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Qureshi is a surname, is driven from Arabic words (Arabic:قُرَيْشٍ) when writing in English it has various spelling formation such asQuraish[1] Qurayš, Qureshi/Quraishi/Qurashi is often spelled “Qurashi” (القرشي) in Arabic, and it refers to someone descended from theQuraysh tribe (قبيلة قريش), the tribe of Prophet Muhammad. Individuals and families across Saudi Arabia, Asia and throughout the Arab world, still bear the name Qureshi, Qurashi, or Al-Quraishi, often to signal lineage to the Prophet’s tribe which originated fromMakkah.
The Qureshi (or Quraysh) family refers to the historical Arab tribe of Quraysh, which was the tribe of the Prophet Muhammad inMakkahHejaz, present daySaudi Arabia.TheQuraysh played a central role in early Islamic history, particularly inMakkah, where they were the custodians of the Kaaba and leaders in trade and politics.[2] The Qureshi tribe claimed to be descended from theProphet Ibrahim and theProphet Ismael[3]
Qureshi is a common surname inSouth Asia, especially inPakistan (82%: 1,210,000, out of 1,470,000 worldwide), where it is the ninth most common surname. India has the second most (11%: 162,000). It is also present in parts ofWestern Asia, inSaudi Arabia (2.5%: 36,300),Iran, andEngland (0.65%: 9,580).[4][5]
Muhammad bin Qasim’s invasion of Sindh in 711 CE marked a pivotal moment in the expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate into the Indian subcontinent[6] One significant migration took place during the early Islamic conquests. In 711 CE, the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim led an expedition into Sindh (present-day Pakistan), bringing many Arab settlers, including members of the Qureshi tribe, into the region. These settlers established themselves in Sindh and played a role in the area’s administration and cultural development.[7]
Families using this spelling of the surname Qureshi in the Indian subcontinent claim to be descended from theQuraish tribe of ancientMecca.[5] However, DNA testing has shown that the largest group identifying with this surname originated in South Asia, failing to substantiate claims of Arab ancestry.[8]
