There are several theories about the name of the city
"Khanaqin". The richness of the city in natural resources, and its strategically
position have resulted in all kinds of claim in order to change the
Kurdish identity of the city, particularly by the Iraqi government.
The most common "guesses" about the name are
The Kurdish theories:

One Kurdish theory indicates that "Khanaqin" is consisted of two
Kurdish words: Khan, which is the Kurdish for place and Qeen, which
is the Kurdish for displeasure. It is said that due to; the strategically
location of this city on the Irak-Iran border; its richness in oil;
the high fertility of its soil; and the availability of water from
the river of Alwand; these factors have resulted in putting the city
on the map of desired places to occupy and to rule by foreign powers
and states. The misery of the people of Khanaqin, who were fed up
with seeing their city had become a place of conquest and aggression,
was just a fact. They were, however, clever in keeping and hiding
away their anger, and waited the right moment to overthrough the occupants.
Therefore the city is called Khan qeen, which means in Kurdish the
place of anger. Putting in mind the kindness of the people of Khanaqin,
and the peaceful coexistence of different religions, sectarians and
ethnical groups making this theory irrelevant and inapplicable. However,
it should be added that people of Khanaqin have always participated
in the major Kurdish movements such as the movement of Shaikh Mahmood
in Sulaimaniya, the movement of Aylol, and the new uprising in Kurdistan
after the defeat of the Iraqi army in the Gulf war. The awareness
of their Kurdish identity has shown to be unbeatable.
One another Kurdish theory is based on the nomadic style of Kurds
who lived in the city. They made their tents from woolens. This type
of tents is called "Dawar" in Kurdish. While their Kurdish neighbors,
who were not nomads, built their houses using clay materials. They
were called "Khanagi" by the Kurdish nomads, which means "House owner"
in Kurdish. The nomads has gradually abandoned their tents and built
houses, the "Khanagi" people increased in their tally and subsequently
the city was called after the dominating "House owners" which was
changed from Khanagi to Khanaqin. This theory might be the most reliable
one, if one takes into account the distinguished Kurdish accent of
the people of Khanaqin, the sociocultural and the sociohistorical
facts of Khanaqin.
The Arabic theories

<li> It is said that Numan bin Almunther, the ruler of the Almanathira
dynasty, was jailed in Khanaqin, which was situated on the west border
of the Sassanian dynasty protecting it against the Byzantine Empire.
He is saids to have been executed by hanging in Khanaqin on the order
of Kissra the king of the Sassanians. The process of hanging is called
"khaniq" in Arabic, which is supposed to have given the city its name
"Khanaqin". This is far from the truth since the city should have
a name before the imprionment and hanging of Numan.
 The muslims invaded the city in year 638 under the leadership of
Muhammad bin Hathifa bin Alyaman. He was drowned in river Alwand,
which divide the city into two parts, in the area of Bawagazzy in
Khanaqin. He was burried in the cemetery of Alamdar on the outskirts
of Khanaqin. To be hanged or drowned is called "khaniq" in Arabic
and thus his drowning is saids to be contributed to the name of the
city. Again, nothing is farther from the truth than this claim. In
Kurdistan, and everywhere in the world; every walley, city, village,
mountain, river, etc has a name. The city, in other words, should
have a name before the arrival of Alyaman.
The third theory is said to be from the name of a man by name "Naqy"
who owned a "Khan" in the area. Khan is an old Kurdish word for place.
Khan Naqy has become with time one word and the city was called Khanaqin.
Naqy is a shiite name (one major sectarian movement in Islam, the
Shiites believe in 12 leaders or imams, they are also called the Twelvers).
It is hard to believe that one of the Kurdish families in Khanaqin
has called their son this unusual Arabic and Shiitic name "Naqy" and
that later the city named after his ownership of a Khan. · The fourth
theory is that, this city was a place of entertainment, where girls
performed singing called (Alqeen) in Arabic. Therefore, the city is
said to have obtained its name from the Kurdish word "Khan" and the
Arabic word "Alqeen", which has become one word "Khan Alqeen" and
Khanaqin in the end. Taking into account the fact that performing
or singing, in this part of the world, has been a man's job, it is
hard to accept this approach. To date, performing by female artists
is not a common phenomenon in the Middle East and in the Kurdish society

Iraqis want U.S. to enforce peace   Originally published Friday, April 11, 2003

A Kurdish fighter waves to citizens as the Kurdish militia drive into Khanaqin, northern Iraq, after taking the city Thursday. It was the first major city in northern Iraq to fall to U.S.-led forces after Iraqi government forces retreated.