Nazarian

Nazarian is an Armenian surname, an alternate transcription of Nazaryan (Armenian: Նազարյան). Its meaning roughly translates to “son of Nazar 1,” a given name that is itself a Russian, Ukrainian, Turkmen and Armenian form of Nazarius.

Etymology and Origin

The root name Nazarius is of Latin origin, meaning “from Nazareth,” the town in Galilee where Jesus lived. The name was borne by several early saints, including a man martyred with Celsus in Milan. Through the Armenian form Nazar, the patronymic suffix -yan (meaning “son of”) gives the meaning “son of Nazar.”

Distribution and Cultural Context

Apart from Armenia, the surname Nazarian is also common among families with roots in Iran, which shares a border with Armenia. Iranian Armenians form a significant diaspora community, and the surname reflects that heritage. Prominent bearers include Iranian-born individuals in various fields.

Notable Bearers

• Adrin Nazarian (born 1973), American politician.
• Angella Nazarian, Iranian-born author.
• Ara Nazarian (born 1971), American biomedical engineer.
• Arthur Nazarian, Lebanese businessman and MP.
• Bruce Nazarian (1949–2015), American musician.
• David Nazarian, Iranian-born businessman.
• Eric Nazarian, Armenian-American film director.
• Izak Parviz Nazarian (1929–2017), Iranian-born American billionaire.
• John James Nazarian (born 1952), American private investigator.
• Mariam Nazarian, American concert pianist.
• Sam Nazarian, Iranian-born American entrepreneur.

Related Forms

The semantic root Nazar (Nazar 1) also appears in given names across cultures and in other Slavic surnames, such as Ukrainian Nazarenko (same patronymic meaning). Italian has Nazario, a given name derived from the same source.

• Meaning: Variant of Nazaryan; “son of Nazar.”
• Origin: Armenian; ultimately from Latin Nazarius.
• Type: Surname (patronymic).
• Usage regions: Armenia, Iran (among Armenians), and Armenian diaspora worldwide.