The House of Melikov (, ), the Russified version of Armenian last name Melikyan () was an

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 ...

noble family in the

Kingdom of Georgia The Kingdom of Georgia (), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a Middle Ages, medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in Anno Domini, AD. It reached Georgian Golden Age, its Golden Age of political and economic strength during the reign ...

and later in the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

. The family descended from an Armenian nobleman named Malek Miriman who hailed from

Somkhiti Somkhiti ( ka, სომხითი, ) was an ambiguous geographic term used in medieval and early modern Georgian historical sources to refer to Armenia on one hand and to the Armeno-Georgian marchlands along the river valleys of Debed and Kh ...

, had converted to

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

and was enfeoffed with the

melik Мelik (, from ) was a hereditary Armenian noble title used in Eastern Armenia from the Late Middle Ages until the nineteenth century. The meliks represented some of the last remnants of the old Armenian nobility, as well as Persian nobility ...

dom of Lori by the Safavid Iranian king

Tahmasp I Tahmasp I ( or ; 22 February 1514 – 14 May 1576) was the second shah of Safavid Iran from 1524 until his death in 1576. He was the eldest son of Shah Ismail I and his principal consort, Tajlu Khanum. Tahmasp ascended the throne after the ...

(r. 1524–1576). Under the Safavids, the family continued to rise to prominence, and they were known as the Mirimanidze clan/family. Later, the family returned to

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

(

Georgian Orthodox The Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამოციქულო ავტოკეფალური მართლმადიდებელი ეკლესია, tr), commonl ...

) and were confirmed as

Princes A prince is a Monarch, male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary title, hereditary, in some ...

Melikishvili ( ka, მელიქიშვილი) and

dukes Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of Royal family, royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and above sovereign princes. As royalty or nobi ...

. A branch of this family became

Armenian Apostolic The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic Church, belongs to the Arme ...

and came to be known as Loris-Melikov (Лорис-Меликов), which means Meliks of Lori (Princes of Lori). After the Russian annexation of Georgia, the family was received among the princely nobility (

knyaz A , also , ''knjaz'' or (), is a historical Slavs, Slavic title, used both as a royal and noble title in different times. It is usually translated into English language, English as 'prince', 'king' or 'duke', depending on specific historical c ...

) of the Russian Empire, and was made famous by General

Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov Count Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov (; ; – 24 December 1888) was a Russian-Armenian statesman, general of the cavalry and adjutant general of His Imperial Majesty's Retinue. The princes of Lori, Loris-Melikov, are the representatives ...

(1825–88) who was bestowed with the dignity of

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

in 1878. Bagrationi, Ioane (1768–1830)
Melikis-shvili
''The Brief Description of the Georgian Noble Houses''. Retrieved on January 23, 2008.Dologorukov P. V. (1856
''Российская родословная книга, издаваемая князем Петром Долгоруковым''
Ch.3, p. 474.

Notable people with the surname

Isa Melikov Isa Melikov (, born 21 October 1980, in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR) is a famous Azerbaijani composer and producer. He is the author of numerous musical projects, hit songs and soundtracks to movies. The list of celebrities singing his songs include l ...

(born 1980), Azerbaijani composer and producer * Genia Melikova (1924–2004), ballet dancer of Russian origin *

Grigori Melikov Grigori Aleksandrovich Melikov (; born 11 May 1976) is a former Russian professional footballer. Club career He played in the Russian Football National League for FC Mordovia Saransk FC Mordovia Saransk () was a Russian association football ...

(born 1976), Russian footballer *

Mikhail Loris-Melikov Count Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov (; ; – 24 December 1888) was a Russian-Armenian statesman, general of the cavalry and adjutant general of His Imperial Majesty's Retinue. The princes of Lori, Loris-Melikov, are the representatives ...

(1826–1888), Russian-Armenian statesman *

Yuri Melikov Gioúri Melikov (Greek language, Greek: Γιούρι Μελίκοβ, Russian language, Russian: Юрий Меликов; born 28 November 1997) is a Cypriot singer and songwriter. He launched his musical career in 2014 as a contestant of The Voi ...

(b. 1997), Armenian-Cypriot singer-songwriter *

Sergey Melikov Sergey Alimovich Melikov (, ; born 12 September 1965), is a Russian statesman and military leader, who has served as the 5th Head of the Republic of Dagestan since 14 October 2021. Melikov was a Senator from Stavropol Krai, from 2019 to 2020. ...

(b. 1965), governor of Dagestan

References

{{Reflist Armenian families Armenian noble families Noble families of Georgia (country) Russian noble families