qan

Qan is a short word that appears in several languages and contexts, most commonly as part of proper names and historical titles. In linguistic and historical discussions, qağan (variant transliterations qagan, khagan) is a title used by Turkic and Mongolic-speaking peoples for a supreme ruler or emperor; the root qan is linked to rulership in some etymologies. The form Qan itself is rarely used as an independent word in these languages but may appear in transliterated or anglicized forms of related titles and in modern names.

As a personal name, Qan occurs as a given name or surname in some communities, often as a variant of related names such as Khan, Kagan, Kağan, or Qaghān. The name is sometimes used in fictional or decorative contexts to evoke Central Asian heritage due to its phonology.

Geographically or institutionally, there are places and entities that adopt the transliteration Qan in multilingual contexts, though these are typically linked to longer names or to the root word rather than to a standalone concept.

In scholarship and reference works, Qan is encountered primarily as a transliteration variant or as part of compound terms, rather than as a distinct, widely recognized term with a single definition. The interpretation of Qan depends heavily on language, script, and historical period, and precise meaning should be derived from the specific source being consulted.