Khachaturyan

Khachaturyan is an Armenian surname, a variant transcription of Khachatryan, which itself is a patronymic derived from the Armenian given name Khachatur.

Etymology

The root Khachatur means "given by the cross" in Armenian, from khach (cross) and atur (gift). Thus, Khachaturyan effectively means "son of him who is given by the cross" or "descendant of the cross-bearer."

Notable Bearers

The surname is globally recognized through the celebrated Soviet Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian (1903–1978), known for his ballets Spartacus and Gayane, and the "Sabre Dance." Other composers in the family include his nephew Karen Khachaturian (1920–2011) and his grandnephew Emin Khachaturian (1930–2000). Beyond music, notable bearers include patriarch Karekin I Khachadourian (1880–1961), Armenian painter Gayane Khachaturian (1942–2009), and Belarusian footballer Andrey Khachaturyan (b. 1987).

Variants

Common transliterations include Khachatrian, Khachatryan, Khachaturian, Khachadurian, and Khachatourian. The variation arises from different systems of romanizing the Armenian script and dialectal pronunciation.

• Meaning: "son of the cross-bearer"
• Origin: Armenian
• Type: Patronymic surname
• Usage regions: Armenia, Armenian diaspora worldwide