A portrait of abdullah khan from padshahnama folio

Mian or miyan is a royal

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...

of the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...

, also sometimes used as a surname. ''

Begum Begum (also begüm, bagum, begom, begam, baigum or beygum) is a royal and aristocratic title from Central and South Asia. It is the feminine equivalent of the title ''baig'' or '' bey'', which in Turkic languages means "higher official". It us ...

or Beygum, is used to describe the wife of a Mian. It is used by several monarchs of Indian states.'' In the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an early-modern empire that controlled much of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries. Quote: "Although the first two Timurid emperors and many of their noblemen were recent migrants to the subcontinent, the d ...

, ''mian'' indicated a king or a prince under the suzerainty of the

Mughal emperor The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...

; it is hence roughly equivalent to the title of ''

raja ''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...

'', but could also take the higher meaning of ''

maharaja Mahārāja (; also spelled Maharajah, Maharaj) is a Sanskrit title for a "great ruler", "great king" or " high king". A few ruled states informally called empires, including ruler raja Sri Gupta, founder of the ancient Indian Gupta Empire, a ...

'', in which sense it was used by the

Kalhora dynasty The Kalhora dynasty ( sd, ڪلهوڙا راڄ, translit=Kalhora Raj) was a Sunni Muslim dynasty of Sindhi Kalhora origin based in the region of Sindh in what is now Pakistan. They claimed an Arab origin. The dynasty ruled Sindh and parts of the P ...

of Sindh. It was also conferred by the Mughal emperor Jahangir upon

Rajput Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...

rulers in the group of northern princely states known as the Indian Hill States. The title is mentioned by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

in ''The Golden Book of India'' as one of the principal titles used by " Mohammedan Princely States":

"Other Mohammadan titles sometimes equivalent in consideration to
Nawab Nawab ( Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب; bn, নবাব/নওয়াব; hi, नवाब; Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ; Persian, Punjabi , Sindhi, Urdu: ), also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Nobab, ...
, but not always are
Wali A wali (''wali'' ar, وَلِيّ, '; plural , '), the Arabic word which has been variously translated "master", "authority", "custodian", "protector", is most commonly used by Muslims to indicate an Islamic saint, otherwise referred to by the ...
, Sultan,
Shah Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...
,
Amir Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cer ...
,
Mir ''Mir'' (russian: Мир, ; ) was a space station that operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, operated by the Soviet Union and later by Russia. ''Mir'' was the first modular space station and was assembled in orbit from 1986 to&n ...
, Mirza, Mian, Khan ; also
Sardar Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar/Sirdar ( fa, سردار, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other aristocrats. It has also been ...
and Diwan, which are common to
Hindus Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
and Mohammadans".

As a title in India

The

Koli Koli may refer to: Places * Koli, Finland, a hill in Finland * Koli National Park, a national park in Finland * Koli, Iran (disambiguation), several places in Iran * Koli Airfield, a former airfield in the South Pacific Other uses * Koli peopl ...

rulers of petty

Princely States A princely state (also called native state or Indian state) was a nominally sovereign entity of the British Indian Empire that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule, subject to ...

of Ramas, Dabha, Punadra and Khadal used the Mian as their hereditary title.

Etymology

Mian is said to literally mean "Prince". Although it may also be translated as "Lord" or "Master".

Compound Derivatives

The Mughal

Emperor Aurangzeb Muhi al-Din Muhammad (; – 3 March 1707), commonly known as ( fa, , lit=Ornament of the Throne) and by his regnal title Alamgir ( fa, , translit=ʿĀlamgīr, lit=Conqueror of the World), was the sixth emperor of the Mughal Empire, ruling ...

conferred the compound derivative of Sayyid Mian upon Abdullah Khan Barha. The compound title Miangul is used by all member of the erstwhile state Swat including the head of the house. . While in Sangri state the ruler is addressed as Rai Mian.

British Era

The title was translated by the British as meaning "Prince", "Lord" or "Master". The title was often used by rulers of Jagirs as well as Princes of Blood of both Hindu Rajput States, as well as Muslim Princely States. The title held pre-eminence in Sindh where it was used by the dynasts of the former Royal dynasties of Kahlora dynasty and

Soomro Soomro ( sd, سومرو, सूमरो) or Soomra or Sumrah is a tribe having a local origin in Sindh who had later claimed to being either Rajputs or Arabs. They are found in Sindh, parts of Punjab especially bordering Sindh, Balochistan provi ...

and held in that capacity by the former Soomro Prime Minister of Pakistan

Muhammad Mian Soomro Muhammad Mian Soomro (Sindhi: محمد ميان سومرو; born 19 August 1950) is a Pakistani politician, banker and senator who currently serves as the federal minister for Privatization. Born to a Native Sindhi family originally linked t ...

. The title was prominent in the Himalayan region as well as regions adjacent to it. The British noted in the Gurdaspur Imperial Gazetteer that the title Mian held the highest rank above Malik or Chaudhry within the Gurdaspur District of Punjab. The title was also often given to sons of Nawabs.

Princely States

The title is used in varying capacity by members of princely states, sometimes used for Princes and other times used by the Monarch himself. *In Baoni the title is used by members of certain branches of the royal family. *In

Bhopal Bhopal (; ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes'' due to its various natural and artificial lakes. It i ...

its used by members of certain branches. *In Muhammadgarh State, the title of Mian is used by the Heir Apparent. * In Pathari State the hier apparent is styled as Mian. *In Khajuria State the monarch is styled as Mian. *In Swat State. The title Miangul was used by all dynasts of the Swat state including the

Wali of Swat A wali (''wali'' ar, وَلِيّ, '; plural , '), the Arabic word which has been variously translated "master", "authority", "custodian", "protector", is most commonly used by Muslims to indicate an Islamic saint, otherwise referred to by the ...

himself. * In

Guler State Guler was a small precolonial Indian hill state in the Lower Himalayas. Its capital was the town of Haripur Guler, in modern-day Himachal Pradesh. The kingdom was founded in 1415 by Raja Hari Chand, a scion of the ancient royal family of Kang ...

the monarch was formerly styled as Mian and later styled as Raja. * In

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...

the sons and especially the heir apparent of rulers are styled as Mian as well as some rulers themselves.

Bombay Region

The title held immense importance in the Bombay region, and was used by the monarchs of several Princely States in that area. Including: *In Dabha state the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Dugri State the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Jabria Bhil State the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Kharal State the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Punadra State the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Ramas State the monarch is styled as Mian.

Himalayan Region

Ever since the bestowal of the title of Mian upon the Royal Households of the Himalayas by the Emperor Jahangir, the title has held great importance in the Himalayan region. * In

Sangri State Baragaon is a village in Kumarsain subdivision of Shimla district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Formerly under the British Raj, it was the capital of Sangri princely state, which was one of the several states of the Punjab States A ...

the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Kashmir State the title is held by grandsons of the Maharaja of Kashmir. * In

Nadaun Nadaun is a historical town and a nagar panchayat in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Previously a part of the princely state of Kangra, Nadaun is presently an independent small town located on NH 3 and NH 303 in the Sivalik ra ...

, the title is reserved for the hier apparent of the state. * In

Lambagraon Kangra-Lambagraon was a historical princely estate (''jagir'') of British India located in the present-day state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1947, the estate comprised 437 villages, encompassing an area of 324 km2. It had with a Privy Purse o ...

, dynasts are styled as Mian. * In Jaswan, the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Rai State the monarch is styled as Mian. * In Pirthpura State the monarch is styled as Mian. In the foothills of the Himalayas. Dynast's of the Rohilla Dynasty which ruled the erstwhile Kingdom of Rohilkhand and later the Princely State of Rampur are styled informally as Mian. The style of address is extended to all dynasts including the

Nawab of Rampur Rampur State was a 15 gun-salute princely state of British India. It came into existence on 7 October 1774 as a result of a treaty with Oudh. Following independence in 1947, Rampur State and other princely states of the area, such as Bena ...

himself.

Notable people

America

Atif Mian Atif Rehman Mian ( ur, ; born 28 June 1975) is a Pakistani-American economist who serves as the John H. Laporte Jr. Class of 1967 Professor of Economics, Public Policy, and Finance at Princeton University, and as the Director of the Julis-Ra ...

, economist * Mian Hussain, boxer * Zia Mian, physicist, nuclear expert, nuclear policy maker and research scientist

Bangladesh

* Abu Taher Miah (1932–2004), Bangladeshi industrialist and politician * Badsha Miah, kabaddi player * Bande Ali Mia (1906–1979), Bangladeshi poet *

M. A. Wazed Miah M. A. Wazed Miah ( bn, এম এ ওয়াজেদ মিয়া; 6 February 19429 May 2009) was a Bangladeshi physicist and the writer of a number of texts in physics and some political history books, a former Chairman of the Bangladesh ...

(1942–2009), Bangladeshi nuclear scientist * Mohammad Mamun Miah (born 1987), footballer * Mohammad Moniruzzaman Miah (c.1935–2016), academic * Muhammad Shahjahan Miah, politician * Rana Miah, cricketer * Sheikh Sujat Mia, former MP for Habiganj-1 *

Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah ( – 1 June 1969) was a Bengali journalist and politician. He served as the founding editor of ''The Daily Ittefaq''. He wrote the editorial Rajnoitik Moncho (''The Political Stage''). Most of his journalists were con ...

(1911–1969), journalist and politician

Europe

* Abjol Miah, former councillor of Shadwell * Andrew Muzaffar Miah,

bioethicist Bioethics is both a field of study and professional practice, interested in ethical issues related to health (primarily focused on the human, but also increasingly includes animal ethics), including those emerging from advances in biology, med ...

and journalist * Badrul Miah, convicted of a racially motivated murder * Emran Mian, author * Hammad Miah (born 1993), professional snooker player * Helal Miah, investment analyst at

The Share Centre The Share Centre was an independent UK retail stockbroker based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. History The Share Centre was founded by Gavin Oldham, formerly of Barclayshare (now Barclays Stockbrokers) in 1990. It was based in Ayl ...

* Moina Meah, restaurateur and social reformer * Safwan AhmedMia, technology reviewer and Internet personality * Saiman Miah (born 1986), architectural designer and graphic designer *

Tamanna Miah Tamanna Miah ( bn, তামান্না মিঞা) is a British Bangladeshi campaigner, public speaker, media spokesperson and chair of trustees for a refugee charity. Early life Miah was born into a Bengali Muslim family in Sylhet, Bang ...

, activist * Mohammad Ajman Tommy Miah MBE, celebrity chef

India

Ameen Mian Qaudri Syed Muhammad Ameen Mian Qadri is the custodian (Sajjada Nashin) of the Khanqah-e-Barkatiya Marehra Shareef (Sufi Khanqah) of Qadri Order, a subgroup of the Indian Sufi Barelvi movement and founder of Al Barkaat Educational Institutions,Aligarh ...

, Sufi custodian * Azhari Miyan, Barelvi leader * Fazal Karim Miah, Indian politician * Ghazi Miyan, legendary figure * Habib Miyan, longevity claimant * Hashmi Miya, Muslim theologian *

Madni Miyan Syed Mohammed Madni Ashraf often referred to as Shaykh al-Islām, and Madni Miyan (born on 27 August 1938 CE; 1 Rajab 1357 AH) is an Indian Islamic scholar, theologian, spiritual leader and author from Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, Uttar Pradesh, Ind ...

, Sufi leader * Mian Bashir Ahmed, Sufi leader *

Miya people The Miya people (মিঞা), also known as Na-Asamiya (ন-অসমীয়া lit. ''neo-Assamese''), refers to the descendants of migrant Muslims from the modern Mymensingh, Rangpur and Rajshahi Divisions, who settled in the Brahmaputra ...

, a Muslim community in Assam * Mian Rajputs, landowning clan *

Syed Mian Nawab Sayyid Abdullah Khan I also known as Sayyid Mian I, was the father of Syed Hassan Ali Khan and Syed Hussain Ali Khan the two famous Sayyid Brothers. Sayyid Mian, was a loyal serviceman of Aurangzeb, he became famous as a commander during the ...

, Mughal commander

British India

* Batak Mian, cook * Dudu Miyan (1819-1862), independence leader * Jitu Miah (d. 1925), magistrate and sub-registrar * Kaptan Miah (1872-1922), politician, lawyer and entrepreneur *

Mian Aminuddin Mian Aminuddin (Punjabi, ur, میاں امین الدین) was a civil servant in the Indian Civil Service (British India) and the first Mayor of Lahore, Pakistan.Hasina Miya Hasina Miya ( ne, हसिना मिया) is a Nepalese politician, who is the member of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).} Following the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, she was selected by CPN (UML) from the Propor ...

, Nepalese politician * Sadrul Miya Haque, Nepalese politician *

Salim Miya Ansari Salim Miya Ansari is a Nepalese politician. In the 1994 election he was elected to the Pratinidhi Sabha as the candidate of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) from the Bara-4 constituency. Ansari won with 20148 votes against ...

, Nepalese politician

Pakistan

* Ajmal Mian, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court *

Mian Amer Mahmood Mian Amer Mahmood, (born 25 July 1960) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who is the founder of the Punjab Group of Colleges. He was the Mayor of Lahore between 2001 and 2009.Mian family of Baghbanpura Belonging to the Arain tribe of Punjab region, they are an aristocratic noble family originally from Areha Jericho Modern Palestine who entered in Indian Subcontinent with Umayyad Arab General Muhammad bin Qasim. The family has made great contrib ...

, a noble

Arain Arain (also known as Raeen) are a large Punjabi agricultural tribe with strong political identity and organisation, found mainly in the Pakistani provinces of Punjab and Sindh with a small population in parts of Indian Punjab, Uttar Pradesh ...

family of Lahore * Mian (tribe), a Pakistani Punjabi tribe in the Ishaqpura region *

Mian Mir Baba Sain Mir Mohammed Sahib (c. 1550 – 22 August 1635), popularly known as Mian Mir or Miyan Mir, was a famous Sindhi Sufi Muslim saint who resided in Lahore, specifically in the town of ''Dharampura'' (in present-day Pakistan). He was a di ...

, Sufi saint *

Mian Muhammad Bakhsh Mīān Muhammad Bakhsh (میاں محمد بخش) was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi and poet. Born in the city of Mirpur to a Gujjar family of Paswal tribe, he is renowned as a great poet and Sufi scholar by the people of Punjab and Azad Kashmir. Wri ...

, Sufi saint and poet * Mian Muhammad Mansha, billionaire and business magnate *

Mian Muhammad Latif Mian Muhammad Latif ( ur, میاں محمد لطیف) is a Pakistani businessman who is the founder of Chenab Group. He is the father of Pakistani politician Mian Farhan Latif. Early life and career Mian Muhammad Latif was born in 1952 in ...

, businessman * Mian Muhammad Sharif, businessman *

Mian Tufail Mohammad Mian Tufail Mohammad ( ur, میاں طفيل محمد) (April 1914 – 25 June 2009) was a Pakistani religious leader, lawyer, Islamic theologian, and former Secretary General and Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan party.

, theologian *

Mian Hayaud Din Major General Mian Hayaud Din HJ MBE MC sc, idc (2 July 1910 – 20 May 1965) was an army officer of the British Indian Army during the second world war and later of the Pakistan Army. He saw active service in several campaigns and was an em ...

, major general *

Mian Iftikharuddin Mian Iftikharuddin (Punjabi, ur, میاں افتخارالدیں; 8 April 1907 – 6 June 1962) was a Pakistani politician, activist of the Indian National Congress, who later joined the All-India Muslim League and worked for the cause of Pakis ...

, leftist leader *

Mian Saqib Nisar Mian Saqib Nisar ( ur, ; born 18 January 1954) is a Pakistani jurist who served as the 25th Chief Justice of Pakistan from 31 December 2016 till 17 January 2019. He has previously served as the Law Secretary. He also served as a visiting prof ...

, jurist *

Mian Nawaz Sharif Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu, Punjabi: ; born 25 December 1949) is a Pakistani businessman and politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan for three non-consecutive terms. He is the longest-serving prime minister of Pak ...

, former prime minister of Pakistan * Mian Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab * Mian Wada, Pothwari saint * Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro, philanthropist *

, banker and former Chairman of the Senate * Salahuddin Mian, Pakistan's first ceramic artist * Mian Muhammad Yousaf Riaz, renowned ''baraf-pani'' athlete

Uganda

* Farouk Miya (born 1997), footballer

Places

* Mian, a village in Mansa district, Indian Punjab *

Mian Channu Mian Channu, alternately spelled Mian Chunnun, is the capital city of Mian Channu Tehsil in Khanewal District, Punjab province of Pakistan. Etymology The city was named after a Sufi saint, Baba Mian Channu, who had lived there at one point. ...

, a city in Khanewal District, Pakistani Punjab *

Mian Channu Tehsil Mian Channu ( ur, ) is an administrative subdivision ( tehsil) of Khanewal District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Its capital is Mian Channu Mian Channu, alternately spelled Mian Chunnun, is the capital city of Mian Channu Tehsil in ...

, an administrative subdivision of Khanewal District, Pakistani Punjab *

Mian Wali Qureshian Mian Wali Qureshian (میاوالی قریشیاں) is a town in Rahim Yar Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. It was founded more than 450 years ago by Makhdoom Rohullah Shah I. The language spoken is Saraiki language. Description Mian Wali Qur ...

, a town in Rahim Yar Khan District, Pakistani Punjab *

Mianwali Mianwali (Punjabi/ ur, ) is the capital city of Mianwali District in Punjab, Pakistan. The 81st largest city of Pakistan, it is known for its diverse population of, Punjabi and Pashtun ethnicities. History Mianwali District was an agricult ...

, a city in Punjab, Pakistan *

Mian Deh, Badakhshan Mian Deh is a village in Badakhshan Province in north-eastern Afghanistan. See also *Badakhshan Province Badakhshan Province (Persian/ Uzbek: , ''Badaxšān'') is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the northeastern part of t ...

, Afghanistan * Mian Sahib and Bab-e-Mian Sahib, Sindh *

Miyan Velayat District , native_name_lang = fa , settlement_type = District , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_alt = , image_caption = , image_flag = , flag_alt = ...

, Iran *

Miyan Velayat Rural District Miyan Velayat Rural District ( fa, دهستان ميان ولايت) is a rural district (''dehestan'') in the Central District of Mashhad County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, a ...

, Iran * Bhaini Mian Khan, India * Kateh Mian, Iran * Mian Qaleh, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran * Mian Qaleh, Fars, Iran * Mian Qaleh, Ilam, Iran * Safal Mian, Iran * Mian Bal, Iran * Mian Talan, Iran * Mian Tang, Iran * Mian Qaleh, Kermanshah, Iran * Taherabad-e Mian, Iran * Mian Choqa, Kermanshah, Iran * Mian Choqa, Lorestan, Iran * Mian Chilan, Iran * Mian Melk, Iran * Mian Nahr, Iran * Mian Bazur, Iran *

Mian Rah Mian Rah ( fa, ميان راه, also Romanized as Mīān Rāh; also known as Mīān Rāh-e Vīzhehnān and Mīān Rāh-e Vīzhnān) is a village in Vizhenan Rural District, in the Central District of Gilan-e Gharb County, Kermanshah Province, I ...

, Iran * Mian Farirud, Iran * Mian Margh, Iran

References

{{Authority control Titles in Bangladesh Indian surnames Pakistani names Punjabi-language surnames Gujarati-language surnames Bengali Muslim surnames Titles in India