Niyazov (surname)

Niyazov or Niazov (f. Niyazova or Niazova, Russian: Ниязов, Tajik: Ниёзов, romanized: Niyozov, Turkmen: Nyýazow, Niýazowa) is a Russianized Central Asian (Kazakh, Uzbek, Bukhari Jewish, Tajiki, and Turkmen) family name. The meanings of the surname are in Persian or Bukhari. "Niyaz"/Niaz means: 1. Gift, 2. Wish, 3. compassion.^[1] The suffix "ov" means 's (Niaz's). In the Bukharian Jewish community, the name "Niyaz" was used simultaneously with its Hebrew cognate "Menahem"; hence, the surname Niyazov indicates that whoever bears this name within the Jewish community is a descendant of a man named Niyaz or Menahem.

Notable people with the surname include:

• Atamyrat Nyýazow (1912–1942), Soviet Red Army soldier, father of Saparmyrat
• Abdul-Vahed Niyazov (b. 1969), Russian businessman
• Edige Niyazov (1940–2009), Kazakhstani artist
• Marat Nyýazow (1933–2009), Soviet and Turkmen sport shooter
• Muza Niýazowa (b. 1938), wife of Saparmyrat
• Murat Nyýazow (b. 1967), Turkmen politician, son of Saparmyrat and Muza
• Saparmyrat Niyazov (1940–2006), Turkmen politician
• Tahmina Niyazova (b. 1989), Tajiki female singer