Mirza

Mirza (/ˈmɜːrzə/ or /mɪərˈzɑː/; Persian: میرزا) is a name of Persian origin. It is used as a surname or prefix to identify patriarchal lineage.

It is a historical royal and noble title, denoting the rank of a royal prince, high nobleman, distinguished military commander, or a scholar. Specifically, it was used as a title by (and today signifies patriarchal lineage to) the various Persian Empires, the Nogai Horde, Shirvanshahs and Circassians of the European Caucasus, as well as the Muslim Rajputs and mainly the Mughals / Moguls, both of the Indian Subcontinent. It was also a title bestowed upon members of the highest aristocracies in Tatar states, such as the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan.

Etymology

The original title Mīrzā or Merzāh is derived from the Persian term Amīrzādeh which literally means child of the Amīr or child of the ruler. Amīrzādeh in turn consists of the Arabic title Amīr (English: Emir), meaning "commander" and the Persian suffix zādeh, meaning "son of" or "lineage of". Due to vowel harmony in Turkic languages, the alternative pronunciation Morza (plural morzalar; derived from Persian) is also used.

Source

• "Life of a Mirza" Chapter 7 (pp. 225–227) The Empire of the Great Mughals: History, Art and Culture (2004), by Annemarie Schimmel, ISBN 1-86189-185-7.
• Mirzah in The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer, ISBN 1-84022-310-3.
• MI'RZA in Chambers's Encyclopaedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge For the People. ISBN 1-149-98693-X.
• A. Jaimoukha The Circassians: A Handbook Routledge, Palgrave, 2001, pp. 157–60, ISBN 0-312-23994-7.

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