Khondakar

Khondakar (Bengali: খন্দকার, romanized: Khondokar) is an aristocratic Bengali Muslim surname found in Bangladesh and neighbouring East Indian regions.

Khondakar
PronunciationKhondokar
Language(s)Bengali
Origin
Word/namePersian
Region of originBangladesh, East India
Other names
Alternative spellingKhondker, Khandaker, Khandoker, Khondaker

Etymology and history

The Bengali surname comes from the Old Persian Khandan (Persian: خواندن, romanized: Xwândan, lit. 'To read') and the suffix kar (Persian: گار, romanized: Gâr) which joins the root of the verb to mean the one who reads. The Bengali definition of the word is an instructor or teacher. The usage of Persian as an official language in Bengal was common during the rule of the Bengal Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. The Persians as well as members of the Turco-Persian tradition were a large immigrant community during both periods in which they integrated with the local Bengali community.[1] Many Persians in Bengal became teachers, lawyers, scholars and clerics.[2] These Persians merged with Bengalis to become Bengali Muslims.

Variations

Variations of the surname Khondakar also remain very common. These include different English transliterations and regional pronunciations of the term. Different English spellings include: Khondker, Khandaker, Khondoker, Khondokar, Khondaker, Khondkar, Khandakar,Khandker, and Khandoker.

Notables with the surname

See also

References
  1. Abdul Karim (2012). "Iranians, The". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. Abu Musa Mohammad Arif Billah (2012). "Persian". In Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
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