Cambodia Naming Customs
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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names. |
Online Tools[edit | edit source]
- Behind the Name: Khmer Surnames
- Behind the Name: Khmer Given Names
- Behind the Name: Arabic Surnames
- Behind the Name: Arabic Given Names
- List of some family names
Surnames[edit | edit source]
Cambodian names usually consist of two elements including a patronymic, which serves as a common family name for siblings, followed by a given name.
- Traditionally, the Khmer do not have Western-style family names shared by multiple generations or entire families. Instead, Khmer children use their father's given name as their family name.
- Women keep their maiden names after marriage.
- Different naming traditions exist among ethnic groups other than the Khmer majority. The Cambodian population is 90% Buddhist and names are often taken from Buddhism.
- Among the Muslim minority, Arabic names are often used as family names.
Given Names[edit | edit source]
Generally, women are given names relating to beauty, while men are given names of virtues.Some Cambodian given names are unisex names.
References[edit | edit source]
- "Cambodian name", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_name#List_of_some_family_names, accessed 13 March 2021.