iPhone contacts reverted to old list after iOS update

For some reason, old contacts (like have been deleted for years) reappeared and newer ones (like still 1-10 years old) disappeared. I have iOS26.2.1, and noticed the issue just after the update. I’ve done the following multiple times:

1. Restarted device, multiple times
2. Resynced iCloud - again multiple times
3. Toggled Airplane Mode
4. Double and triple checked contacts are enabled on Mail for all accounts
5. Double and triple checked contact settings include short name and nickname are toggled on - even toggled them on and off
6. Attempted a data recovery from iCloud…oldest back up was from Jan 16th..so used that one (should have been good). No change.

My contact list is some how stuck in around 10-15 years ago and I’ve lost all my currently important contacts.

Is there anything I can do to fix this?