Yumnak

In Meetei society, the sagei or family name is known as Yumnak in Meetei Language. Pronounced "yoom-naak". Ethnic yumnaks are used in the Meetei /Meitei community including the Meitei Pangal and Meitei Bamon. The Meitei community lie largely in the Northeast India, mainly in Manipur,[1] Next in Assam,[2] Tripura[3] and a few in Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya. Some live in Bangladesh[4] and Myanmar.[5]

Historical background

In Meetei society, all the yumnak belong to only one of the Salai Taret except the Yumnak of the Meitei Bamon. There are seven major Salais or Yek Salais or Salai Taret, namely :

  1. Mangang
  2. Luwang
  3. Khuman
  4. Angom
  5. Moirang
  6. Kha Nganba
  7. Sarang Leishangthem (Chenglei).[6]

Yumnaks are the sub-clans of these seven major Salai, formed by the collection of different Yumnaks. Yumnaks inhabited specific areas and formed collectives. Later, these family members migrated to different areas, dispersing their Yumnaks.[7]

Unique Naming System

From ancient immemorial time, based on Meitei custom, naming system differs between males and females.

Commonly, in both the genders the person's Yumnak is used as a prefix to their name.[8] Keeping their respective names in the middle. The suffix name part is the one differing from males to females.

In females, the suffix name part is made either by the gender identification or marital status identification like "Chanu". After getting married, the females changed their suffix part to "Leima", adding the term "Ningol" just after her paternal surname and by adding "Ongbi" after her husband's surname completes her full name.

Examples :

A female Meitei having the name Leishna with Khaidem as her paternal Yumnak will have her full name, before getting married, as per the Meitei custom as,

  • Khaidem Leishna Chanu

After getting married, assuming, she married Narumbam Sanathoi Angomcha, noting that Narumbam is her husband's surname, Sanathoi is her husband's name and Angom is her husband's Salai/Clan name. Then, her full name as per the Meitei custom will be changed as,

  • Khaidem Ningol Narumbam Ongbi Leishna Leima

NOTE : The females don't carry their Salai/Clan name because the Salai/Clan system is a patrilineality one.[9]

In males, the suffix is made either by the name of their respective Salai or gender identification like "Meitei/Meetei" for males. And sometimes by adding "cha" to their respective Salai or Clan name. "Cha" meaning "child".

Examples: A male Meitei having the name Ahenba with 'sougrakpam as Yumnak, and noting that 'sougrakpam surname belongs to Mangang clan, will have his full name as per the Meitei custom as,

  • Sougrakpam Ahenba Mangang or
  • Sougrankpam Ahenba Meitei or
  • Sougrakpam Ahenba Meetei or
  • Sougrakpam Ahenba Mangangcha

Through these Yumnaks, the genealogy of Meitei can be traced.

See also

References
  1. "Population of Meiteis in Manipur". manipuronline.tripod.com.
  2. "About 8 lakh Manipuris in Assam demand their share of development". www.e-pao.net.
  3. "Manipuris settled in Tripura". sorahal.blogspot.in.
  4. Project, Joshua. "Manipuri, Meitei in Bangladesh". Archived from the original on 23 September 2014.
  5. Project, Joshua. "Manipuri, Ponna in Myanmar (Burma)". Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  6. The Meitheis - A Study of the Tribe of the Brahmaputra Valley by T. C. Hodson 2006.
  7. The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: 33-1763 CE By Saroj Nalini Parratt
  8. MEETEIS' SURNAME By: - Thokchom Angouyaima (Doren)
  9. Times, Imphal. "MARRIAGE- It's Rules and Practices in Meitei Society - Imphal Times". Archived from the original on 24 August 2016.

Further reading
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