Yeghen

The Yeghen-Yakan-Yegen family is a branch of Muhammad Ali’s family which descend from Muhammad Ali’s sister, Zubaida Khanum. The word Yeghen, literally means “nephew” in Turkish, showing that Muhammad Ali favorited his sister Zubaida out of any of his siblings because her descendants carried the last name of Yeghen/nephew of Muhammad Ali. The family were very prominent and wealthy from the beginning to the end of the dynasty throughout Egypt, until the 1952 revolution. Many notable figures came out of the family, and all held high ranks in the government and military. There are still many descendants alive residing in Egypt, America, Canada, and other various places.

Notable Figures

• Ahmed Midhat Yeghen Pasha
• Adly Yeghen Pasha
• Tawhida Yeghen Khanum
• Yahya Mansur Yeghen Pasha
• Ahmed Shoukry Yeghen Pasha
• Ibrahim Yeghen Pasha
• Abdullah Said Yeghen Pasha

Ranks

The people within the family held high ranks in the government and military, such as Field Marshal, Lieutenant general, General, Prime Minster, Governers, and various ranks. Most of the men in the family had the title of Bey, and some men managed to enjoy the title of Pasha, which distinguished high officials.

Marriages

The family only married people of their lineage or of the same sort of status, such as Yahya Mansur Yeghen who married his second cousin once removed, Princess Tawhida Ismail, who was the eldest daughter of Khedive Ismail Pasha (grandson of Muhammad Ali Pasha). They went on to have 4 children and currently have descendants mostly living in Cairo and Alexandria.

Burials

Most of the older generation are buried in royal mausoleums, while the newer generation and the current one are buried in family cemeteries, which are still royal cemeteries. The cemeteries are located in Cairo.

References

• Yeghen Family 1
• Yeghen Family 2
• Le Mondian Egyptien