Karimov is a patronymic surname meaning "son of Karim", originating in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is particularly common among Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Tatar and Azerbaijani populations. The base name Karim derives from the Arabic root karuma, meaning "generous" or "noble"; in Islamic tradition, al-Karīm is one of the 99 names of Allah. The Russian affix -ov creates a possessive surname, akin to the Slavic suffix denoting belonging. Geographic Distribution and Variants The surname Karimov is most widely found in Uzbekistan, but also appears across neighboring Central Asian nations and the South Caucasus. The feminine form is Karimova (or its regional transcriptions Kärımova in Kazakh, Kärimova in Tatar, and Kərimova in Azerbaijani). Related surnames include Karimi in Persian, which uses the Iranian patronymic suffix -i, and various Latin‑alphabet transcriptions such as Karymov or Karimov. Notable Bearers The surname gained global prominence through Islam Karimov (1938‑2016), the first president of independent Uzbekistan who governed from 1989 until his death. Other notable individuals include: Abdurahmon Karimov – Tajikistani politician Ali Karimov (1919‑2000) – Azerbaijani statesman Aliya Karimova (born 1978) – Kazakhstani synchronized swimmer Ayrat Karimov (1971‑2020) – Russian footballer Elvina Karimova (born 1994) – Russian water polo player Ergash Karimov (1935‑2009) – Uzbek comedian and actor Evgeniya Karimova (born 1989) – Uzbekistani taekwondo practitioner Flora Karimova (born 1941) – Azerbaijani singer and human rights activist Gulnara Karimova (born 1972) – Uzbek diplomat and daughter of Islam Karimov Gulouchen Karimova – Turkmenistani politician Cultural Significance The name Karim is deeply embedded in Islamic culture, and its patronymic forms reflect the Turkic and Persian naming conventions across Central Asia. The surname thus ties bearers to a heritage of generosity (the meaning of Karim) while proudly preserving linguistic traditions. Meaning: "Son of Karim" (from Arabic karīm 'generous') Origin: Central Asia / South Caucasus (Turkic and Slavic influence) Type: Patronymic surname Usage Regions: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Tatarstan, Azerbaijan Feminine Form: Karimova