Normally Surnames do not have any meanings. Our ancestors had no Surnames, they were known by their Father’s / Family name. e.g. Rustom bin Zal. (Rustom of Zal), later on they took on names of places/ family names as additional to their names. It was only when they came to India that they adopted their trade/service/vocation/family/or some traits -(Waghmaru, Batki etc.). A very interesting collection by Burjor Minocher Daboo of Ahmedabad.
Click here for the full list and some interesting, some amusing meanings.
26 September, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I am i Kashmiri sikh. But all my family members,they’re Kour in their name has an “o” but all the other sikhs … they’re kour is like “kaur” …. y ? we r aryans …. but our great grandparents parents were zoroastrians… is that y our kour has an o???
9 December, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Hello Roshani,
Punjab & NW India was for thousands (right upto the islamic invasion of Persia) part of Persia (Iran).
So, while there was a plethora of religions existing side by side, just like in modern India; there was substancial Zorastrian influence. The Sikh emphasis on 5 elements & Guru worship are just 2 examples.
I am intrigued that you say your ancestors were Zorastrian, because I personally believe that Kashmir valley was the Aryanam Vaejah of the Avesta & very possibly also the Arya Shetra of the Vedsa. Also there are many sites identified as natural fire temples; but no documentation of Zorastrians in modern times.