Authored by Petrit Latifi

Albanian Tribes and Families

Descendants of the Kelmendi Tribe from the Kelmendi Region (Plav-Gusinje)

From the Village of Vusanje/Vuthaj

• Ahmetaj (Ahmetović) – Descendants of Ahmet Nikaj, originally from Vukël.
• Dedushaj (Dedušaj/Dedušević) – Descendants of Ded (Dedush) Balaj from Vukël.
• Gjonbalaj (Đonbaljaj/Đonbalić) – Descendants of Gjon Balaj and his brother Nrrel.
• Kukaj (Kuković)
• Çelaj (Čel(j)ić) – Claimed to be descendants of Nrrel Balaj.

From the Village of Martinovići/Martinaj

• Balidemaj (Bal(j)idemaj/Balidemić) – Descendants of Martini of Selcë.
• Hasangjekaj (Hasanđekaj/Hasanđekić) – Originating from Vukël.
• Lecaj (Ljecaj) – Originating from Vukël.
• Martini (Martinović) – Descendants of Catholic Martini of Selcë.
• Prelvukaj (Preljvukaj/Preljvukić) – Descendants of Prelë Vuka.

From the Village of Bogaj/Bogajići

• Canaj (Canović) – Migrated to Plav-Gusinje in 1698 from Vukël.
• Hasilović
• Rekaj (Reković) – Migrated around 1858.

From the Village of Grnçar/Gërnçar

• Balaj (Bal(j)ić) – Migrated from Vukël or Selcë in 1698 and converted to Islam.

From the Village of Višnjevo/Vishnjeva

• Canaj (Canović) – Related to the Reka e Xhurës family.
• Rugovac – Descendants of Rugova from Kelmendi.

From the Village of Vojno Selo

• Çelaj (Čel(j)ić) – Related to the Nikç tribe.
• Gjonbalaj (Đonbaljaj/Đonbalić) – Related to those in Vusanje/Vuthaj.
• Lekaj (Leković) – Descendants of Lekë Pretash Nikaj.

Others

• Bacaj
• Bruçaj (Bručaj/Bručević) – Descendants of Bruç Nrrelaj from Vukël.
• Cakaj (?) (Cakić)
• Gorçaj
• Hakaj (Hakanjin) – From the village of Hakaj/Hakanje.
• Musaj (Musić) – Migrated from Vukël in 1698 and converted to Islam.
• Novaj (Novović)
• Pepaj (Pepić) – From the village of Pepiqi/Pepaj.
• Qosaj/Qosja (Serbian spelling: Ćosaj/Ćosović) – From Vusanje/Vuthaj. Descendants of Qosa Stanishaj, son of Stanisha Nrrelaj, originating from Vukël, northern Albania.
• Selimaj (Serbian spelling: Seljimaj/Sel(j)imović)
• Smajić – From the village of Novshaj/Novšići.
• Skiq – Related to the Saliq tribe in Ulcinj.
• Suknoviq – Descendants of the Rugovac tribe.
• Ulaj (Serbian spelling: Uljaj/Ul(j)ević) – From Vusanje/Vuthaj. Originating from Vukël in northern Albania and descendants of Ulë Nikaj, son of Nikë Nrrelaj.
• Vukel (Serbian spelling: Vukelj) – From the village of Dolja/Dola. Migrated to Gusinje in 1675 from Vukël, northern Albania. A bey from the Shabanagiq clan granted them the village of Dolja, where they still reside today.
• Vuçetaj (Serbian spelling: Vučetaj/Vučetović) – From Vusanje/Vuthaj. Originating from Vukël in northern Albania, descendants of Vuçetë Nikaj, son of Nikë Nrrelaj.

Lim River Valley

• Ćatović – From the village of Baća, later moved to Novi Pazar. A branch of the Muriq clan.
• Demić – From the Rožaje area, originating from Selcë, northern Albania.
• Demčević – From the Rožaje and Bijelo Polje regions.
• Džudžović – From the village of Jabllanicë.
• Fejzić – From the Rožaje region.
• Fetahović – From the Rožaje region, a branch of the Muriq clan.
• Gorudžić – From the village of Jabllanicë, a branch of the Muriq clan.
• Halilović – Originating from Selcë, northern Albania.
• Hudžodžović – From the village of Jabllanicë.
• Nicaj (Serbian spelling: Nicevici, Nicovici) – From the village of Balota.
• Nikça – Originating from Vukël, northern Albania.
• Nokiq – From the Rožaje region.
• Rugova – Originating from Selcë, northern Albania. Today, they live in Pristina and Peja.
• Šabovići – From the villages of Gornje Glavice and Dapci, a branch of the Muriq clan.
• Vukli – From the Rožaje region, originating from Vukël, northern Albania.
• Zejnelagić – From the Rožaje region.
  • One branch originates from Selcë, northern Albania, and is found today in Rožaje and Sjenica.
  • Another branch originates from Nikça, northern Albania. They migrated to the Lim River Valley in 1698 and now reside in the villages of Donja Lovnica and Ibarac, Rožaje. They have ties with the Ramović clan.
• Zejnelović

Kuči

• Bracaj (Serbian spelling: Bracović) – From the village of Vrbica, originating from Selcë, northern Albania.
• Đerđelović – Descendants of the Bracović clan.
• Gorvok – From the villages of Koçë, Orahovë, and Podgrad.
• Nikaj (Serbian spelling: Nikić) – Descendants of a certain Nikë (Nikollë).
• Niculović – From the village of Orahovë, descendants of Pak Nikaj, originating from Selcë, northern Albania.
• Sinanović – Originally known as Kutevići, now found in Podgorica.

Krajina

• Dabović – From the villages of Gurezë, Livari, and Gornji Šestani. Found in Shkodër.
• Džaferović – From the village of Bes. Found in Shkodër.
• Lukić – Related to the Dabović clan in Krajina.
• Oxhaj (Serbian spelling: Odžaj/Odžić) – From the village of Donji Murići.
• Orlandić – From the village of Seoca, Crmnica, and the Lower Krajina region. Also found in Berislavci (near Zeta).
• Perovići – Originating from Selcë, northern Albania.
• Radovići – From the village of Zagonje.

Ulcinj

• Dakanović – From the village of Klimenzë.
• Lelcaj – From the city of Štoj.
• Saliq – From the Ulcinj and Komoraç regions. Related to the Skiq clan in Gusinje.

Elsewhere in Montenegro

Bjelopavlići

• Đuranović – From the city of Martinići, related to the Đurašković clan.

Cetinje

• Janković – From villages such as Krečko Ždrijelo, Pećine, Borovi, and Arbanasi. Descendants of Lekë.
• Ražnjatović – From the village of Dobrsko Selo, near Rijeka Crnojevića.

Albania

Vërmosh

• Bujaj, Bunjaj, Cali, Hasanaj, Hysaj, Lelçaj, Lumaj, Macaj, Mitaj, Mrnacaj/Mernacaj, Pllumaj, Preljocaj/Tinaj, Selmanaj, Shqutaj, Tinaj, Vukaj, Vuktilaj, Vushaj.

Others

• Bardhecaj, Bucaj.

Bikaj

• Drejaj
• Elezaj/Elezi
• Gjonvukaj (Gjevukaj)
• Gorovok
• Gorvok/Gorvoka/Gorvokaj
• Grishaj
• Havoll
• Jerebiçanin
• Kelmendi
• Lekutanaj

Nikaj

• Nikaj (Serbian abbreviation: Niković) – Originating from Vukeli in the north of Albania. They are descendants of a certain Nika Nrrelaj, the son of Nrrel Balaj.
• Nikçi – One of the four largest villages of Kelmendi: Nikçi, Vukali, Selca, Boga.
• Nilaj
• Pali (Palushi)
• Prelaj
• Rudaj

Selmani

• Selmani (Serbian abbreviation: Seljmani/Sel(j)manović) – Originating from Vukeli in the north of Albania. They are descendants of a certain Selman Gjonbalaj of the Gjonbalaj clan.

Others

• Sirdani
• Zenelaj – From Martinaj
• Muriqi – From Rugovë
• Smajlaj – From Nikç

There are more families that are expected to appear on this list, and it is almost impossible to do so due to the vastness of the task. Kelmendi is a large clan, and none of the families listed here have done this for any particular reason or order, except to list some of them and provide an example.