Chughtai or Chagatai () is a surname in Central Asia and South Asia, originating in the Chagatai Khanate as taken up by the descendants and successors of Chagatai Khan who was the second son of Genghis Khan. Accordingly, some of the other descendants also use variants such as Mirza, Baig and Khan.
The surname âÂÂChughtaiâ originates from the Mongolian word âÂÂChaghadaiâÂÂ, a derivative of âÂÂChaganâ meaning âÂÂwhiteâÂÂ. The suffix âÂÂ-daiâ is added to form âÂÂChaghadaiâÂÂ. Over time, âÂÂChaghadaiâ evolved into âÂÂChughtaiâÂÂ, meaning, âÂÂhe who is whiteâÂÂ.