How to find your clan, ru and zhuz: where to start
The question “Qai rudansyn?”, “what clan are you from?”, leaves many people stuck. We explain where to look for the answer and how not to write someone else’s clan into your shezhire.
In short: start with the older relatives
The most reliable way to find your clan, ru and zhuz is to ask the elders on your father’s side of the family. If they do not know, the place the family comes from and the clan shezhires kept by fellow villagers can help. Write down a clan only when the information is confirmed.
How clan, ru and zhuz differ
Among Kazakhs, “ru” means a clan, a union of descendants of a common ancestor. Clans belong to larger tribes, and those to one of the three zhuz (tribal unions): the Great (Ulu) Zhuz, the Middle (Orta) Zhuz or the Junior (Kishi) Zhuz. There are also groups outside the zhuz, for example the töre and the khoja. Kyrgyz have their own clans and a division into the ong kanat (right wing), the sol kanat (left wing) and the ichkilik.
Where to look
- Older relatives. Ask not only “what clan are we from” but also “what was your grandfather’s father called”. A clan is often remembered through a particular ancestor.
- Place of origin. The village (aul) or district the family comes from often hints at which clans lived there. It is not proof but a direction for questions.
- Fellow villagers and relatives on the clan line. Many clans have their own shezhires: printed books, manuscripts, the elders’ records. Fellow villagers and distant relatives help to find them.
- Documents. Old documents and captioned photographs give names and places that make it easier to ask questions.
- DNA tests. There are genetic tests that match people to clan groups. They can add to family information but do not replace conversations with the elders.
Why you should not write a clan “by eye”
A mistake in a shezhire will be repeated by children and grandchildren. If the clan is unknown, it is better to leave the field empty and come back to it when information appears. In our trees and books we give a clan only on your word, if you are sure of it.
What to do if nothing is known
This is a common situation, especially in families that moved to a city or abroad long ago. Start with what you know for certain: the names of your father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Even three generations on the tree give a lead for the next conversations. How to do it is explained in the article “How to build your family’s shezhire”.