Surname Iskandar - Meaning and Origin
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Iskandar: What does the surname Iskandar mean?
The last name Iskandar is derived from the Arabic phrase, 'Iskandar al-Fat'h', which translates to Alexander the Great. It is a common Turkish and Arab name, and was made popular by the fourth-century Macedonian leader Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great is reputed as one of the most successful military commanders in history, and changed the world as he conquered much of it.
The name Iskandar has also been popularized by multiple leaders throughout the Middle East, who sought to emulate Alexander the Great and reinforce his accomplishments. Iskandar is a name that carries a sense of strength, success, and ambition - something that those who bear the name are often expected to reflect.
Those with the surname Iskandar are known for their strong leadership and ability to achieve great goals. They are driven and ambitious, and strive to make a positive difference to society. Iskandar is a beautiful and highly respected name, with a great sense of history and responsibility.
Order DNA origin analysisIskandar: Where does the name Iskandar come from?
The last name Iskandar is most commonly found among people of Arabic and Persian heritage. Many people of this background can trace their roots to present-day countries such as Iraq, Syria, Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
This surname is also increasingly common among people of other ethnic backgrounds, such as South Asians, North Africans, and even Europeans. This is likely due to the influence of the Muslim faith and its teachings, which have spread throughout the world and helped to bring people of various backgrounds closer together.
In today's world, the Iskandar surname can be found in countries around the world, particularly in places with large populations of Arabic and Persian people. This includes countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Additionally, the name is becoming increasingly popular among South Asians, particularly those living in the U.S. and Canada.
In the U.S., Iskandar is one of the most common surnames. For example, it is the 22nd most common last name in California, the 15th most common in Texas, and the 13th most common in Connecticut.
Given its widespread presence today, it is clear that the Iskandar surname has been able to transcend boundaries and time and become an integral part of the culture and identity of many different communities the world over.
Variations of the surname Iskandar
The Iskandar surname is of Arabic origin and has other spellings and variants, including Iskander, Iskendar, Eskander, and Eskandar. Derived from a variant of the name Alexander, surname Iskandar essentially means ‘protector’. It is also commonly found as a given name in other parts of the world such as South Asia, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Variant spellings such as Iskandari and Eskandari have occasionally been found in different countries, however, more common variations of the surname include Iskan(d)dar, Iskan(d)daro(u)ghlu, Iskendir/Iskandir, Iskandari, Eskandari, Askandar, Iskaandar, Iskano(o)dar, Iskun(d)dar, Iskynder, Iskan(d) dey, Iskan(d)dey, Iskan(d)eri, Eskynder, Eskender, and longtime Mongolian family name, Skander.
The Persian surnames of Askandari, Iskandari, and Ḥosaynī Iskandarī are derived from the given name Iskandar, but had acquired their own character by the modern era, and are not confined to the descendants of Alexander the Great.
In China, the second syllable of Iskandar has been phonetically Anglicized as "shen dun". This is found most visibly in Chinese Anglicizations of websites and products, including Alexshen Technology.
Nicknames based on this surname can also be found, including Isk to some, Isky to others, and the Slovak-Hungarian names Skender and Skenderovic in Serbia and Bosnia. It is believed that at some point there has been a name change of Iskandar to Iskydey, which is of Bulgarian origin, however, this cannot be verified.
In addition to these variants and spellings, the Iskandar surname has sometimes been translated to English as ‘Alexander’ and ‘Sandor’ in some places.
Famous people with the name Iskandar
- Mahathir Mohamad Iskandar: A Malaysian politician who was the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, making him Malaysia's longest-serving Prime Minister. 2.Normah Iskandar: A Malaysian actress and former beauty pageant contestant who won Miss Malaysia in 1982.
- Razlan Iskandar: An Indonesian businessman and former President Director of PT Bank BCA.
- Muhyiddin Yassin Iskandar: Malaysia's eighth and current Prime Minister who also held the position of Deputy Prime Minister from 2009 to 2015.
- Lawrence T. Iskandar: An Indonesian entrepreneur who is the Chairman and CEO of PT Media Nusantara Citra (MNC), the biggest media company in Indonesia.
- Farah Iskandar: An Indonesian film director and screenwriter.
- Rusnah Iskandar: An award-winning Malaysian actress and television presenter.
- Syamsul Iskandar: Indonesian filmmaker, writer, director and producer.
- Alexandria Iskandar: An Indonesian actress, model and singer.
- Riza Iskandar: An Indonesian actor and political activist.
- Joko Anwar Iskandar: A well-known Indonesian film director, screenwriter and producer.
- Budi Iskandar: An Indonesian multi-instrumentalist, music director, arranger, producer and keyboardist.