About Armenian names, surnames, and patronymics

Armenian names carry deep historical and cultural significance. Common Armenian male names like Hovhannes, Hakob, and Sargis often have biblical or early Christian roots, reflecting Armenia’s early Christian heritage. Popular Armenian female names such as Anahit and Astghik trace back to pre-Christian Armenian mythology, while names like Mariam and Gohar blend religious and cultural traditions.

Armenian surnames frequently end in -yan or -ian, commonly interpreted as “descendant of” (often “son of” in older usage). Many widespread surnames — Sargsyan, Harutyunyan, Grigoryan, and Hovhannisyan — are derived from first names and preserve family lineage across generations.

Armenian patronymics are often formed by adding the genitive suffix -i to the father’s name (for example, Hakobi, Gevorgi), which can help distinguish individuals in official records and historical documents.

Use the Hush.am search tool to look up an Armenian name, surname, or patronymic and explore related records.