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Who's UU

By Andrew Shimunek (Trans.)

From a list of historical clans compiled by the head of the Mongolian State Library to assist Mongolians in choosing clan names. In the 1920s the Communist government eliminated clan names in a campaign to destroy the country’s hereditary aristocracy and class structure. As the population grew and became more urban, however, the one-name system led to confusion and inadvertent intermarrying, and currently all Mongolians are required to register clan names. Translated from the Khalkha Mongolian by Andrew Shimunek.

• Argalchin: collectors of dried dung
• Ayagachin: those who make cups and bowls
• Baast: poopy, fecal
• Baga dogshin: the lesser ruthless ones
• Bagtaamal: the included ones
• Bayajikh: those who are getting rich
• Böösniikhön: the descendants of lice
• Chiwchin: those who neuter bulls
• Dairtan: those with saddle sores
• Duutan: the vociferous ones
• Emgenüüd: the old ladies
• Galzuud: the insane ones
• Güjir: the stubborn ones
• Günger: those who mumble
• Khachid: the weird ones
• Kholidog: those who always mix
• Khorkhoi nüdten: those with bug eyes
• Khünbish: the not humans
• Khurlagad: those whose animals grow fat later than others
• Lalaryn guchid: the great-great-grandchildren of the one-eyed ogre
• Mogoi nüdten: those with snake eyes
• Nütsged: the naked ones
• Öndögiinkhön: those of the egg
• Sawsag doloon: the wanton seven
• Shaawai: the well-dressed ones
• Showkhnar: the coneheads
• Shüdgüi: the toothless ones
• Solgoi: the left-handed ones
• Takhiankhan: those of the chicken
• Tongoruud: the upside-down ones
• Tursaga: the skins of animals that have starved to death
• Ukhaanuud: the intelligent ones
• Ulaan yamaat: those having red goats
• Uu: drink!
• Zalkhuus: the lazy ones
• Zazgar: those with small, hairy bodies

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SEE ALSO: Clans; Mongolia; Names

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