I was wondering what the origin is of last names ending with -ani. For example: Kiyani, Jilani, Lalani. Many have said it has an arabic background, but I find it hard to believe.
Re: Last names ending with -ani
i know of Thadani; its got a sindhi background
Re: Last names ending with -ani
It is possible that they are of arabic origins. I know an Indian muslim girl with the last name Jilani. The muslim indian names are of Persian or Arabic origins.
Do you have any other examples of these ----ani names?
Re: Last names ending with -ani
^ Waliani, Odhwani, Gillani
Re: Last names ending with -ani
multani
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Gadani :love:
Re: Last names ending with -ani
you can go the black-naming process way. like pick a name..any name, and add something to the beginning or end of it.
so umm...like...kausar...add and ani...and kausarani. or amnani. or umm...jamshaidani. (oo the last one sounds good)
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Milwani.. a hindu girl I knew 
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Most Sindhis, Kachchis and Saurastrians have ‘-ani’ as a suffix in their surname.
The Sanskrit words, Yan and Yani (Suffix) were pronounced in Sindhi as Ani. ‘Ani’ meaning descendants and also “belonging to”. The following site has more details on history of Sindhi surnames.
http://www.dalsabzi.com/books/Sindhi_surnames/Advani.htm
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Now there is even a surname, Pakistani.
BTW, Kaswani / Keswani ... is sindhi
Durranis came from Afghanistan.
Qadyani .. u know it better already (& yes I have seen it as a surname).
Re: Last names ending with -ani
speaking of sindhi background, consider Lakhani and Bharwani too please
Re: Last names ending with -ani
But prior to Sindhi, can someone confirm its persian or arabic origin?
Re: Last names ending with -ani
^
ever heard of Rafsanjani?
Re: Last names ending with -ani
^ Nope.
Re: Last names ending with -ani
^ that's persian last name bhai jaani :P
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Ah, ok.
So Anwar Bhai, you think it has a persian origin then?
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Mine's arabic-Amani-means aspirations.
Re: Last names ending with -ani
Guys please try not to derail the thread.
Re: Last names ending with -ani
I have a persian background.. well iam actually persian.. so some of the common ani last names in my families are.... Laghmani, Sultani, nooristani, and Rehmani... but we mostly pronounce it like Laghmanay, Sultanay, nooristanay, and Rehmanay..