Kurdish tribes are tribes of Kurdish people, an Iranian ethnic group from the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan in Western Asia.
The tribes are socio-political and generally also a territorial unit based on descent and kinship, real or putative, with a characteristic internal structure. They are naturally divided into a number of sub-tribes, and each of these sub-tribes again are divided into smaller units: clans, lineages and households.
Designation Each Kurdish tribe use different kinds of terms to designate "Tribe", "sub-tribe", "Clan", "lineage" and "household"; 'Ahiret, Tira, Hoz, il, Khel, Tayfa or Taifa, Zuma and Rama. These terms are used loosely and interchangeably despite the tribal structure and organization of all Kurdish tribes are almost the same.
History Early record In the 9th century, it was reported by Ibn Khordadbeh that Kurdish tribes used the word Zūma to designate tribes (, ; ).
The 9th-century historian, Ya'qubi, recorded present of tribes of Kurds in Kermanshah, Saymara, Hulwan and some villages in Spahan region. Al-Mas'udi reported the Kurdish tribes locations; the tribe called Šūhīān or Šāhīān at Dinawar and Hamadan, Māǰordān at Kankavar and many other tribes that were present in the Jibal region. Estakhiri, the 10th-century author and traveler reported Kurdish tribes presence at the vicinity of Takrit. Ibn Hawqal reported on Hadhbāni, Humaydi and Lari tribe.
Armenia and Georgia Kurdish tribes in Armenia and Georgia consist of Yazidis who arrived in Caucasus from the regions of Van, Kars and Dogubayazit during two main waves of migrations, the first wave taking place during the Russo-Ottoman wars of 19th century (1828–1829 and 1879–1882) and the second wave taking place during World War I, especially during and after the Armenian genocide where Yazidis were also targeted alongside Armenians. Before migrating, Yazidis formed an integral part of Kurdish tribal interactions in the Ottoman Empire. The Yazidis of Armenia who arrived during the first wave of migrations, settled in Aparan and Talin provinces in the mountainous regions of Aragatz, whereas the Yazidis who arrived during the second wave settled in villages across Ashtarak, Echmiadzin and Armavir.
Tribal confederations The present tribes and tribal confederations with their sub-tribes are listed below:
Xaltî Anqosî Axlerî
Zuqiriya Confederation
Baravî Bûtikî Belekerî Dasinî Divinî Korkitiya Kurtikî Masekî Chokhreshî Memreshî Mendesorî Mendikî Reshî Reshkî Shemsika Sorî
Mehemdiya Confederation
Mehemdî Memresha
Hesiniya Confederation
Belekerî Beyandûrî Bûvkî Dasinî Dawidî Divinî Dodkî Gêloyî Kashakhî Mamtajî Memîdokî Mekhsûdî Mûskî Mîrangî Qazanî Qûchî Remoshî Sherqî Tûzhkî Ûdî Ortilî (Disputed)
Sipki Confederation
Belî Chîlî Îsedizî Kashakha Karêyî Kilêrî Mikhayla Pîvazî Rejevî Rojkî Sahaniya Stûrkî Shanezera Shemsika Utî
Azerbaijan A large portion of the centuries-old Kurdish population in present-day Azerbaijan was deported by the Soviet Union to Central Asia from the 1930s onwards. The remaining Kurdish population in the former Red Kurdistan area (Lachin and Kelbajar districts) was displaced by ethnic-Armenian forces during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, whilst the Kurds outside of the conflict zone in Azerbaijan became heavily assimilated into Azerbaijani culture.
The information on the tribes in Azerbaijan is from 1936:
Tribes Alihan Aliyan Babali Bargushat Bozlu FerihkanGajisamGulukchi Hasenan KarachorluKelaniKulekan KulpucciMilan PugianPusian ShadmanliSheylanli SisiyanSultan TahmasTerter
Iraq
Baghdad Governorate The following tribes are present in Baghdad Governorate:
Feyli tribe
Diyala Governorate The following tribes are present in Diyala Governorate:
Bacelan tribe Biban tribe Gurkuş tribe Delo tribe Feylî tribe Hemawend tribe Caf tribe Kaganlu tribe Kakeyî tribe (Yarsanism) Kakevar tribe Kelhurr tribe Leylani tribe Mamhajan tribe Palani tribe Qarah Alush tribe Suramiri Şeyxbizin tribe Tilishani tribe Umarmil tribe Zargush tribe Zend tribe Zengene tribe
Dohuk Governorate The following tribes are present in Dohuk Governorate:
Babiri tribe Bamernî tribe Barzani tribe Basidkî tribe (Yezidi) Berwari tribe Belesinî tribe (Yezidi) Birîmenî tribe (Yezidi) Dina tribe (Yezidi) Dinnadi tribe (Yezidi) Kochar tribe Dolamarî tribe Doski tribe Dumilî tribe (Yezidi) Ertuşi tribe Guli tribe Hewêrî tribe (Yezidi) Hekarî tribe (Yezidi) Heraqî tribe (Yezidi) Mamûsî tribe (Yezidi) Mlhmbani tribe Mamesh tribe Misûsan tribe (Yezidi) Mizûrî tribe Nerway tribe Nheli tribe Pêdayî tribe (Yezidi) Qaîdî tribe (Yezidi) Qirnayî tribe (Yezidi) Rêkanî tribe Rûbanistî tribe (Yezidi) Sharafani tribe Sindî tribe Sipna tribe Silêvanî tribe Sûrçî tribe Tirk tribe (Yezidi) Tovi/Tuvi/Toviye tribe Xaltî tribe (Yezidi) Xetarî tribe (Yezidi) Zêbarî tribe
Erbil Governorate The following tribes are present in Erbil Governorate:
Balak tribe Ako tribe Barzani tribe Barzinji tribe Bilbas tribe Bradost tribe Dizayee tribe Dolamari tribe Gerdi Haruti tribe Herki tribe Kawani tribe Khailani tribe Khoshnaw tribe Mantik tribe Nanakali tribe Shwan tribe Siani tribe Siyan tribe Surchi tribe Zarari tribe Zebari tribe
Halabja Governorate Jaff tribe
Kirkuk Governorate The following tribes are present in Kirkuk Governorate:
Amarmel tribe Barzinji tribe Biban tribe Delo tribe Hemawend tribe Jabari tribe Kaka'i tribe (Yarsanism) Salehi tribe Siyan tribe Sharafbayani tribe Shuhan tribe Talabani tribe Zangana tribe
Nineveh Governorate The following tribes and confederations are present in Nineveh Governorate:
Xorkan Tribal Confederation (Yezidi) Aldexî tribe Adiyan tribe Aldîn tribe Bekran tribe Cefrî tribe Çêlkan tribe Dilkan tribe Heskan tribe Hewîrî tribe Helîqî tribe Kurkurka tribe Mendikan tribe Mûsanî tribe Mehirkan tribe Musqora tribe Mala Bakê tribe Qîçkan tribe Qîranî tribe Reshkan tribe Simûqî tribe Sherqiyan tribe Shehwanî tribe
Cuwana Tribal Confederation (Yezidi) Aqosî tribe Bekira tribe Çûkan tribe Dilkan tribe Emeran tribe Hebaban/Hebabat tribe Howêrî tribe Hilêqî tribe Heskan tribe Kizan tribe Korkorkî tribe Mashekî tribe Mihirkan tribe Xinan tribe Mala Xalitê tribe Miskora tribe Qîçikan tribe Hesenî tribe Nukrî tribe Eldinan tribe Usivan tribe Xosî tribe Elî Sorka tribe Xifshan tribe
Other Bajalan tribe Duchi tribe Fuqarah tribe (Yezidi) Gergeri tribe Hasenan tribe Kaka'i tribe (Yarsanism) Kiran tribe
Saladin Governorate The following tribes are present in Saladin Governorate:
Kaka'i tribe (Yarsanism)
Sulaymaniyah Governorate The following tribes are present in Sulaymaniyah Governorate:
Ardalan tribe Bajalan tribe Barzinji tribe Chegini tribe Guran tribe Hamawand tribe Jaff tribe Jibari tribe Kalhor tribe Mangur tribe Shwan tribe Zangana tribe
Wasit Governorate The following tribes are present in Wasit Governorate:
Feyli tribe
Iran
Ardabil province The following tribes are present in Ardabil province:
Delikan tribe Qolugjan tribe Shatran tribe
Bushehr province Zangeneh tribe
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province Zangeneh tribe
East Azerbaijan province The following tribes are present in East Azerbaijan province:
Chalabianlu tribe Mohammad Khanlu tribe Shaqaqi tribe
Fars province The following tribes are present in Fars province:
Chegini tribe Kordshuli tribe Kuruni tribe Lashani tribe Uriad tribe Zangana tribe
Gilan province The following tribes are present in Gilan province: Amarlu tribe Reşwan tribe Jalalvand Ilbeigi
Golestan province Aghili Kiani Kakavand Jahanbeiglu Sepanlu Zafaranlu
Hamadan province The following tribes are present in Hamadan province:
Chahardoli tribe Falak al-Din tribe Ghiasvand tribe Jalilvand tribe Kakavand tribe Musavand tribe Torkashvand tribe Zand tribe Zola tribe
Ilam province The following tribes are present in Ilam province:
Arkavazi tribe Badreh tribe Balavand/Zardalan tribe Beyrey/Ali Sherwan tribe Dehbalai tribe Dilfan tribe Eyvan tribe Feyli tribe Kalhor tribe Khezel tribe Kolivand tribe Malekshahi tribe Rizehvand tribe Shuhan tribe
Isfahan province Golbaghi (Gulbaghi) tribe Zarrabi (Kashan) Donboli (Kashan)
Kerman province Lak Khajevand Jalilvand
Kermanshah province The following tribes are present in Kermanshah province:
Ahmedvand tribe Bajalan tribe Bajulvand tribe Balvand tribe Dinarvand tribe Ghiasvand tribe Guran tribe Hulilan tribe Jaff tribe Jalilvand tribe Kakavand tribe Kalhor tribe Karam Alivand tribe Kerindi tribe Khalvand tribe Kolya'i tribe Kuruni tribe Mafivand tribe Namivand tribe Nanakuli tribe Osmanvand tribe Payirvand tribe Qalavand tribe Sanjâbi tribe Shabankara tribe Sharafbayani tribe Torkashvand tribe Zangana tribe Zola tribe
Khorasan provinces The following tribes are present in North Khorasan province and Razavi Khorasan province:
Amarlu tribe Baçvan tribe Badlan tribe Berivan tribe Bicervan tribe Bilbas tribe Çapeş tribe Davan tribe Hamazkan tribe Izan tribe Keyvan tribe Mamyan tribe Mastyan tribe Mozdegan tribe Palokan tribe Qaçkan tribe Qarabas tribe Qaraçur tribe Qaraman tribe Reşwan tribe Rudkan tribe Sevkan tribe Silsepuran tribe Şadiyan tribe Şeyhkan tribe Şirvan tribe Torosan tribe Tukan tribe Zafaran tribe Zangalan tribe Zaraqkan tribe Zardkan tribe Zeydan tribe
Khuzestan province Sagvand tribe Kalhor Kordzangeneh
Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmad Province Tilekuhi tribe
Kurdistan province The following tribes are present in Kurdistan province:
Ardalan tribe Kabudvand tribe Khajevand tribe Jaff tribe Mukri tribe Sarshiv tribe Tilaku'i tribe Zarrin-Kafsh tribe
Lorestan province The following tribes are present in Lorestan province:
Adinevand tribe Ahmedvand tribe Amrayi tribe Azadbakht tribe Baharvand tribe Chegini tribe Dalvand tribe Dilfan tribe Feyli tribe (refugee camp) Geravand tribe Ghiasvand tribe Hasanvand tribe Itivand tribe Jalilavand tribe Jomur tribe Kakavand tribe Kolivand tribe Kushki tribe Mirvand tribe Mumiavand tribe Musavand tribe Nurali tribe Padarvand tribe Romanvand tribe Shahivand tribe Tarkhan tribe Yousefvand tribe
Markazi (Arak) Province Kalhor
Mazandaran province The following tribes are present in Mazandaran province: Dilfan tribe Khajevand tribe Jahanbeglu tribe Modan tribe
Qazvin province The following tribes are present in Qazvin province:
Amarlu tribe Chegini tribe Jalilavand tribe Reşwan tribe
Semnan province Pazuki
Sistan and Baluchistan Bijarzahi
Tehran province The following tribes are present in Tehran province: Pazooki tribe Seilsepur
West Azerbaijan province The following tribes are present in West Azerbaijan province: Bagzâdah tribe Bradost tribe Chahardoli tribe Dehbokri tribe Donboli tribe Fayzallahbey tribe Gewirk tribe Haydaran tribe Herki tribe Jalali tribe Malkari tribe Mamash tribe Mangur tribe Milan tribe Mokri tribe Musilyan tribe Piran tribe Shekak tribe Suseni tribe Zafaran/Zaxuran tribe Zerza tribe
Yazd province Golbaghi (Gulbaghi) tribe
Zanjan province Amarlu tribe Barghipur Shadlu Arkavazi
Syria
Al-Hasakah and Raqqa Governorates The following tribes are present in Al-Hasakah Governorate and Raqqa Governorate:
Abajani tribe (Yezidi) Abasan tribe Adiya tribe (Yezidi) Afshi tribe (Yezidi) Aliyan tribe Aşitan tribe Bahcolan tribe (Yezidi) Berazi tribe Daqoran tribe Dasikan tribe (Yezidi) Dazwani tribe Dina tribe (Yezidi) Dorkan tribe Efshan tribe (Yezidi) Gabara tribe Hasenan tribe Hawna tribe Heverkan tribe Jabia tribe Kafnasa tribe (Yezidi) Ketikan tribe Khalta tribe (Yezidi) Kikan tribe Kiwakhi tribe (Yezidi) Koçer tribe Mahlami tribe Mahoka tribe (Yezidi) Marsini tribe Mihirkan tribe (Yezidi) Milan tribe Miran tribe Nimrdani tribe (Yezidi) Omerkan tribe Omeriyan tribe Pinar Eliya tribe Semoqa tribe (Yezidi) Shifaqta tribe (Yezidi) Sharqi tribe (Yezidi) Şêxan tribe Taqa tribe (Yezidi)
Aleppo Governorate The following tribes are present in Aleppo Governorate: Aleddin tribe Amkan tribe Berazi tribe Biyan tribe Çêlka tribe (Yezidi) Cûmiyan tribe