Dictionary of Armenian Surnames C

CABJIan.

CACHOyan.See KHACHADOURian.

CAFESJIan See KAFESJIan

CAGLAyan.

CAGLOyan.

CAKERDASHian See CHAKURDASHian

CAKMAKCIan.See CHAKMAKJIan.

CAKMAKJIan.See CHAKMAKJIan.

CALENDERian.See KALANDARian.

CALFAyan.See KALFAyan.

CALian See KALYANian.

CALISKANian.

CALOOSian: See KALOUSDian.

CALOUSTian: See KALOUSDian

CALRISSian ?.

CALTAyan

CALUSDian. See KALOUSDian.

CAMBERian.

CAMBOURian.

CAMCIKian.

CANian.

CANCIian.

CANDANian.

CANKARian.

CANKOSian (T) See JINGOZian, KUNKOUSHian

CANKULian See CHANKALian.

CANLIian.

CANTZian See KANTSIan

CAPAMAGIan See KAPAMAJIan

CAPAMAJIan See KAPAMAJIan

CAPAN See CHAPANian.

CAPARian.See CHAPARian.

CAPELIian.

CAPian.See SHAPian.

CAPRELian.See KAPRIELian.

CAPRIELian. See KAPRIELian.

CAPTANian See KAPTANian.

CARABELAyan See KARABELAyan.

CARABETian. See GARABEDian.

CARACASHian.See KARAKASHian.

CARAGIian.

CARAGULian.See KARAGOULian.

CARAMANian See KAHRAMANian.

CARAPETian See GARABEDian.

CARAPIET See GARABEDian.

CARAyan.See KARAyan.

CARDASHian See KARDASHian.

CARTOZian

CASABian See KASABian.

CASARJIian See KASARJIan, KASSARJIan.

CASPARian See KASBARian.

CASSABian See KASABian.

CATCHATOOR See KHACHADOURian

CATCHATOURian See KHACHADOURian

CATCHICK See KHACHADOURian

CATCHOUNY See KACHOUNI.

CAVASian

CAVOUKian See KAVOUKJIan.

CAZANJIian See KAZANJIan.

CAZIANian

CEHRECIian See JEREJIian

CEMIL KOC

CERAKian See JRAK ian

CERKEZian CHERKEZian.

CHABRIian

CHABUKian (T) Prompt, quick, swift, fast, soon.

CHACHOU

CHADERCHIian See CHADRJIan

CHADERJIian See CHADRJIan

CHADIRGIian See CHADRJIan

CHADIRJIian See CHADRJIan

CHADRian See CHADRJIan

CHADRJIan (T) Tent-maker

CHADURJIian See CHADRJIan

CHAFian See

CHAGACHBANian See CHAGHATSBANian

CHAGHATSBANian (A) Miller Also CHRAGHATSBANian

CHAGHATZBANian See CHAGHATSBANian

CHAGHJIan

CHAGHLASian (T) My green almond.

CHAGLASian See CHAGHLASian.

CHAGLASSian See CHAGHLASian.

CHAGOyan Dim. of CHAGHLASian.

CHAHAGian (P) Torch-bearer.

CHAHARMAHALian (P) Native of four localities, places, districts.

CHAHINian See SHAHINian.

CHAHNOURian See SHANOURian.

CHAICHian

CHAKAKian

CHAKALIan (T) Native of village of Chaka,

CHAKALOZian See CHAKALUZian.

CHAKALUZian ( ) Native of CHAKALUZ district in Gesaria, Historic Armenia.

CHAKAMian

CHAKARian (P) Servant

CHAKARDJIian See SHAKARJIan.

CHAKCHIan (T) Extremely poor ?

CHAKEJIian See CHEKIJIan, CHAKOUJIan,

CHAKENian

CHAKERian See CHAKURJIan, CHAKARian.

CHAKERDJIian See CHAKURJIan

CHAKHALIan See

CHAKIJIan See CHAKOUJIan, CHEKIJIan.

CHAKIRian See CHAKURJIan

CHAKJIan See CHEKIJIan

CHAKMAKian (T) See CHAKMAKJIan

CHAKMAKJIan (T) Gunsmith. Striker. Dealer in cigarette lighters.

In interviews on KPF series ‘Ode to Gravity’ Charles Amirkhanian questioned

[Alan] Hovhaness about his Armenian ancestry. Hovhaness, in this interview,

eplains that the name ‘Chakmakjian’ was Armenian for gunsmith, and that

presumably one of his ancestors occupied that profession. Hovhaness explains

dropping this name because of his dedication to pacifism; he says he later

regretted not keeping the name –as Hovhaness was not as recognizably

Amenian.” (From Wikipedia)

First, only the suffix “ian” is Armenian, the stem Chakmakji being Turkish.

Second, gunsmith in Turkish is generally given as silahji or tufekji, although a

case can be made for applying chakmakji to guns. Chakmak, in Turkish, can be

defined as steel for striking on a flint; flint and steel; trigger; flintlock of a gun;

pocket lighter. With the changing of the times, most modern dictionaries define

chakmakji as a dealer in cigarette lighters.

CHAKMAKLIian (T) Equipped with a trigger.

CHAKOLOZian

CHAKOUJIan (T) Pocket knife maker/seller

CHAKOyan Dim. of numerous names that begin with CHAK.

CHAKRian See CHAKURJIan, CHAKARian.

CHAKUCHian See CHAKOUJIan

CHAKUJIan See CHAKOUJIan

CHAKURJIan (T) Wine merchant; innkeeper; falconer

CHAKURDASHian (T) Drinking companion.

CHALABian (T?) Honorable Christian name ?

CHALian

CHALDERJIian

CHALDRANian (T) Repairer of a clock or watch chime or workings of a musical

instrument.

CHALEKian (T) jarbig, arakasharzh, khendouk, hamardzag

CHALEMian See CHALUMian.

CHALGHIJIan (T) Musician.

CHALIJIan (T) Twig and branch collector for firewood.

CHALIKian See CHALEKian

CHALIKJIian See CHALEKian

CHALOUKian

CHALUKian

CHALUMian (T) Haughty; arrogant; pompous; ostentatious; self-centered; big talker.

CHAMian

CHAMALIian

CHAMASHOURJIian

CHAMBARLIian

CHAMBERJIian

CHAMBERLIian

CHAMCIKian

CHAMELIian

CHAMESian

CHAMICHian (A) Raisin grower/seller/

CHAMLIian See SHAMLIan.

CHAMMASSian

CHAMOURian

CHAMRASian

CHAMSARian

CHANAKJIan (T) Potter. See CHOMLEKCHIan.

CHANCHAPANyan (A) One who keeps bees, from Armenian "chanch", sometimes meaning bee and "pahel" meaning to keep

CHANian (T) Dealer in large bells.

CHANDIGian

CHANGELian

CHANIKian

CHANJIian (T) Bellringer, bell founder, sexton

CHANKALian (T)

CHANNESSian

CHANTAJIian (T) Maker/seller of bags, cases, valises, knapsacks.

CHANTAyan (T) Bag, case, valise, knapsack

CHANTIGian (A) Dim. of SHANTian.

CHANTIKian Dim. of SHANTian.

CHAPian See SHAPian.

CHAPADARian

CHAPAJIian (T) Hoer (Actual name?)

CHAPAKCHOURian See JABAGHCHOURian

CHAPANian (P) Courier, one who gallops. See CHAPARian.

CHAPARian (P) Courier, one who gallops. However, when questioned about his family

name, Appo Jabarian, publisher of USA Armenian Life, provided the following

information:

“The authentic pronunciation of Jabarian in Armenian is Tchaparian (in France)

or Chaparian (in USA and other English-speaking countries) or Jabarian (in

Middle East -- Arabic does not have a single letter with the pronunciation of

"tche" or "ch" the substitute for "Tch" or "ch" if "j").

Definition:"Chap" in Armenian is measure (in measurement). There are two root

words in Armenian that may sound the same "ar" but they are distinct, and

completely unrelated words. The first "ar" is written with the letter "reh" (strong

rr), and it means to take or take; the second "ar" is the root word for the verb

"ararel" (to create). My last name is written with the latter. An example: "Lous"

means light; "ararel" (to create); "ararian" somebody that creates light, hence the

last name Loussararian. "Tchap" measurement "ararian" somebody who creates

for construction purposes = Tchapararian = abbreviated = Tchaparian = Chaparian =

Jabarian. My Tchaparian=Jabarian grandfather was active in construction (like many

Armenians).

There is a village in the Republic of Artsakh called “Chapar" And there are

thousands of Armenians with the last names Tchaparian, Chaparian, Jabarian and

lately I found out Tsaparian. They hail from such diverse geographic areas as

Artsakh, Eastern Armenia, and many localities in Western Armenia such as

Aintab, Kilis, Musa Ler,and Sis, the capital of Cilicia. My paternal and maternal

orphaned grandparents come from Sis.

To their credit, all the Tchaparians have maintained their purely Armenian-

sounding last name without Turkifying, Russifying or Anglicizing them.”

CHAPCHOVian

CHAPJIan

CHAPOOTian See CHAPOUTian.

CHAPOUTian (T) Rag collector?

CHAPRASTian

CHAPRAZian (T) Fabricator of or dealer in waistcoats, or double-breasted (coats).

CHAPUTian See CHAPOUTian.

CHARANian

CHARASHAFian See CHARSHAFian

CHARCHian See CHERCHIan

CHARCHJIan See CHERCHIan

CHAREKian

CHAREKJIian

CHARENTS

CHARENTZ

CHARIKian

CHARKCHIian See CHARKJIan

CHARKEZian See CHERKEZian

CHARKHIian

CHARKHEDian

CHARKHUTian See

CHARKJIian

CHARKOUDian See

CHARSHAFian Sheet, bedsheet.

CHARSHAFJIian

CHARSHOODian

CHARUKJIian (T) Maker or seller of sandals

CHATALBASHian (T) Native of Çatalbaş, a city located near Ankara in present day Turkey.

CHATALian (T) Dealer in forks; diminutive of Chatalbashian.

CHATEJIan (T), Roofer, gable-maker

CHATER (A) Truncation of Astwachatoor, from ASDVADZADOURian.

Paul Chater

British businessman of Armenian descent in colonial Hong Kong

Sir Catchick Paul Chater CMG was a prominent British-Indian businessman of Armenian

descent in colonial Hong Kong, whose family roots were in Calcutta. See documentary

film www.youtube.com/watch?v=79be5qH_dNs

CHATIKACHian

CHATLIan ( ) Native of Chat, village of Gesaria, Historic Armenia

CHATMAJIian (T), Roofer, gable-maker

CHATOian

CHATSCHATURian See KHACHADOURian.

CHAVOORian

CHAVOOSHian See CHAVOUSHian

CHAVOUSHian (T) Sergeant, petty officer, guard, doorkeeper, messenger, uniformed

attendant of an ambassador or consul.

CHAVRSHian See CHAVOUSHian

CHAVUSHian See CHAVOUSHian

CHBLAKHian See CHUPLAKian.

CHEBISHian

CHEBLAKian See CHUPLAKian.

CHEBOLIian

CHEBOOKian See CHIBUKian

CHEBOOKJIian See CHIBUKian

CHEFTALIan See SHAFTALIan

CHEHMEYan

CHEKARian

CHEKCHENian (T) Locksmith’s or metal smith’s assistant.

CHEKEDNESSian

CHEKEMian (T) Unable to tolerate; envy (?)

CHEKENian (T) Puller. dentist.

CHEKERDEMian (T) Puller, dentist.

CHEKICHIan (T) Maker or seller of hammers. See GRANian. Also see

CHEKERDEMian

CHEKICHJIan See CHEKICHIan

CHEKIDJIian See CHEKIJIan

CHEKIJIan (T) A weighmaster. [cheki:a large primitive balance with a weight

of 250 kilos(500 lbs.) for measuring firewood (a horseload)]

CHEKJENian See CHEKCHENian

CHEKMAyan

CHEKMEKian = Suffer Chekmek = to draw CHEKMEK Haul,lug.

CHEKMENian

CHEKMEyan

CHEKOOKian

CHEKOUDian

CHELAKian

CHELBian See CHELEBIan

CHELEBIan (T) Educated man, well-mannered, courteous; title given to men of certain

religious orders; formerly the title of a royal prince.

CHELEMian See CHALUMian.

CHELian

CHELIKian (T) Steel.

CHEMBERDJIan See CHEMBERJIan.

CHEMBERJIan (T/P) Maker/seller of hoops, rings of wood or metal.

CHEMENian

CHENian

CHENGELian ( ) Hook.

CHENGERian

CHENGRian (T) Tinkle, small bell

CHENKOUSHLIian

CHEOMLEKian See CHEOMLEKCHIan.

CHEOMLEKCHIan (T) Potter.

CHEOPJIan See CHEOPCHIan.

CHEOPCHIan (T) Dustman, street sweeper, scavenger.

CHEOREKJIian T Round cake or loaf; biscuit; pastry-ma

CHEPLAKian See CHUPLAKian..

CHEPNILian

CHERian

CHERCHian (T) Peddler, itinerant merchant.

CHEREKDJIan See CHEREKJIan

CHEREKEZian See CHERKEZian

CHEREKJIian See CHURUKian

CHEREZian See CHERKEZian

CHERISHian (T) Cheri = Soldier, troop? Military force

CHERKENian

CHERKERZian See CHERKEZian

CHERKESian Circassian

CHERKEZian (P) Circassian

CHERKINian

CHERKJIian

CHERKOian Dim.of CHERKEZian

CHERPICHian

CHERTAVian (T) Boaster, braggart.

CHERTAFian See CHERTAVian.

CHERVINSKASian

CHETEyan (T) Band (of brigands, rebels, etc.)

CHETEJIan (T) Member of a chete; comitadji.

CHETERian Var. of CHETEyan.

CHETEYian Var. of CHETEyan.

CHETIJIian Var. of CHETEJIan.

CHETJIan Var. of CHETEJIan.

CHEVian

CHEVARian

CHEVEDian

CHEVIDian

CHIBARian

CHIBOOKian See CHIBUKian

CHIBOUKian See CHIBUKian

CHIBUKian (Ab) Tobacco pipe or galyun maker or seller.

CHIBUKHCHiian See CHIBUKian

CHIBUKJIian (Ab) See CHIBUKian

CHIBUQian (Ab) See CHIBUKian

CHICHian

CHICHMANian See SHISHMANian.

CHIFTEyan (T) Twin, pair; one of a pair of twin children.

CHIFTGEOYERJIan (T)

CHIFTJIan (T) Agriculturist, farmer, ploughman, farm laborer, ranchman

CHIKNAVORian See JUKNAVORian.

CHILian

CHILINGARian (T) See CHILINGIRian

CHILINGERian (T) See CHILINGIRian

CHILINGIRian (T) Locksmith

CHILJIian

CHINARian (T) Plane tree

CHINCHINian (T) Var. of Shunshun: Imitates the noise of tinkling glass or thin metal

CHIMCHIRian (T) Var. of Shimshirian: Sword

CHINCHINian

CHINIian

CHINIJIian

CHIPONGIian

CHIRAKian See CHURAKian.

CHIRANian

CHIRCORian

CHIRIGDJIian

CHIRIKDJIian

CHIRIKTCHIian

CHIRINian

CHIRISHian T Shoemaker's and bookbinder's paste.

CHIRKEMian

CHIRKIANIian

CHIRKINian (T) Ugly, unbecoming, shameful, disgusting.

CHIRLIian

CHIRNian

CHITCHIan See CHITJIan

CHITGIian

CHITILIian

CHITJIan (T) Dealer in chintz/calico.

CHIVANian (A) Maker/seller of string, twine, cord.

CHIVCHIian

CHIVIian

CHIVIDian

CHIVIJIan (T) Maker/seller of carpenter’s nails.

CHIVITJIian (T) Bluing agent maker/vendor.

CHIZMEDARian (T) Owner or worker of a top boot/Wellington factory.

CHIZMEJIian (T) Maker/seller of top boots/Wellingtons.

CHKIKJIan (T) Bone adjuster. ?

CHLOODian

CHOALFAian

CHOBANian (T) Shepherd, rustic, boor

CHOBOyan (T) Dim. of CHOBANian.

CHOGHANJIan (T) Supplier of equipment for the sport of polo. Choghani is a variant of

choven, in turn a variant of chevgen.: polo; polo stick.

CHOKALIKian

CHOKKARian

CHOLACKian See CHOLAKian

CHOLAGHian See CHOULHAGian

CHOLAKian (T) Crippled, paralyzed; with one arm, hand, or leg missing.

CHOLOHian See CHOLAKian

CHOLOKian See CHOLAKian

CHOLOyan Dim. of CHOLAKian.

CHOMAKian

CHOMLEKCHIan (T) Potter.

CHOMOyan Dim. of CHOMAKian, CHOMLEKCHIan

CHONGOUSHian

CHONKAZian

CHOOHASZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKAGian

CHOOKASian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKASEZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKASIZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKASUZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKASZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKAZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOKHACHIian See CHKHAJIian

CHOOKHASUZian See CHOUKHASOUZian

CHOOLian

CHOOLAGian See CHOULHAGian

CHOOLFAian

CHOOLGIan See CHOULJIian

CHOOLIJIan See CHOULJIian

CHOOLJIan See CHOULJIian.

CHOOROOKian

CHOPJIian See CHEOPCHIan.

CHOPOORian See CHOPOURian

CHOPOURian (T) Pock-marked.

CHOPURian See CHOPOURian

CHORAKJIian

CHORBACHIian See CHORBAJIan

CHORBADJIian See CHORBAJIan

CHORBAJian: (T/P/K)

(1) Soup maker or seller; the leader of a group who ladles and distributes

the food to his subordinates.

(2) Christian notable; used as an honorific title for Christians when

addressed by Muslims.

(3) Official entertainer of guests in a village.

Prof. Levon Chorbajian, University of Massachusetts, and his cousin, Joyce

Chorbajian, of Manhattan have the following to say about their family name:

Joyce's father, Joseph Chorbajian (1900-1991) was interviewed in Paren

Kazanjian's book The Cilician Armenian Ordeal. He provides the following

information on the family surname:

"We were formerly called Lussignan (Loussinian). My great grandfather, Devlet

Effendi, was one of the most prominent and respected Armenians in the Ottoman

Empire and a member of the Ottoman Turkish Parliament, representing the

Marash Sanjak. (Ed. Note: Devlet, a Turkish word derived from Arabic devlat,

meaning wealth, power, dominion, was a distinguished title formerly given to

certain high officials.) Thereafter, in the early 19th century, the family name

became Devletian."

Prof. Chorbajian and his cousin, Joyce, provide this additional information.

Devlet Effendi used part of his wealth to feed soup to the poor. Because soup in

Turkish is chorba, he came to be known as Chorbasi--source or provider of the

soup. At some point later in the 19th century there was pressure on Armenians to

Turkify their names. Both sides of the family are from Marash, which is in south

central Asia Minor and not in the traditional Armenian highlands. The Armenians

were a smaller group there and came under pressure to change their names, for

political reasons.

It is likely that no Turkish official would accept such an honorific as Devlet as an

Armenian name, and rejected it.Thus Chorbasi became Chorbaji, and

subsequently, Chorbajian. Levon and Joyce say that if their name were

Armenianized they would be known as Abourians. "But we seem to like our

name and no one, as far as we know, has seen fit to change it."

CHOREBANian

CHOREKian

CHOREKJIan (T) Baker of ring-shaped shortbread.

CHORLIian (T) Native of Chor, a city near Rodosto, Historic Armenia..

CHORLUyan See CHORLIan

CHORTANian 1.(A) Ma ker of stewed rice, dried curds for winter use.

2 (A) . Chrortan) Maker of gutters, draught tubes or boxes, for discharge of water

or other liquids.

CHOUBARALIian

CHOUBOUKJIian (T) Maker/seller of wands, staffs, rods, spars.

CHOUGOURJIan (T) Lute player.

CHOUKHACHIian See CHOUKHAJIian

CHOUKHAJIan (T) Maker/seller of woolens or broadcloth; dealer in dry goods, draper.

A bearer of the name is the renowned Armenian composer, Dikran Chukhajian

(Turkish Tchouhadjian), 1837-98, founder of the first opera institution in the

Ottoman Empire, and composer of the celebrated opera “Arshag II.” According to

Dr. Krikor Pidedjian, Armenian ethnomusicologist, Chukhajian was the composer

of the well known patriotic song “Zeitountsiner,” which is famously known the

world over as Procession of the Sardar from the Caucasian Sketches of the

Russian composer Ippolitov-Ivanov. This rousing melody (seee lyrics by H.

Zakerian at www.fedayi.com/zeitountsiner) deserves to be the national anthem of

Armenia. Its similarity to another of Chukhajian’s compositions, “Karoun,” may

be noted by logging on to www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzxawmfluxo and fast

forwarding to the next to last selection.

CHOUKHASOUZian Without a winter overcoat. Levon Chookaszian is an Armenian art

historian and the UNESCO Chair of Armenian Art History He is als currently

the Head of Chair of History and Theory of Armenian Art at Yerevan State

University He states that the clan is from Sepastia; and that all the

Choukhasouzians are related, despite the differences in spelling. Included is Lily

Chookasian, Metropolitan Opera contralto.

Levon advised that the name began with an ancestor, in Sepastia, where he

bravely went out in winter without an overcoat.

CHOUKOURJIan (T) Ditch digger.

CHOULAGian See CHOULHAGian

CHOULAKian See CHOULHAGian

CHOULHAGian (A) Weaver.

CHOULian See CHOULJIian

CHOULFAian

CHOULJIian (T) Maker or seller of sackcloth, haircloth of horsecloth. Sackcloth is

woven of flax, hemp,etc. used for making sacks & bags; haircloth is woven from

horsehair or camel’s hair used mainly for covering furniture; horsecloth is a blanket-like

covering for a horse’s back and loins.

CHOUNGOURian

CHPLAKHian See CHUPLAKian

CHPLAKian See CHUPLAKian.

CHRAGHATSBANian See CHAGHATSBANian.

CHRAGHCHIan

CHRAKian See CHURAKian.

CHRECKJIian

CHREKJIian

CHROVian

CHTCHian

CHUBLAKian See CHUPLAKian

CHUBOOKian See CHUBUKCHIian.

CHUBOUKJIan See CHUBUKCHIian.

CHUBUKian See CHUBUKCHIian

CHUBUKCHIian (T) Maker/seller of tobacco pipes.

CHUBUKJIian See CHUBUKCHIian

CHUCHIian

CHUDIGian

CHUHADARian (T) Lackey or footman; formerly, employed in the house of the great.

CHUHAJIian See CHOUKHAJIian

CHUKASZyan See CHKHASZian

CHUKHAJIian See CHOUKHAJIian

CHUKHASUZian See CHKHASZian

CHUKHian See CHOUKHAJIian

CHUKJADARian

CHUKUKCHIan (T) Bone-setter.

CHUKOian

CHULAYian

CHULCHIian

CHULDJIian

CHULENGARian See CHILINGIRian

CHULJIian

CHULKHADian (per Vahan) Diarbekr prelate burnt alive in 1914

CHULLAMAian (T) Food covered with dough and then baked.

CULMAian See CHULLAMAian

CHUMBUZian Tweezers.

CHUNGURDAKian = (small) bell (T)

CHUPLAKian (T) Naked, poor, destitute.

CHURAGHian

CHURAKian (T) Apprentice; pupil, pensioner; formerly a person brought up as a servant

in a great house, and subsequently set up in life, usually by being married off.

CHURDUKian

CHURIKian

CHUROian

CHURUKian (P/T)) Spinning wheel maker, (charkhah in P); (chukruk: in T)

CHURUKJIan See CHURUKian

CHUTJIian

CIAMICian See CHAMICHian

CICEKianI

CIDECIyan

CIGDEMian

CIGERCIian

CILELIian

CILINGIRian

CILIRGIyan Var. of CHILINGIRian

CINAR See CHINARian.

CIOCIian

CIROGLU

CITAKian

CIVANian See CHIVANian, JIVANian.

CIVIyan See CIVIJIan.

CIVIJIan (T) Dealer in carpenter’s nails.

COCTIKian

COGHian

COLOian

COLOMBOSian

COLONian

COMJEANian

CONDAian

CONDOian

CONSTANTian

CONSTANTINian

COSTIKian

COULIGian

COUMROUian See KOUMROUyan.

COUTYAyan

COUYOUMJIian

CREETian See Gredatsian, Giridlian, Giritlian, Native of Island of Crete.

CUBUKCIian

CHUHADARian (T) Lackey or footman formerly employed in the houses of the great.

CUKADARian

CULHAyan