If you have one of these surnames, you probably descend from an Egyptian pharaoh

If you're interested in anthroponymy, you've probably thought about creating a family tree. And, with a bit of luck, you may have discovered that you might have surnames that suggest you might be descended from nobility or even that you descend from an Egyptian pharaoh.

The first thing you should consider, dear reader, is that surnames began to be used in the Middle Ages. The Ancient Egyptian civilization developed between 3100 BC and 332 BC. In short, the Egyptians did not have surnames, but they had several names that were shared among family members or even nicknames.

Now we take a leap from the Egyptian Empire to modern-day Egypt. Today, this country is home to around 102 million people, and there are a number of very common surnames. For example, over 2 million people carry the surname Mohamed, followed closely by Ahmed, Hassan, Ali, or Mahmoud.

To discover if you descend from a pharaoh, you can roll up your sleeves and follow these steps. The first step is to study your family tree to see if there are any signs that might suggest that connection. You can also look for historical family documents such as birth, marriage, or death certificates that may indicate a connection to Egypt.

If we find 'something,' things start getting interesting. It may be time to take a DNA test, as there are companies that can provide specific results, even indicating the regions of origin of your ancestors. And to shed more light on this matter, you can always consult anthropologists and historians, as they can provide information about the possible connection between your family and Egypt based on cultural, migratory, or historical evidence.

As we've mentioned, pharaohs did not have surnames, but they had up to five great names or five royal titles. Each of these names had symbolic and religious meanings, reflecting the pharaoh's power, divinity, and legitimacy.

The name of Horus (Hor) represents the pharaoh as the embodiment of the falcon god, Horus. Horus was the god of heaven and royalty, the protector of the pharaoh, and a symbol of his earthly power. Ramses II's Horus name was Kanakht Merymaat, meaning strong bull, beloved of Maat (the goddess of truth and order).

The Nebty name or of the two ladies represents the protection of the two goddesses of Egypt: Nekhbet (the vulture goddess of Upper Egypt) and Wadjet (the cobra goddess of Lower Egypt). It symbolizes unity and sovereignty over both regions. Tutankhamun's Netby name was Nebu Heqa Iunu Shemau, meaning lord of the crown of the north and south.

The Golden Horus name emphasizes the triumph and eternity of the pharaoh, associated with gold, which symbolized immortality and divine power.

The Nesut-bity name is the most recognized and official name of the pharaoh, used in inscriptions and formal documents. Nesut represents Upper Egypt and Bity Lower Egypt, demonstrating the pharaoh's dominance over all of Egypt. Again, we return to Tutankhamun and his Nesut-bity name, which was nebjeperura and means lord of the manifestations of Ra.

Finally, we find the name of Sa-Ra, which underscores the divinity of the pharaoh as the son of the sun god, linking the pharaoh to the cosmic cycle and divine authority.

In summary, each of these names had a specific purpose, from reflecting divinity, earthly power, or legitimacy to the divine protection of the pharaoh. And while discovering ancestors from a pharaoh is a somewhat complex task, you can always visit the country (in budget mode if you prefer) or settle for having a surname that is among the most common in Egypt. And, hey, from there to having pharaoh blood... you never know.