Common Turkish last names (and their meaning)

The family name law, which was adopted on 21 June 1934, compelled all Turkish people to pick a family name and prohibited them from using nicknames. People took on names that were linked to their forefathers, historical events, or had a connection to their profession or identity.

As a result, the Turkish last names are quite “new.” Prior to that, Turkish males used the term of their father with the addition of the preposition “ogu” (“son”) or a family name and they were both preceded by a personal name. For example, Sezai Ogün means “Sezai, the son of Ogün.”

So it’s not always easy for people to understand Turkish surnames, but it can be fun! Here are some of the most common last names and their meaning:

Aşkın

Meaning: “Beloved” or “dear” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Aşkın means “Mehmet the beloved.”

Atalay

Meaning: “Protector” or “savior.” For example, Mustafa Atalay means “Mustafa the protector.”

Aydın

Meaning: May mean “light” and/or “intellect” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Aydın means “Mehmet the bright.”

Bahadır

Meaning: “Brave” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Bahadır means “brave (male name) Mehmet.”

Baran

Meaning: Means “rain” in Turkish. For example, Recep Baran means “Recep the rain.”

Bayındır

Meaning: May mean “healthy” and/or “hale” in Turkish. For example, Ahmet Bayındır means “healthy (male name) Ahmet.”

Bekar

Meaning: Means “unemployed” or “without occupation”. For example, Salih Bekar means “Salih the unemployed man.”

Çakır

Meaning: Means “copper” in Turkish. For example, Ahmet Çakır means “copper (male name) Ahmet.”

Cankat

Meaning: May mean “double” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Cankat means “Mehmet the double.”

Çelik

Meaning: Means “steel” in Turkish. For example, Ayşe Çelik means “steel (female name) Ayşe.”

Cevher

Meaning: Means “nucleus” and/or “fundamental matter” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Ali Cevher means “Mehmet Ali the nucleus.”

Çetiner

Meaning: May mean “thirsty” in Turkish. For example, Ahmet Çetiner means “Ahmet the thirsty one.”

Çıtak

Meaning: May mean “foundation” in Turkish. For example, Süleyman Çitak means “Süleyman the foundation.”

Demir

Meaning: Means “iron” in Turkish. For example, Muzaffer Demir means “Muzaffer the iron (male name).”

Efe

Meaning: May mean “lion” in Turkish. For example, Abdullah Efe means “Abdullah the lion.”

Ekmekçi

Meaning: Means “bread maker” in Turkish. For example, Mustafa Ekmekci means “Mustafa the bread maker.”

Ercan

Meaning: May mean “unique” or “irreplaceable” in Turkish. For example, Recep Ercan means “Recep the irreplaceable one.”

Güner

Meaning: May mean “success” in Turkish. For example, Ziya Güner means “Ziya the one of success.”

Kul

Meaning: Means “family members” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Kul means “Mehmet family member.”

Karahan

Meaning: May mean “king” as well as “caravan” in Turkish. For example, Recep Karahan means “recep the king (male name).”

Kartal

Meaning: Means “eagle” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Kartal means “Hasan the eagle.”

Kılıç

Meaning: May mean “sword” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Kılıç means “Mehmet the sword.”

Nacar

Meaning: May mean “diamond” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Nacar means “Hasan the diamond.”

Özgüner

Meaning: May mean “fortunate” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Ozguner means “Mehmet the fortunate.”

Sağnak

Meaning: Means “bolt of lightning” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Sağnak means “Mehmet the bolt of lightning.”

Sancar

Meaning: May mean “minute hand” in Turkish. For example, Recep Sancar means “Recep the minute hand.”

Şahin

Meaning: May mean “eagle” in Turkish. For example, Ercan Sahin means “Ercan the eagle.”

Şenver

Meaning: May mean “cheerful” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Ali Senver means “Mehmet Ali the cheerful one.”

Şimşek

Meaning: Means “lightning bolt” in Turkish. For example, Hüseyin Şimşek means “Hüseyin the lightning bolt.”

Tarkan

Meaning: Means “no meaning” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Tarkan means “Hasan the one with no meaning.”

Toprak

Meaning: May mean “earth” in Turkish. For example, Mehmet Ali Toprak means “Mehmet Ali the earth.”

Uçar

Meaning: May mean “to hit” in Turkish. For example, Emin Ucar means “Emin the one who hits.”

Yüksel

Meaning: May mean “to rise” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Yüksel means “Hasan the one who rises.”

Yılmaz

Meaning: May mean “fearless” in Turkish. For example, Halil Yilmaz means “Halil the fearless one.”

Yıldırım

Meaning: Means “lightning bolt” in Turkish. For example, Yakup Yildirim means “Yakup the lightning bolt.”

Yurtsever

Meaning: Means “patriot” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Yurtsever means “Hasan the patriot.”

Zengin

Meaning: Means “wealthy” in Turkish. For example, Recep Zengin means “Recep the wealthy one.”

Zeybek

Meaning: May mean “to dance with joy” in Turkish. For example, Hasan Zevek means “Hasan the one who dances with joy.”

Patricia Brown
Latest posts by Patricia Brown (see all)

Leave a Comment