Armenian

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Non-British Ancestors:
Armenian
Danish
Dutch
French
German
Greek
Indian
Jewish
Portuguese

People from Armenia came to India as traders, and established settlements in most major cities in India. Job Charnock allegedly invited the Armenians to Calcutta at the time of its founding in 1689. There was a large Armenian community in Calcutta.

Armenian Church

Madras

Most Armenians were members of the Armenian Church, an ancient Christian denomination in the Orthodox tradition (i.e. the Church never recognised the authority of Rome). In Madras, St Mary's Armenian Church was located at 2/A Armenian Street, South Black Town (this area is now called Georgetown). The building still exists. It is not to be confused with St Mary's of the Angels Co-Cathedral at 64 Armenian Street, Georgetown, which is a Roman Catholic church and is very much functioning today.

Calcutta

In Calcutta, the Armenian Church of St Nazareth was erected in 1724 at No.1 Armenian Street. The church still exists although the community is now quite small, possibly only numbering about 400 people. Dr. Reuben Khachaturyan/Liz Chater have transcribed all the baptisms at this church. They can be viewed on the FIBIS database. Liz also has many photos of graves at the Nazareth Church on her website

Fibis Resources

Records

The LDS has microfilmed records of the Armenian Apostolic Church. These include:

  • Calcutta 1793-1982 Microfilm #136031
  • Bombay 1917-1978 Microfilm #329692
  • Madras 1829-1908 Microfilm #90588
  • Tangra 1793-1979 Microfilm #273760
  • Dacca 1831-1981 Microfilm #86501
  • Rangoon 1857-1980 Microfilm #81844
  • Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy (Calcutta) Register of admissions and withdrawals, 1892-1979 Microfilm #136076

Surnames

Common Armenian surnames are Aratoon (or Arrathoon), Avakian, Paul, Anthony, Apcar and Carapiet. Armenian surnames are usually handed down in the same manner as European surnames, but in the past the father's forename has been used as a surname.

Additional names to look out for are;

A-C
Abraham, Agabeg, Agabob, Agacy, Aganoor, Aghvelly, Aghabeg, Aivaz, Aivazian, Alexander, Allaverdi, Andreasian, Anthony, Apcar, Arak, Arakiel, Arrakiel, Aram, Arathoon, Aratoon, Arrathoon, Arrackel, Arratoon, Arshacony, Aslan, Athanes, Auslaun, Avadian, Avdall, Avedick, Avetoom, Avetoomian, Aviet, Avietick, Avietmall, Aviett, Babakhan, Baboom, Bagram, Balthazar, Baraghamian, Barseghian, Bashkoon, Basil, Baskhoomiantz, Beglar, Beglaroff, Bethlehem, Bijohn, Boldy, Boodaghian, Cachatoor, Calder, Camell, Carapiet, Carrapiet, Carapietian, Carapiett, Catchatoor, Catchurian, Catchick, Katchick, Cavorke, Kevorke, Chater, Chaytor, Christian, Constantine, Crete, Creet
D-J
David, Davidian, Demetrius, Edgar, Eleazar, Elias, Emin, Eminiantz, Ephraim, Galstaun, Galaston, Galestan, Galistan, Galistin, Galoostan, Galoostian, Gaspar, Gasper, Gasparian, Gherakheantz, Gregory, Hacobian, Hakob, Harney, Harrapiet, Haruthiun, Hayrapiet, Hyrapiet, Highcazony, Hohannes, Hovakim, Hovhannes, Hume, Isaac, Isaiah, Ivas, Ivaz, Jacob, Jacobs, Joachim, Joakim, Joaquim, Johanness, Johanes, Johannes, Jordan, Joseph, Kalandar, Calendar, Kalder, Kallanos, Kallanoss, Kalonas, Kalonass, Kaloos,Kalooss, Karapiet, Kerakoose
L-N
Lazar, Lazaro, Lazarus, Lucas, Macartoom, Mackertich, Mackertoom, Makar, Malchus, Malcolm, Malcum, Melcum, Manooch, Manook, Manuk, Marcar, Macarian, Marcus, Marooth, Maroot, Martin, Martyrose, Martirose, Mathevosian, Mattew, Mattews, Megatoomian, Melitus, Michael, Minas, Minos, Minoss, Mody, Mooradian, Mooradhan, Moorat, Mooratacan, Mooratt, Moradkhan, Moratcan, Moses, Nadjarian, Nahapiet, Narcis, Nazar, Nehapiet, Nerses, Nicholas, Nierses
O-Z
Owen, Hovhn, Hovhan, Pogose, Poghose, Paul, Peter, Peters, Petros, Petrus, Petruse, Poghos, Raphael, Sam, Sarkies, Satoor, Satur, Seth, Shameer, Shamier, Shircore, Shumavonian, Simeon, Simon, Simonian, Sookias, Sookus, Stephanus, Stephanos, Stephen, Stephens, Thaddeus, Thadius, Thaliadian, Tharkhan, Thorose, Tigran, Vardan, Vardanian, Vardon, Vertannes, Weskin, Zachariah, Zeytoon, Zorab, Zorer.

Books

  • Armenians in India by Mesrovb Jacob Seth. Hardcover edition (1993).
There appear to be many inaccuracies in the book, but it is the only one available to date. The book was originally published in Calcutta in 1937 by its author. It was reprinted in New Delhi in 1992 by Asian Educational Services of New Delhi who sell it for 895 rupees. They also have an office in Madras. In Europe it is available from Bay Foreign Language Services of Ashford, Kent, England. Limited View Google Books, Also by Mesrovb J Seth History of the Armenians in India archive.org
  • Armenian Settlements in India from the Earliest Times to the Present Day by Anne Basil (1969). Published in Calcutta. Out of print.
  • The Wandering Armenians by Father Aramais Mirzaian (1980). Published in Sydney. Contains two short chapters on India. Out of print.
  • Sydney Armenian Guide Book by Father Aramais Mirzaian 1970. published in Sydney. Out of print.
  • Armenians in Australia and New Zealand by Father Aramais Mirzaian. Sydney 1966. Out of print.
  • Armenians: A Pilgrim People in "Tierra Australia" by Father Aramais Mirzaian. Sydney 1975. Out of print.
  • History of Armenia. from BC 2247 to the year of Christ 1780 or 1229 of the Armenian Era. (digital copy available via Google) by Father Michael Carmich. Translated from the original by Johannes Avdall
  • A Brief Account of the Advent of the Armenians and their Settlements in Major Cities in India during the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries, Their Churches and Schools, Their Professions and Their Business Affairs By Isia Martin. 1975. Out of Print
  • Racing Reminiscencesby J.C. Galstaun. 1942. Out of Print.
  • New Julfa. The Armenian Churches and other Buildings. by John Carswell. Out of print.
  • The Life and Adventures of Joseph Emin, An Armenian, Written in English by Himself 1726-1809 By Joseph Emin. 1792. Printed in London. Out of Print. Re-printed 1918. Free digital download.
  • Calcutta Remembered. Rickshaw Ragtime by Jug Suraiya
  • Is Classical Armenian Dead? by Mesrovb J. Seth. 1923. Out of Print
  • The Society of Mekhithar. by Mesrovb J. Seth. 1924. Out of Print.
  • Armenians at Chandernagore. by Mesrovb J. Seth. 1931. Out of Print.
  • Madras, The Birthplace of Armenian Journalism. A history of the first Armenian Journal, the Azdarar, published monthly at Madras by the Rev. Arathoon Shumavon, in 1794, with four full page illustrations.By Mesrovb J. Seth. Out of Print
  • Dr Omar Khalidi of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has published two articles on the Armenians of India:
  • "Armenian Diaspora in India: the Case of the Deccan" in Islamic Culture LXXI, no.2 (April 1997), pp.77-88
  • "The Amazing Abid of Hyderabad and Devon" in Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries (Autumn 1999), pp.161-168
  • Respected Citizens: The History of Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia by Nadia H. Wright, Publisher: Amassia Publishing 2003.
This is the first published account of the Armenians from Persia who ventured to Malacca, Penang and finally Singapore from the 1800s. Detailing the dynamics of the larger community in Singapore, it also focusses on St Gregory's Church, Raffles Hotel the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid and the major Armenian commercial concerns. In particular, the true role of Ashkhen (Agnes) Joaquim in breeding Singapore's national flower is explained. The final section of the book outlines the principal Armenian families, following their fortunes and fate in this part of the world. Based on extensive research from newspapers, church, cemetery and official records, interviews with Armenians and their descendants, this book by Nadia Wright provides a documented, social history of this hitherto neglected minority. Many of the Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia came via India, having lived there, traded there or been educated there. Usually it was in India that their names were anglicised into British sounding names such as Chater, Edgar, Gregory, Jordan, Martin and Stephens. Available at the British Library.
  • Armenians at Agra and Gwalior by Mesrovb J Seth from Bengal Past and Present Volume 39 Part 1, January- March 1930 Archive.org
  • Armenian Merchants of the Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Centuries: English East India Company Sources edited by Vahé Baladouni and Margaret Makepeace 1998 Limited View Google Books. Read a review of this book.
  • A listing of books India List
  • Details of the book Armenian Graves, Inscriptions and Memorials in India: Dacca 1722-1977 by Liz Chater 2011

External links

Churches and cemeteries

  • Armenian Family History in India Liz Chater's site includes extensive photographs of Armenian graves in India as well as a wealth of other research and information.
  • Armenians In Mughal Delhi An article by Dr Omar Khalidi detailing the history of Armenians in Mughal Delhi and describing his visit to the ancient D'Eremao Cemetery.

Other

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