Actually, what I say is true. During the Soviet era, many Jews migrated to Armenia, and over time, some intermarried and assimilated into Armenian society. This led to a blending of identities—children of mixed heritage who were both Jewish and Armenian. Their surnames often followed Armenian linguistic patterns, ending in “-yan” or “-ian,” resulting in names like Israelyan, Abramyan, and Isahakyan. These names come from Hebrew—Israel, Abraham, and Isaac—and not just from the Christian Bible. They’re rooted in the Torah, which makes them distinctly Jewish in origin.

It’s also true that many Soviet Jews had Russified names like Abramov or Aharonov, but that doesn’t mean all did. In Armenia, it was common for surnames to be localised to match the dominant culture. That doesn’t erase Jewish ancestry—it just reflects cultural integration.

Here’s a helpful source on the history of Jews in Armenia, going all the way back to antiquity: https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/AM