Nazarbayev (surname)

Nazarbayev is a common surname among Kazakhs and is most notably associated with Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first President of Kazakhstan.

The surname is derived from the given name "Nazarbay," which itself is of Persian and Turkic origin. "Nazar" means "sight," "look," or "attention" in Persian, and is often used figuratively to mean "good omen" or "protection from the evil eye." The suffix "-bay" is a common Turkic honorific, meaning "rich," "powerful," or "master." Thus, Nazarbay generally translates to "lord of sight," "master of attention," or "blessed protector."

The surname "Nazarbayev" signifies "son of Nazarbay" or "descendant of Nazarbay," following common patronymic surname formation practices in Central Asia.

The surname is prevalent in Kazakhstan and among Kazakh diaspora communities. Its strong association with the former president makes it a recognizable surname both within Kazakhstan and internationally. Individuals bearing the surname may or may not be directly related to Nursultan Nazarbayev.