This is a list of some famous

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...

s in

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

Politics and military

Sarkis Assadourian Sarkis Assadourian (born January 25, 1948) is a Canadian politician from the Liberal Party of Canada. He became the first Armenian-Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons, with great support of the Armenian community of Toronto. Backgro ...

(born 1948, Aleppo), former member of Canadian Parliament *

Samuel Der-Yeghiayan Samuel Der-Yeghiayan (born February 16, 1952) is a former United States federal judge, United States District Court Judge of the Northern District of Illinois. He was appointed in 2003. Der-Yeghiayan is noteworthy as being the first Armenians, Ar ...

(born 1952, Aleppo),

United States federal judge In the United States, a federal judge is a judge who serves on a court established under Article Three of the U.S. Constitution. Often called "Article III judges", federal judges include the chief justice and associate justices of the U.S. S ...

, noteworthy for being the first Armenian immigrant to become a federal judge in the United States * Varoujan Garabedian (born 1954,

Qamishli Qamishli is a city in northeastern Syria on the Syria–Turkey border, adjoining the city of Nusaybin in Turkey. The Jaghjagh River flows through the city. With a 2004 census population of 184,231, it is the List of cities in Syria, ninth most-po ...

), former member of the

ASALA Asala may refer to: * Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia, an Armenian militant organization * Asalah Nasri, Syrian singer * Asala Party, a Salafist political party in Egypt * Al Asalah, a Salafist political party in Bahrain * Asal ...

, linked with the

1983 Orly Airport attack The Orly Airport attack was the 15 July 1983 bombing of a Turkish Airlines check-in counter at Orly Airport in Paris, by the Armenian militant organization ASALA as part of its campaign for the recognition of and reparations for the Armenian geno ...

* Jacobo Harrotian (fl. 19th century,

Aleppo Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...

– 1929

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...

Mexican Mexican may refer to: Mexico and its culture *Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America ** People *** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants *** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...

General officer A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...

n descent who participated in the

Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution () was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from 20 November 1910 to 1 December 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It saw the destruction of the Federal Army, its ...

Garo Kahkejian Garo Kahkejian ( reformed orthography: Կարո Քահքեջյան">Armenian orthography reform">reformed orthography: Կարո Քահքեջյան 24 March 1962 – 26 June 1993) was a famed Armenian military commander and participant in the Fi ...

(1963, Aleppo – 1993, Magauz near

Martakert Martakert (, , also , ) or Aghdara ( ) is a town in the Aghdara District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until 2023 it was controlled by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, as the centre of its Martakert Province. The villa ...

), Armenian military commander and participant of the

First Nagorno-Karabakh War The First Nagorno-Karabakh War was an ethnic conflict, ethnic and territorial conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nag ...

, buried in the Yerablur Pantheon *

Aram Karamanoukian Aram Karamanoukian (; 1 May 1910 – 23 December 1996) was a Syrian-Armenian Lieutenant General of the Syrian Army. He was also a member of the Syrian Parliament. He is the author of several books. For his work as a scholar and military servicem ...

(1910–1996), lieutenant-general of the Syrian army *

Hrant Maloyan Hrant Maloyan (; 29 November 1896 – 1978), also known as Hrant Bek, was a Syrian-Armenians, Armenian military serviceman who became the general officer of the Syrian army and was appointed General Command of the Internal Security Forces in S ...

(1896–1978), General Commander of the Internal Security Forces in Syria *

Vartan Oskanian Vartan Minasi Oskanian (born February 7, 1955) is an Armenian politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Armenia from 1998 to 2008 under President Robert Kocharyan. He is the founder of the Civilitas Foundation. Early life ...

(born 1954, Aleppo), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia 1998– 008 * Sarkis Soghanalian (1929, Alexandretta – 2011,

Hialeah Hialeah ( ; ) is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. With a population of 223,109 as of the 2020 census, it is the sixth-largest city in Florida. It is the second largest city by population in Miami-Dade County in the Miami met ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

), Lebanese-American international private arms dealer from Syria, nicknamed ''The Merchant of Death'' * Levon Ter-Petrossian (1946, Aleppo),

President of Armenia The president of Armenia () is the head of state and the guarantor of independence and territorial integrity of Armenia elected to a single seven-year term by the National Assembly of Armenia. Under Armenia's parliamentary system, the president ...

1991–1998

Religion

Karekin I Karekin I (Armenian: ) (August 27, 1932 – June 29, 1999) served as the Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church between 1994 and 1999. Previously, he served as the Catholicos of Cilicia from 1983 to 1994 as Karekin II (Armenian: ). Be ...

Sarkissian (1932,

Kesab Kessab ( ; ), also spelled Kesab or Kasab, is a town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Latakia Governorate, located 59 kilometers north of Latakia. It is situated near the border with Turkey on the slope of Mount Aqraa, 800 me ...

– 1999,

Vagharshapat Vagharshapat ( ) is the List of cities and towns in Armenia, 5th-largest city in Armenia and the most populous municipal community of Armavir Province, located about west of the capital Yerevan, and north of the closed Turkish-Armenian border ...

catholicos of All Armenians The Catholicos of All Armenians () is the chief bishop and spiritual leader of Armenia's national church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the worldwide Armenian diaspora. The Armenian Catholicos (plural Catholicoi) is also known as the Armenian ...

1994–1999, and catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia 1983–1994 as Karekin II * Zareh I Payaslian (1915, Marash – 1963,

Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...

catholicos A catholicos (plural: catholicoi) is the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and, in some cases, it is the title of the head of an autonomous church. The word comes from ancient Greek ( ...

of the Great House of Cilicia 1956–1963; served as Primate of Aleppo 1943–1956

Literature, history and journalism

* Garnik Addarian (1925, Aleppo – 1986, Beirut), Armenian Diasporan poet * Kevork Ajemian (1932,

Manbij Manbij (; ; ) is a city in the northeast of Aleppo Governorate in northern Syria, west of the Euphrates. The 2004 census gives its population as nearly 100,000.

– 1998,

Lyon Lyon (Franco-Provençal: ''Liyon'') is a city in France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of the French Alps, southeast of Paris, north of Marseille, southwest of Geneva, Switzerland, north ...

), prominent writer, journalist, novelist and public activist, one of the founders of

* Hagop Barsoumian (1936, Aleppo – 1986, Beirut), Armenian scholar and Armenologist, Ph.D. in

Ottoman History The Ottoman Empire was founded c. 1299 by Turkoman chieftain Osman I as a small beylik in northwestern Anatolia just south of the Byzantine capital Constantinople. In 1326, the Ottoman Turks captured nearby Bursa, cutting off Asia Minor from Byz ...

* Antranig Chalabian (1922, Kesab – 2011, Southfield,

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

), US-based Armenian historian, medical illustrator and cartographer * Seta Dadoyan (born in Aleppo), Lebanon-based Armenian scholar, Doctor of Sciences in Philosophy focusing on the history of Armenian philosophy *

Antranig Dzarugian Antranig Dzarugian (Անդրանիկ Ծառուկեան; 4 October 1913 – 23 May 1989) was an influential diasporan Armenian writer, poet, educator, and journalist in the 20th century. Early life Antranig Dzarugian (transliterated in Eastern ...

(1913,

Gürün Gürün is a town in Sivas Province of Turkey. It is the seat of Gürün District.İlçe Beled ...

– 1989, Beirut),

Armenian Diaspora The Armenian diaspora refers to the communities of Armenians outside Armenia and other locations where Armenians are considered an indigenous population. Since antiquity, Armenians have established communities in many regions throughout the world. ...

n novelist and poet of the 20th century, raised and educated in Aleppo * Bedros Hadjian (1933,

Jarabulus Jarabulus (, ALA-LC: , Syrian Arabic, Aleppo dialect: ; or ; ) is a Syrian city administratively belonging to Aleppo Governorate, under the de facto control of the Syrian Opposition. Jarabulus lies on the western bank of the Euphrates and north ...

– 2012, Buenos Aires),

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

-based Armenian contemporary writer and journalist * Rizqallah Hassun (1825, Aleppo – 1880,

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

), Syrian-Armenian poet and the founder of the first newspaper written solely in

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

, ''Mirat al-ahwal'', in 1855 *

Moushegh Ishkhan Moushegh Ishkhan (; born as ''Jenderejian'', 1913 Sivrihisar - 12 June 1990 Beirut) was an Armenian Diasporan poet, writer and educator. Life and work Moushegh Ishkhan was born in 1913 in Sivrihisar, a village near Ankara. Orphaned during the Arm ...

(1914,

Sivrihisar Sivrihisar is a municipality and district of Eskişehir Province, Turkey. Its area is 2,748 km2, and its population is 20,087 (2022). Its elevation is . Location The town of Sivrihisar lies north of the historical site of Pessinus, at the f ...

– 1990, Beirut), Armenian Diasporan poet of the 20th century, raised and educated in Damascus * Harry Koundakjian (1930–2014), Syrian-born American news photographer, photojournalist and photo editor *

Vahan Kurkjian Vahan M. Kurkjian (; 1863–1961) was an Armenian author, historian, teacher, and community leader. In 1904, in Cairo, he published the Armenian newspaper ''Loussaper'' (''The Morning Star''), in the pages of which he and other intellectuals ...

(1863, Aleppo – 1961,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

), Armenian author, historian and teacher, publisher of ''Loussaper'' Armenian newspaper in 1904 in

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

* Harut Sassounian (born 1950, Aleppo), Armenian-American writer and political analyst, publisher of ''

The California Courier ''The California Courier'' is an English-language Armenian weekly newspaper published since 1958 in the United States. Its publisher is Harut Sassounian. History In 1958, ''The California Courier'' was founded in Fresno, California by George J ...

'' * Simon Simonian (1914, Ayntab – 1986, Beirut), Aleppo-raised and educated Armenian writer, public activist and teacher, founder of the Spurk Journal in 1958 in Beirut *

Hrag Vartanian Hrag Vartanian (, born ) is an Armenian-American arts writer, art critic, and art curator. He is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of the arts online magazine ''Hyperallergic''. Life and work Vartanian was born in Aleppo, Syria, raised in Toro ...

(born in Aleppo),

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

-based Armenian-American contemporary writer, critic and cultural worker * Manvel Zulalian (1929, Aleppo – 2012,

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

), academic Armenian historian,

Armenologist Armenian studies or Armenology (, ) is a field of humanities covering Armenian history, language and culture. The emergence of modern Armenian studies is associated with the foundation of the Catholic Mechitarist order in the early 18th century. ...

, and professor of the

Armenian State Pedagogical University Khachatur Abovian Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) (), is a state university and higher education institution based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Founded in 1922, the university is specialized in pedagogy and the preparation ...

, Ph.D. in Oriental studies

Sciences

* Roger Altounian (1922, Aleppo – 1987), Syrian-born Anglo-Armenian

physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...

and

pharmacologist Pharmacology is the science of drugs and medications, including a substance's origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic use, and toxicology. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between ...

who pioneered the use of

sodium cromoglycate Cromoglicic acid (INN)—also referred to as cromolyn (USAN), cromoglycate (former BAN), or cromoglicate—is traditionally described as a mast cell stabilizer, and is commonly marketed as the sodium salt sodium cromoglicate or cromolyn sodium. ...

as a remedy for

asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...

Engineering and Architecture

*Kevork Yeramian (1949 – 2009, Aleppo), Aleppo-born Syrian-Armenian architect and interior designer with major contributions to the Armenian community in Aleppo, including the Aram Manougian Complex, the Armenian theaters of Aleppo, Syria, and various

Armenian genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...

monuments.

Sports

* Kevork Mardikian (born 1957,

Latakia Latakia (; ; Syrian Arabic, Syrian pronunciation: ) is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast. Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mar ...

), football trainer and one of the best Syrian footballers of all time, played during the 1970s and 1980s *

Mardik Mardikian Mardig Kevork Mardigian (; ; born 14 March 1992) is a Syrian professional footballer who plays for Khaitan as a forward or a winger. Personal life He is an ethnic Armenian. His father Kevork Mardikian is known as one of the best Syrian footba ...

(born 1992, Latakia), current member of

Syria national football team The Syria national football team () represents Syria in international Association football, football, and is controlled by the Syrian Arab Federation for Football, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria has never qualified for the FIFA ...

, son of trainer Kevork Mardigian

Music, theatre and drama

* George Tutunjian (1930, Aleppo – 2006,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

), Armenian patriotic songs performer * Aram Tigran (1934, Qamishli – 2009,

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

), Armenian singer among Kurds who sang primarily in Kurdish and Armenian *

Karnig Sarkissian Karnig Sarkissian (; ; born 1953) is an Armenian-American singer from Aleppo, Syria. He is best known throughout the Armenian diaspora for his performance of Armenian patriotic and revolutionary songs. He is a supporter of the Armenian Revoluti ...

(born 1953, Aleppo), contemporary performer of Armenian revolutionary songs *

Paul Baghdadlian Paul Baghdadlian ( Armenian: Փոլ Բաղդադլյան; Western Armenian; Փօլ Պաղտատլեան; July 10, 1953 – June 28, 2011) was an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, musician, and businessman. Early l ...

(1953, Aleppo – 2011,

Glendale, California Glendale is a city located primarily in the Verdugo Mountains region, with a small portion in the San Fernando Valley, of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located about north of downtown Los Angeles. As of 2024, Glendale ha ...

), worldwide Armenian singer *

Haig Yazdjian Haig Yazdjian is a Syrian-Greek composer, vocalist, Oud player, and producer. He was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1959. His parents are Armenians from Kayseri and Nevşehir in modern-day Turkey. For much of his life he has lived in Greece, which is whe ...

(born 1959, Aleppo), Greece-based Syrian-Armenian composer, vocalist and oud player * Arsen Grigorian (Mro) (born 1968, Qamishli), Armenian traditional songs performer *

Avraam Russo Avraam Russo (, , ); born as Abraham Jean Ipjian, now Abraham Zhanovich Ipjian (; born July 21, 1969) is a Syrian-born Russian pop singer of Armenian origin. Russo is an international artist who has recorded songs in a number of languages. He ...

(born 1969, Aleppo), born as Apraham Ipjian, Syrian-Armenian singer in Russia * Raffi Ohanian (born 1989, Aleppo), contemporary singer, 2009–2010 winner of

Hay Superstar Hay Superstar/Hye Superstar (, literally "Armenian Superstar") was the Armenian version of the British television hit show ''Pop Idol'', part of the Idol (franchise), Idol franchise. It is a talent contest to find the best young singer in Armenia. ...

TV hit show of the ''Idol'' series in Armenia

Visual arts

* Jean Carzou (1907, Aleppo – 2000, Marsac-sur-l'Isle,

Dordogne Dordogne ( , or ; ; ) is a large rural departments of France, department in south west France, with its Prefectures in France, prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and ...

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

-Armenian painter from Syria *

Yousuf Karsh Yousuf Karsh FRPS (December23, 1908July13, 2002) was an Armenian–Canadian photographer known for his portraits of notable individuals. He has been described as one of the greatest portrait photographers of the 20th century. An Armenian ge ...

(1908–2002), Armenian Canadian portrait photographer *

Shahen Khachatrian Shahen Gevorki Khachatryan (September 28, 1934 – October 27, 2021) was an Armenian art expert. He was the founding director of the Arshile Gorky Museum in Etchmiadzin. Biography Khachatryan was born in Aleppo on September 28, 1934. In 1946, h ...

(born 1934, Aleppo), artist and art expert, founding director of Arshile Gorky Museum in Vagharshapat

Business and public activism

* Charles A. Agemian (1909, Aleppo – 1996,

Neptune City, New Jersey Neptune City is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,626, a decrease of 244 (−5.0%) from the 201 ...

), nationally known

-American banker * Albert A. Boyajian (born 1940, Aleppo), American business leader and activist for Armenian causes *

Vatche Arslanian Vatche Arslanian (1955 – April 8, 2003) was a member of the Canadian Red Cross and head of logistics for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Iraq. He was one of the six ICRC delegates who chose to stay in the country during ...

(1955, Aleppo – 2003,

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

), member of the

Canadian Red Cross The Canadian Red Cross Society ()ICRC The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a three-time Nobel Prize laureate. The organization has played an instrumental role in the development of rules of war and ...

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

during the 2003 invasion of Iraq * Jack Kachkar (born 1964, Damascus),

Armenian Canadian Armenian Canadians (Western Armenian: գանատահայեր, Eastern Armenian: կանադահայեր, ''kanadahayer''; ) are citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have total or partial Armenian ancestry. According to the 2021 Canadia ...

businessman

Entertainment

* Arto Der Haroutunian (1952, Aleppo – 1987, England), British-Armenian cook, restaurateur, architect, painter, poet and translator *

Noura Kevorkian Noura Kevorkian is a documentary filmmaker (writer, director, editor, and cinematographer). She has won numerous awards including a 2023 Peabody Award for her 2022 film '' Batata'', which is submitted for consideration to the 2024 Oscars in the Do ...

Armenian-Syrian-Lebanese writer, director, and producer * DJ Sedrak (1963, Aleppo – 2008, Yerevan), TV presenter and the first radio-DJ in Armenia, born as Setrag Davidian * Charla Baklaian Faddoul (23 July 1976, Aleppo, Syria), reality star who appeared on '' The Amazing Race 5'' and '' The Amazing Race: All-Stars'' with her cousin Mirna