Vahan Cardashian (Armenian: Վահան Քարտաշեան;[1] December 1, 1882[2] – June 11, 1934)[3] was an Armenian-American political activist and lawyer.

[4] Born in the city of Caesarea (now Kayseri), Ottoman Empire on December 1, 1882, or 1883, Cardashian studied in the local French lyceum and Talas American College.

[4] Cardashian entered the New York State Bar Association in 1909 and began practicing law.

Prior to the Armenian genocide of 1915, he served as a counselor and statistician to the Ottoman Chamber of Commerce in America.

[7][8][9] Some authors claim otherwise, but in his 1934 obituary, it is stated that Cardashian was survived by his sister, mother and brother.