Manipuri surnames

In the Manipuri, the surname or family name is a Yumnak, and is used in the Meitei/Meetei community including Meitei Pangal and Meitei Bamon. The Meitei/Meetei communities lie largely in the Northeast India (viz. Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur), Bangladesh, Myanmar. Meitei/Meetei have migrated not only in the capital city of India, New Delhi, throughout India and abroad, and in the process, their names are often changed.

Historical background

In Meitei/Meetei society, there are seven Yek Sarais: Mangang, Luwang, Khuman, Angom, Moirang, Khaba Nganba, and Chenglei (Sarang Leisangthem).^[1]

Yumnaks are the sub-clans of these seven Yek Sarais, formed by collection of different Yumnaks. Yumnaks inhabited specific areas, and formed collectives. Later, these family members migrated to different areas, dispersing their Yumnaks.^[2]

Uniqueness of Yumnak

The person's Yumnak is used as a prefix to their surname.^[3] Through these Yumnaks, the genealogy of Meitei/Meetei can be traced. They also use gender identification as their middle name--"Chanu" or "Devi" for female gender and for male gender, "Singh" or "Meitei/Meetei".

See also

• History of Manipur
• Kakching Khunou
• Meitei people
• Indian name

References

1. ^ The Meitheis - A Study of the Tribe of the Brahmaputra Valley by T. C. Hodson 2006.
2. ^ The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: 33-1763 CE By Saroj Nalini Parratt
3. ^ MEETEIS' SURNAME By: - Thokchom Angouyaima (Doren)

Further reading

• KOUBA ANGANGNGA was neither PANGAL MAR nor PANGAL.
• Infotechnology
• OBC in Manipur — III, the Sangai Express, 29th August 2009.
• Chieftainship among the Meiteis & Mizos - VII, the Sangai Express, 27th October, 2009
• What's in a name? By: Huidrom Kenajit
• Beyond the Margins, Book Preview By: Akendra Sana
• Use of Imported Titles Misleading Manipuri Culture? By: KO
• Feminism in a traditional society: women of the Manipur Valley‎ by Manjusri Chaki-Sircar, 1984.
• Valley society of Manipur: a cultural frontier of Indian civilization by Ranajit Kumar Saha, 1994.
• Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Manipur‎ by Hamlet Bareh, 2001.
• Chieftainship among the Meiteis & Mizos by Dr. (Mrs.) Priyadarshni M Gangte
• Yumnak Story
• Note on the Manipuri "Yek" by Lieut-Colonel J. Shakespear, CIE., D.S.O.
• The Religion of Manipur by J. Shakespear, Folklore, Vol. 24, No. 4 Dec., 1913, pp. 409-455, Taylor & Francis, Ltd.