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.”
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