Baig or Beg or Begg (Turkic: Beg, Persian: بیگ) is a Turkic family name. The wife of Baig was known as Begum or Baigum.

History & Origins

The name Baig was originally a title given to members of the Turkic clan called Barlas. They played a pivotal role in Turkic empires in Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia.

The name Baig is derived from the Turkic word Beg or Bey, which means chieftain or chief, i.e leader or commander. The members of the Mughal Dynasty belonged to the Chughtai and Barlas clan and "Baigs", who were members of the Barlas clan, were high ranking military commanders and advisors to the Mughal Royal Families. Baigs occupied the upper echelons of society in the conquered parts of South Asia.

Baig was also used as a military rank in the Ottoman Empire. (See: Bey)

The diaspora of Baig's can be found in India/Pakistan, Iran, Central Asia, Turkey, Former Yugoslav and the Balkans. Significant immigrant populations in Canada, US, UK, Europe

Use As a Name

For the Mughal use, the honorific title Mirza (مرزا) was added before the given name, for all the males, and 'Baig' (بیگ) was added as a family name.

Historically Mirza (as the title), The Given Name, and Baig (as the surname), was the naming style for the Baigs who settled in Mughal South Asia. For example: Mirza Mansur Baig. This style is still common in Mughal South Asia.

Today

Today the surname Baig is commonly used by descendants of "Baigs or Begs" in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Central Asia, Former Yugoslav and the Balkans (in some cases under alternate spellings Bey/Begg/Beigh/Begzadeh/Begović). For Example: Mirza Zubair Ali Baig.