Zaidi

Zaidi is a surname and given name of Arabic origin. It derives from the given name Zaid (also spelled Zayd), with the nisba suffix -i indicating “descendant of Zaid” or “belonging to Zaid.” As a religious designation, Zaidi (also Zaidiyyah or Zaydism) refers to a branch of Shia Islam associated with Zayd ibn Ali. Zaidis differ from other Shia groups in their imamate doctrine and practice; they hold that the Imam must be a descendant of Ali and Fatimah and capable of just rule.

Historically, the Zaidi movement and the Zaidi imamate were centered in Yemen, where the Imamate endured in various forms from roughly the 9th century until the republican revolution of 1962. Today, Zaidi communities are primarily in Yemen, especially in the northern highlands, with diaspora populations in other parts of the Middle East and South Asia.

As a surname, Zaidi is common among Muslims in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, and it is found among various communities in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as well as in immigrant communities abroad. People with the surname may be of diverse professions and backgrounds, reflecting the name’s broad geographic and cultural distribution.

In summary, Zaidi encompasses both a genealogical surname and a prominent Islamic sectal tradition, with historical roots in Yemen and a presence across multiple regions through both religion and lineage.