In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Tunku Besar Burhanuddin is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Kurshiah. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.
Tunku Puan Besar Hajah Kurshiah binti Almarhum Tunku Besar Burhanuddin (Jawi: تونكو ڤوان بسر حاجه قرشية بنت المرحوم تونكو بسر برهان الدين; 16 May 1911 – 2 February 1999) was the Tunku Ampuan Besar or Queen of Negeri Sembilan. She also served as the first Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaya between 1957 and 1960.
Upon her husband's accession to the throne of Negeri Sembilan in 1933, Tunku Kurshiah was proclaimed Tunku Ampuan Besar or Queen Consort of Negeri Sembilan.
Tuanku Abdul Rahman died in April 1960 and Tunku Kurshiah was given the title of Tunku Puan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Social contributions
In 1954, Tuanku Kurshiah was appointed as the President of the Negeri Sembilan Girl Guides. She was also the patron of the Women’s Institute of Negeri Sembilan. In May 1961, she established the Muslim Women Welfare Council as the Founder President. On 27 October 1974, she was awarded the Tun Fatimah Gold Medal by the National Council of Women’s Organisations for her contribution in elevating the standard of women and children through welfare and education.
Tunku Kurshiah due to her royal lineage has links to many former queens of Negeri Sembilan but also has links with many of the royal families of the other states. Her daughter Tuanku Bahiyah became Sultanah of Kedah and later the fifth Raja Permaisuri Agong. Both her younger sisters succeeded her as Tunku Ampuan Besar, first by Tunku Ampuan Durah who was married to her eldest stepson Tuanku Munawir and second by her youngest sister Tuanku Najihah, who married her youngest stepson Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Tuanku Najihah also followed in Tunku Kurshiah's footsteps and served as the 10th Raja Permaisuri Agong.
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