List of Kumyk people

This is a partial list of notable Kumyk people.

Statesmen and Military

16-17th centuries

• Sultan-Mahmud of Endirey — prominent leader and ruler, Shamkhal, who defeated Russian invasion of the Eastern Caucasus at the Battle of Karaman, stopping it for a few decades.

18-19th century

• Imam Shamil (by descent) — political, military, and spiritual leader of Caucasian resistance to Imperial Russia in the 1800s
• Tashaw-hadzhi — political, military, and spiritual leader of Caucasian resistance in the 1800s, second to Imam Shamil
• Uchar-hadzhi — 19th century mulla and elderman, who killed two Russian generals at once

20th century

• Abdulhakim Ismailov — USSR World War II soldier, he was photographed by Yevgeny Khaldei raising the USSR flag over the Reichstag in Berlin on 2 May 1945, days before Nazi Germany's surrender

Scholars and writers

• Nadzhmuddin Bammate — prominent French-Afghan writer, linguist, and Islamic scholar
• İzzet Kantemir — prominent Turkish writer, translator, public figure and medical professor
• Fahrettin Kırzıoğlu — Turkish historian and writer

Scientists

• Murad Kaplanov — radio communication engineer, Chief Constructor of Molniya communication satellite systems, which was developed in Sergei Korolev's design centre

Politicians

• Ahmed-Saib bey Kaplan —one of the prominent members of Young Turks movement, dissident of Sultan Abdülhamid II and his absolute rule and one of the writers and historians of the Late Ottoman Empire
• Haidar Bammate — politician, one of the ideologists and Foreign Minister of the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, who officially proclaimed its independence on the 11th of May 1918, author of "Visages de l'Islam", Afghanistan's diplomatic appointee in Switzerland.
• Rashid Khan Kaplanov — politician, one of the founders and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, then Minister of Education and Religious Affairs in the fifth and fourth cabinets of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
• Djalaleddin Korkmasov — de facto the founder of the Soviet Republic of Dagestan, its first First Secretary
• Roza Eldarova — the first woman to hold the highest political office in Dagestan, elected chairwoman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in March 1962

Artists and architects

• Murad ad-Dagistani — pioneering Iraqi photographer, achieved international recognition for the quality of his photographs which recorded scenes of every-day life and people
• Nasreddin Murat-Khan — Pakistani architect and civil engineer. He is remembered most for designing the national monument, the Minar-e-Pakistan

Sports

Wrestling

Edge of 19-20th centuries

• Al-Klych (Ali-Qılıç) Khasayev — six-time world wrestling champion

20th century

• Saypulla Absaidov – 1980 Moscow Olympics wrestling champion in Lightweight category
• Magomedgasan Abushev — 1980 Moscow Olympics wrestling champion in 62 kg category, 1980 Prievidza European champion

21st century

• Marid Mutalimov — 2008 Summer Olympics wrestling bronze medalist in 120 kg category
• Bakhtiyar Akhmedov — 2008 Summer Olympics wrestling champion in 120 kg category
• Nariman Israpilov — 2009 Vilnius wrestling European champion in 55 kg category, 2013 Budapest world championship bronze medalist in 55 kg category
• Ilyas Bekbulatov — 2017 Novi Sad wrestling world champion in 65 kg category
• Zaur Uguev — 2018 Budapest and 2019 Nur-Sultan wrestling world champion in 57 kg category
• Milana Dadasheva — bronze medalist of two wrestling European Championships

Martial arts

• Dzhamal Adzhigerey — wushu star and actor, 12-time European and 1-time world wushu champion
• Bozigit Ataev — many-time Wushu Sanda world champion.
• Muslim Salikhov — many-time Wushu Sanda world champion, "King of King-fu", often acknowledged as one of the best Wushu Sanda competitors in history
• Marat Gafurov — world pankration (2010) and jiu-jitsu (2013) champion
• Rustam Khabilov — Combat Sambo World Champion, MMA fighter
• Muhammad Mokaev — UK-based MMA fighter, IMMAF junior bantamweight world champion

Boxing

• Medzhid Bektemirov — light heavyweight titleholder among professionals under version WBC USNBC
• Arslanbek Makhmudov — WBC-NABF champion

Football

• Arsen Akayev — professional football player and coach
• Murad Magomedov — professional football player
• Alibek Aliev — professional Swedish football player
• Islamnur Abdulavov — professional football player
• Timerlan Huseynov — first scorer, who made 100 goals in the Ukrainian Football League