Popular Parsi names

As a small diversion from the three burning issues concerning Zoroastrians (conversion, mixed marriages and dakhmenashini, referred to as "the big three”), has anyone ever wondered which Zoroastrian surnames are the most common (sorry, not common, but most popular!)? I know it’s not scientific, not even indicative maybe, but as per the UK and Europe directory, the following names can be listed in order of multiple appearances: Irani, Patel, Sethna, Cooper, Mehta, Billimoria, Mistry, Daruvala and Kapadia.

Am I right in saying that of the above nine names, as many as five are also shared by members of other faiths (Patel, Cooper, Mehta, Mistry and Kapadia)? If this is the case, it is perhaps indicative that there has indeed been mixing, of some sort or other, of Zoroastrians with others.

Useless information maybe — certainly trivial, but it makes a change from the never-ending debate on "the big three.” Does anyone have the time and energy to undertake a similar exercise with the Bombay Zoroastrian directory, which of course will be a more meaningful indication?

JEHANGIR BHARUCHA

London, UK

The editors reply

Surnames were largely derived from a person’s profession. They may or may not be indicative of interfaith marriages.