Mirza ( or ; ) 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.
History
Mirza first emerged during the 15th century as an appellative term for members of the Timurid dynasty, adopted in deference to their progenitor, the Central Asian conqueror Timur, who used Amir as his principal title. During the early Timurid period, Mirza preceded a prince's given name, therefore adhering to the Persian fashion, though subsequently the Turkish style was adopted, with the title instead being placed after. This was continued by later rulers such as the Aq Qoyunlus, Safavids and Mughals.
Originally restricted to only kings and princes, the title eventually spread among other social groups, though only the former could have it placed after their given name. During the 16th century, the Safavids conferred it upon high-ranking viziers such as Mirza Shah Hossein and Mirza Ata-Allah Isfahani. By the Qajar period, the title simply marked a person as a clerk or a literate man of consequence. Writing in 1828, Frederic Shoberl records that "as a prefix to the name, it may be assumed by, or conferred on any person. It is right, however, to observe, that none but well-educated men, or such as follow respectable professions, or hold honourable posts, take the title of mirza."
Persian empires
Safavid dynasty
Padeshah Ali Mirza
Prince Alqas Mirza
Prince Mohammad Baqer Mirza
Vizier Mirza Shokrollah Isfahani
Vizier Mirza Salman Jaberi
Vizier Mirza Shah Hossein
Afsharid dynasty
Prince Reza Qoli Mirza
Prince Shahrokh Mirza
Prince Ebrahim Mirza
Statesman Mirza Mehdi Khan
Prince Nader Mirza
Qajar dynasty
Prince Iraj Mirza
Prince Malek Mansur Mirza Shao es-Saltaneh
Prince Bahram Mirza Sardar Mass'oud
Prince Abbas Mirza
Prince Abdol Majid Mirza
Prince Ali-Mohammad Mirza
Prince Bahram Mirza
Prince Djahangir Mirza
Prince Eskandar Mirza
Prince Hamid Mirza
Prince Khanlar Mirza
Prince Khosrow Mirza
Prince Muhammad Mirza
Prince Mahmoud Mirza
Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza
Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza II
Prince Ahmad Shah Qajar
Prince Nosrat-od-Dowleh Firouz Mirza
Prince Firouz Mirza Nosrat-ed-Dowleh Farman Farmaian III
Prince Ali Mirza Qajar
Prince Nosrat al-Din Mirza Salar es-Saltaneh
Prince Abdol-samad Mirza Ezz ed-Dowleh Saloor
Prince Mass'oud Mirza Zell-e Soltan
Prince Mohammad Ali Mirza Dowlatshah
Prince Mohammad Taqi Mirza
Prince Kamran Mirza Nayeb es-Saltaneh
Shirvanshahs
Three consecutive titular kings of Shirvan, of the Shirvanshah Dynasty (present-day Azerbaijan), adopted the title as well following the death of Gurban Ali. Gasim Mirza Kavus Mirza Abu Bakr Mirza
Circassians
Circassian dynasty
The hereditary title of Mirza was adopted by the nobility class of the Circassians. Idar of Kabardia, also known as "Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey", was the great-grandson of Prince Inal – Sultan of Egypt the founder of the "Temruk dynasty" of the Kabardian princes, known in Russia as the "Cherkassky" a Circassian princely family.
Circassian nobility with the name Mirza include: Mirza Haydar Temruk Bey (ca. 1470 – 1571) Princely Issues: Temruk Mirza (ca. 1501 – 1571) Kambulat Mirza (ca. 1510 – 1589) Zhelegot Mirza (ca. 1520- ?)