Last Name Hotaki

Learn more about the origin of the last name Hotaki

The meaning and origin of the last name Hotaki

The Hotaki is a Persian surname, primarily found among Iranians and Afghan Hazaras. It's derived from the Turkic word "hotak," which means "great" or "chief." The name gained prominence during the 18th century when the Hotaki dynasty ruled parts of modern-day Afghanistan and Iran. The Hotaki dynasty was established by Mir Wais Hotaki, a Hazara leader who successfully overthrew the Safavid Persian rule in 1729. This dynasty marked one of the first instances of an Afghan ruler gaining control over significant portions of Persia. The name Hotaki has since been passed down through generations and spread among the Hazara communities, both within Afghanistan and among diaspora populations around the world.

Geographical distribution of the last name Hotaki

The Hotaki surname is predominantly associated with Afghanistan and Persia, as it originated from the Hotaki tribe that ruled parts of Iran and Afghanistan during the early 18th century. Specifically, the Hotakis were based in Kandahar, a city in southern Afghanistan, which was their power base during their rule. Today, the Hotaki name is still common among Afghan refugees living in countries like Pakistan, Iran, and those who have resettled in Western countries following conflicts in Afghanistan. Additionally, the Hotaki surname can also be found among Persians, particularly those with roots in the Fars province of Iran, due to historical ties between the Hotakis and the Safavid dynasty of Persia.

Variants and spellings of the last name Hotaki

The surname Hotaki has various spelling variations, primarily due to differences in transliteration and transcription over time. Here are some common versions:

1. Hotaki: This is the original and most common form of the surname. It is of Persian origin and means "son of Hotak."
2. Hotak: Some sources omit the final 'i' in the name, resulting in this spelling.
3. Hotakee: Another variation that includes an additional syllable due to different transliteration methods.
4. Hotaqi: A variant found in some historical records, possibly arising from phonetic transcriptions.
5. Al-Hotaki: This form adds the Arabic definite article 'al' at the beginning, which is common for Persian names.
6. Hotagi: A rare variant that may have originated from a different dialect or language.
7. Hotakey, Hotakie: Plural forms of the surname in some languages, such as Russian.
8. Al-Hotakiye, Hotakiev (Cyrillic): The plural forms in Cyrillic script, which can be found in Russia due to historical connections with Persia.

Famous people with the last name Hotaki

The Hotakis were a notable Persian family of Afghan descent, hailing from Khorasan, Iran, during the Safavid dynasty. One of the most prominent members was Ismail Hotaki (1699-1725), who led the Afghan uprising against the declining Safavid Empire and founded the Hotaki Dynasty in 1722, making him the first Afghan ruler of Persia. His brief reign ended when he was captured and executed by the Ghilzai Pashtun leader, Mahmud Khan, in 1725. Another significant figure from the same family was Abdol Rahman Hotaki (died 1730), who continued his brother's rebellion after Ismail's death but met a similar fate when he was killed by Afghan rebel leader Ashraf Ghilzai in 1730. Despite their short-lived rule, the Hotakis played an important role in Persian history as they marked one of the few instances where Afghans seized power over Persia and ushered in a new era of political turmoil.

Genealogical research on the last name Hotaki

The Hotaki dynasty originated from the Persian-speaking Lurs and rose to prominence during the late Safavid period in Iran. One of their most significant leaders was Ismail III, who led the Hotakis against the Safavids in the early 18th century. After initial successes, the Hotaki forces were defeated by Afghan troops led by Asad Khan at the Battle of Khalat in 1729, resulting in the short-lived establishment of the Hotaki Shahanshahate (Hotaki Empire) that lasted only a few months. Ismail III was later assassinated, and his rule ended with the ascension of Nader Shah Afshar, who established the Afsharid dynasty. The Hotaki name has not been significantly associated with politics or royalty since this time, but it remains a notable part of Iranian history due to its brief involvement in shaping the region during the early 18th century.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Hotaki"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

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NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 27 July 2025