Kurbonov

Kurbonov is a masculine surname common in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and is an alternate transcription of the Uzbek/Tajik surname Qurbonov. It derives from the given name Qurbon, which is the Uzbek and Tajik form of Qurban, ultimately from the Arabic element qurbān, meaning “sacrifice” or “sacrificial animal.” The name is closely associated with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son and involves the ritual sacrifice of an animal.

As a patronymic surname, Kurbonov literally means “son of Qurbon.” It is among the surnames widespread in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, with the feminine forms being Kurbonova (Tajik) and Qurbonova (also Tajik). The surname exists in several spelling variants across languages—Russian and other Cyrillic-script forms include Kurbanov, while Latin-alphabet Uzbek and Tajik forms may appear as Qurbonov.

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals bearing the surname include Abdusalom Kurbonov (1959–2021), a Tajikistani politician; Jahon Qurbonov (born 1986), a Tajikistani boxer; and Karomatullo Qurbonov (1961–1992), a popular Tajikistani singer and composer. In the field of sports, Bakhodir Kurbanov (born 1972) is an Uzbekistani wrestler, while Magomed Kurbanov (born 1995) is a Ukrainian-Russian-Azerbaijani football player. The surname also appears among Turkmen individuals, as in Çarymyrat Kurbanow (born 1977), a football referee.

Cultural Significance

The root word qurbān holds deep religious significance in Islam, referring to the act of sacrifice carried out during Eid al-Adha. This festival is one of the most important in the Islamic calendar, and names derived from it are common across Muslim-majority regions, including Central Asia. The surname Kurbonov thus carries connotations of piety and devotion.

• Meaning: “Son of Qurbon”; from Arabic qurbān meaning “sacrifice.”
• Origin: Tajik, Uzbek.
• Type: Patronymic surname.
• Usage Regions: Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and other parts of the former Soviet Union.
• Alternate Forms: Qurbonov, Kurbanov.