Surnames and National Identity in Turkey and Iran
Surnames and National Identity in Turkey and Iran

Summary/Abstract: One of the most basic elements of a person’s identity is one’s name. Choosing a name for a child or for oneself can also be an expression of cultural or national identity. In the beginning of the 20th century Turkey and Iran went through a process of modernization and reforms, among others the replacement of the traditional naming system with European-style surnames. The article analyses the etymology of the most common Turkish and Iranian surnames, and shows how the adoption of surnames was used to strengthen the national identity of both societies.

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