Nasyrov Murat (singer);
• Rymbaeva Roza (singer);
• Serkebaev Baigali (musician);
• Shukenov Batyrkhan (musician), etc.

Famous Kazakhs managed to glorify their people far beyond the borders of the country. Thanks to these people, we have the opportunity to get to know Kazakh surnames better and enjoy their melodic and incomparable sound.

Attention, TODAY only!

The ancient Kazakhs had only a name, and after some time some word was added to it to characterize it. For example, Bogenbai was a batyr, which means he was called Bogenbai-batyr, Bukhar was a great zhyrau, which means Bukhar-zhyrau, or Baluan-sholak, because he was a sholak - without an arm, that is, their social status gave them their full name.

• 1 Generic name (ru/el)
  • 1.1 El - people
  • 1.2 Ru - gender
• 2 Tsarist time
• 3 Soviet era
• 4 Present time
• 5 China and Mongolia
• 6 Frequency
• 7 See also
• 8 Notes
• 9 Literature

Generic name (ru/el)

Family names were abolished during the Soviet era to combat tribalism and aristocracy, and surnames were introduced instead. Currently, family names are in unofficial circulation and, as a rule, are communicated only to close people.

The generic name consists of RU(genus) and from ate(people). The exception is the descendants of Genghis Khan - the Genghisids, called tore(ruler/tore-tөr ie: literally the one who is the owner of the tor (tөr - place of honor)), and the descendants of the Central Asian Arabs, called Khoja or leather(kozhaiyn is the owner, by the way, it passed into the Russian language from Turkic).

The full name in the Middle Ages sounded like Kara Kypshak Kobylandy Batyr. (Subgenus Genus Name Title)

El - people

Ate(people, read: spruce) - the name of a real people who once became part of the Kazakh Khanate, and who were mentioned in the chronicles as a separate people, for example, Kipchaks, Uysunis, Naimans. However, the word should not be confused El/ru(people) with words halyk(population, people, residents of the country), ult(nation) and Bukhara Halyk(common people, ordinary people, Bukhara). The same el/ru may be part of several Turkic peoples, and some el/ru are also part of the Mongols, this circumstance is explained by the common origin of the Turkic and Mongolian peoples from the same tribes.

Ru - genus

RU(genus or clan) - the name of the genus included in ate. When naming a generic name briefly RU is omitted and called only ate. With full naming RU called the first, for example Kara Kypshak, Sary Uysin or Shekty Alimuly.

Tsarist time

Due to the fact that family names were not officially considered surnames, even in tsarist times, when Kazakhs were enrolled in educational institutions, they were given surnames, usually derived from the name of their father, grandfather or great-grandfather. Thus, Chokan, who is a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, received the surname not Tore and not Genghis, but Ualikhanov, after the name of Uali Khan’s grandfather. And his patronymic was assigned to him after his father, Chingizovich. Which also coincides with the name of the ancestor - Genghis Khan, which causes certain parallels with the surname Rurikovich - named after the founder of the Rurik dynasty.

When married, the maiden name is usually retained, similar to the family name, which never changes.

After establishing Soviet power the mass assignment of Russian-style surnames with the endings -ov, -ev, -in to the name of the father or grandfather began.

Present time

Nowadays there are two options for assigning a surname to a child. The first is that the child inherits the surname from the father. Second, the child’s surname is formed from the name of the paternal grandfather. For example, the son of Bakhyt Aslanovich Mustafin, named Dosken, may receive the full name Dosken Bakhytovich Mustafin or Dosken Bakhytovich Aslanov, depending on the choice of the parents. In Kazakh it sounds like this: Dosken Bakhytuly Mustafin - Dosken Bakhytuly Aslan(s).

Dosken Bakhytuly, or Dosken Bakhyt. Many Kazakhs nowadays are written like that on their ID cards, mostly oralmans, and before joining the Russian Empire, Kazakhs called each other that way. Also, sometimes in documents in the “surname” column they write the patronymic as a surname, but the “patronymic” column remains empty.

In addition, there is now a tendency to replace endings -ov and -ev with “tags” (Kazakh tegi), this literally means “from the clan”, but in modern Kazakh terminology it means a surname and therefore the Ministry of Justice has banned this practice. There were also unsuccessful attempts to replace -ov, -ev with the word "urpagy" (literally "descendant").

By existing rules Those who wish to remove the ending -ov(s) from their last name are offered two options for changing the last name. The first option is to leave the root of the surname, but remove the ov(s), and the second is to add the words “kyzy” (daughter), “uly” (son) to the surname. It is also prohibited to use a shortened version of the grandfather's or father's name as a surname.

A rare form of the surname is with the Arabic ending -i: Akim Tarazi (Akim from Taraz).

In China and Mongolia

There are other options. For example, Oralmans from China may have neither a last name nor a patronymic. This causes difficulties in obtaining Kazakh citizenship.

Frequency

List of the most common surnames in Kazakhstan according to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2014. Non-Kazakh surnames are in italics.

1. Akhmetov - 73 627
2. Lobster - 45 123
3. Kim - 42,274
4. Ospanov - 41,068
5. Ivanov - 39 296
6. Aliyev - 36,084
7. Suleimenov - 33 940
8. Iskakov - 31,988
9. Abdrakhmanov - 29,091
10. Ibragimov - 28,755
11. Kaliev - 28 219
12. Sadykov - 27 810
13. Ibraev - 26,531
14. Kuznetsov - 25,990
15. Popov - 24,956
16. Smagulov - 24 005
17. Abdullaev - 23,729
18. Isaev - 22 910
19. Sultanov - 22,808
20. Yusupov - 22,763
21. Ismailov - 21,392
22. Nurgaliev - 21 133
23. Karimov - 20,575
24. Serik - 19 550
25. Lee - 17,049
26. Tsoi - 12 088
27. Amangeldy - 15 125
28. Bolat - 11,234
29. Bondarenko - 10 648
30. Marat - 10,417
31. Serikbay - 10 193
32. Murat - 10,006
33. Kusainov - 10 103

see also

• Kazakh name

Notes

1. Citizens of Kazakhstan who want to get rid of the suffixes “ov” and “ev” in their surnames face many problems
2. Almaty resident Daniyar Nauryzbaev has not been able to change his last name for two years
3. Akim Tarazi: music always sounds in my soul - Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
4. Literary portal- authors - Tarazi Akim
5. Oralmans from China are in trouble to restore their family name
6. The most common surnames in Kazakhstan have become known - Society News - Mail.Ru News

Literature

• On the problem of the evolution of Kazakh surnames: for or against
• Kazakh surnames
• The Ministry of Justice clarified the rules for writing Kazakh surnames
• 90 percent of Kazakh names and surnames in documents are misspelled
• In Kazakhstan they propose to change the spelling of Russian surnames
• How to write Kazakh names and surnames correctly in Russian?
• Philologists propose to put things in order in the passports of Kazakhstanis
• The official proposes to prohibit Kazakhs from inventing new names
• Kazakh surnames will be written according to the same pattern with “uly” and “kyzy”
• The Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan explained why the endings of Kazakh surnames cannot be replaced with -tags