Khayyams

Khayyams is the English plural form of the Persian surname Khayyam, with transliterations such as Khayyam and Khayyām. The name is most closely associated with Omar Khayyam, the 11th–12th century Persian polymath from Nishapur, who made notable contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and poetry. He is best known in the West for the Rubaiyat, a collection of four-line verses that has been widely translated and has influenced world literature and philosophy.

Beyond Omar, the surname Khayyam is borne by other individuals in Iran and among diaspora communities, though they are not as prominent in historical sources. The exact origin and meaning of the surname are not definitively established; it is generally regarded as a Persian surname with possible occupational or locational roots, reflecting historical naming practices in the region.

In modern times, the name Khayyam continues to appear in academic, cultural, and social contexts, carried by descendants and others who adopt or inherit the surname. The legacy of Omar Khayyam largely shapes the association of the name, particularly in discussions of Persian science and classical poetry.