Surname Zakian - Meaning and Origin
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Zakian: What does the surname Zakian mean?
The last name Zakian is an Armenian surname found in countries throughout Europe and the Middle East. It traces its origins back to the ancient Armenian kingdom of Zakania, which is thought to have existed in the region between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. The meaning of Zakian is “descendant of Zakan”, Zakan being a first name. The roots of the surname are disputed but it is believed to have some association with the word “zaken”, which means “old man” in Armenian.
The Zakian surname is typically found amongst members of the Armenian Orthodox Christian faith, however, it can be found across many cultures. In Armenia the family is associated with being of noble noble birth and those who bear the surname are thought to be descended from the ancient Zakanian Royal Family.
Groups with the Zakian surname can also be found in other countries, although this may be more due to immigration and diaspora than actual ancestry. For instance, many Lebanese, Russian, French and American citizens of Armenian descent share the Zakian surname, although the exact origin of their families is unknown.
The family’s history has been preserved through many generations of oral tradition and the Zakian surname continues to represent a sense of royalty and power that has been passed down through the centuries. No matter the origin, it’s clear that the Zakian surname is steeped in a rich tradition of Armenian culture and history.
Order DNA origin analysisZakian: Where does the name Zakian come from?
The last name Zakian is most commonly found in Armenian and Iranian communities, where it is one of the last names derived from the ancient Persian tribes in the Middle East. According to Ancestry.com, the largest population of people with the Zakian surname is currently in the United States (around 1,010 people total), followed by Armenia, Canada, and Iran.
The main linguistic origins of the Zakian surname are from the Armenian language, where it has been a part of the culture for many hundreds of years. The literal translation of Zakian is “the son of Zaki,” where Zaki was a common name among Armenians.
Although the surname is not particularly widespread throughout any other country, every major US city with a significant Armenian population carries a few Zakians in its midst. Los Angeles has the highest concentration of people with the Zakian last name, followed by New York.
It is also worthy to mention that there is a significant Zakian diaspora population throughout Western Europe, but their numbers are too small to appear in any official census statistics. As a result, it can be safely said that the last name Zakian is most common in Armenian and Iranian communities, specifically in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Zakian
The surname Zakian is a highly common name of Armenian origin. It is believed to be derived from the Armenian personal name “Zak”, which means “pure” or “holy”. The Zakian surname is used by several other nationalities as well, including Greeks, Bulgarians, Assyrians and Persians.
Variants of the Zakian surname include Zakyan, Zakiyyan and Zakhian. It is spelled differently in various parts of the world, such as Zakyane (in Greece), Zaken (in Bulgaria) and Zakhiyan (in Persian).
The Zakian surname is also used as surnames in other countries, such as France, where the “Zaki” spelling is used, and Syria, where the “Zak” spelling is used. The Zakian surname is quite common, and is often found in combination with other surnames, such as Kilejian (Armenian) or Yazeer (Assyrian).
Another variant of the Zakian surname is Zakharias, which is a Greek variant of the surname. It is originally derived from the Greek personal name Zechariah, and is primarily used in Greece and Cyprus.
In conclusion, the Zakian surname is a highly common name of Armenian origin, and its variants, spellings and surnames have been adopted by several other nationalities around the world. It is spelled differently in various parts of the world, and other variants, such as Zakharias, are also used in some regions.
Famous people with the name Zakian
- Dean Zakian: photographer and journalist at The Washington Post
- Yervant Zakian: Armenian composer, singer-songwriter and pedagogue
- Bria Zakian: American Actress
- David Zakian: British bass musician
- John Zakian: former lead guitarist for the British rock band Gillan
- Jennifer Zakian: actress seen in the popular TV series Outsiders and Pitch Perfect
- Shari Zakian: American film producer
- Manny Zakian: former professional football player and coach for the Denver Broncos
- Martha Zakian: Greek-American theater actress and singer
- Elias Zakian: an Armenian-American cleric and former primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America