Iranian Genealogy

As an offshoot of its Iranian Surname Project, Iranian Genealogy has partnered with Dr. Fatemeh Akbari (sociolinguist, onomastician, and International Council of Onomastic Sciences Board member) and Dr. Eugen Schochenmaier (onomastician, Chief Onomatologist of Mondonomo, Inc., editor of e-Onomastics, and International Council of Onomastic Sciences web and information officer) to launch the Iranian-American Surnames Project. The Project is supported by generous grant funding from the Persian Heritage Foundation and is endorsed by the International Counsel of the Onomastic Sciences.

Since surnames were only made mandatory nationwide in Iran in 1925, Iranian surnames contain valuable and relatively recent genealogical, sociocultural, and sociolinguistic information. This pioneering project seeks to document, analyze, and disseminate information about the surnames of Iranian-Americans to preserve this intangible cultural heritage and improve public understanding of Iranian-American names. Ultimately, we plan to publish the results of our research in conference papers and a surname dictionary/database.

Affiliation

The research team consists of names studies scholars who aim to study Iranian surnames as part of diasporic heritage and identity. We are not affiliated with any government – including the governments of Iran and the United States – and we are not working for immigration, law-enforcement, commercial marketing, or political advocacy. Our purpose is ONLY cultural documentation and public scholarship.

Grant funding for this Project has been provided by The Persian Heritage Foundation, the esteemed institution that has also supported Encyclopaedia Iranica. This Project is also endorsed by the International Council of Onomastic Sciences, the premier international organization for onomastics academic research.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Any data obtained for the Project is stored securely, and access is limited to the research team for academic purposes. Data is not shared with government agencies or business entities. All data are de-identified, and results are released in aggregate, so no individual is traceable from our research. Any contact information provided to the research team for follow-up questions will only be used for that purpose.

Questionnaire

The Iranian-American Surnames Project research team invites people of Iranian descent over the age of 18 who are permanently residing in the United States of America, U.S. legal permanent residents, or U.S. citizens to complete the below questionnaire:

Questionnaire (English version)

Questionnaire (Persian version)