Chughtai

For the minor planet, see 11417 Chughtai.

Chughtai or Chagatai (Urdu, Persian: چغتائی; Turkish: Çağatay,) is a family name that originated in the Chagatai Khanate as taken up by the descendants and successors of Chagatai Khan who was the second son of Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan.^[1] Accordingly, some of the other descendants of the successors of Chagatai Khan in South and Central Asia use variants such as Mirza, Baig and Khan.^[2][3]

Etymology of Chughtai

The surname “Chughtai” originates from the Mongolian word “Chaghadai”, a derivative of “Chagan” meaning “white”. The suffix “-dai” is added to form “Chaghadai”. Over time, “Chaghadai” evolved into “Chughtai”, meaning, “he who is white”.^[4]

People with the surname

• Abdur Rahman Chughtai (1897-1975), Pakistani painter.
• Ismat Chughtai (1915–1991), Indian writer
• Ikram Chughtai (1941–2023), Pakistani researcher
• Dr Inam ul haq Chughtai (1968), Pakistani Doctor

See also

• 11417 Chughtai
• Chagatai Khanate
• Chagatai language