After the Soviet takeover of Azerbaijan, Christian members of the Nakhchivanski family mostly emigrated to Europe and beyond, while Muslim members stayed back and changed their surnames in order to flee persecution, such as famous opera singer Khurshid Qajar, who adopted her husband's surname even after his death; or immigrated to Iran to serve in Qajar Army. A Christian branch descended from Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski lives in United States of America.