Surname Alacali - Meaning and Origin

Alacali: What does the surname Alacali mean?

The last name Alacali is of Spanish origin and is believed to be a locational surname from the Spanish village of Alcalá de la Selva which is in the province of Teruel, in the autonomous community of Aragon.

The meaning of the name Alacali comes from the two words ‘al’ which means ‘at’ or ‘to’ and ‘cala’ meaning ‘stream’. The combination of the two gives the meaning of ‘at the stream’ which is likely the significance of its origin as a locational surname.

The exact origins of the name are unclear, however some theorize that it may be derived from the Arabic word ‘calah’ which means ‘fortification’. It is also possible that individuals with the surname Alacali began using the name as a way to show their association with the village, as people were known to take on the name of their village as their surname.

The Alacali surname is found mostly in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries but it can also be found in countries around the world such as the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

Overall, the last name Alacali has a rich history that can be traced back to its origin in the Spanish village of Alcalá de la Selva. It is a name which could have been derived from a geographical location or potentially from an Arabic word. Regardless, it is still of significance today as individuals with this surname can be found in many countries around the world carrying on the name Alacali.

Alacali: Where does the name Alacali come from?

The last name Alacali is most commonly found in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. It is commonly associated with people of Spanish origin, though it could also be present in different parts of the world. Those with this last name could be descended from immigrants to different countries, or it could have emerged in some other way.

In Spain, Alacali is a fairly common last name. It can be found in some of the bigger cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, as well as more rural areas. It is likely to be more common in the south, in the Andalusian region, and less common in the north.

In terms of other countries, the last name Alacali can also be found in the United States, South America, and parts of Europe. Latin American countries have large Spanish-speaking populations, as does the USA, so it isn't uncommon to see people with this last name in those places.

In Europe, you may come across someone with the last name Alacali if they have ancestral roots in Spain. For example, it is not unheard of to see it in Portugal or in some of Italy's southern regions that have strong connections to Spain.

Overall, the last name Alacali is fairly common and will most likely be located in Spanish-speaking countries and in some parts of Europe. It can also be found scattered across the United States and other countries in the Americas.

Variations of the surname Alacali

Alacali is a patronymic surname/family name derived from the masculine Arabic personal name Al-Aqil, which literally translated to English means 'The Intelligent One'. It is also spelt as Al-Aqil, Alaqil, Alakil, Alakili, Alcali or Alcaly, and is found mostly among Muslim families originating from the Middle East.

Some population of Muslim faith bearing the surname are scattered in parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Eritrea. The variant Alacali is derived from a Turkish form to refer to 'The Intelligent One'. Though the spelling and name may differ, the origin stands the same.

Many spellings of the same name also exist due to poor record keeping and immigration being made by families in different countries leading to surnames being phonetically spelled or adapted according to the language and region. Thus, some spellings span a wide range, such as Aqeel, Aqil, Aqilah, Akal, Akhal, Aquil, Aquilla, Qil and Qillah.

Since the Alacali surname is originally of Arabic origin, the naming conventions within Arabic families have also caused derivations and versions of the surname, such as Al-'Aqeel, Al-'Aqeeli, Al-'Aqali, and Al-'Aqily.

In some cases in which families moved to India after the civil war and hence adopted and adapted the equally fluid naming conventions found in India/South Asia, the spelling might also have been Anglicised, leading to surnames such as Alacaley, Alacey, Alacay, or Alaky.

Whichever variant of the Alacali surname, the origin remains the same—The Intelligent One.

Famous people with the name Alacali

• Mert Alacali: Mert Alacali is an award-winning screenwriter, who wrote the 2017 Turkish comedy-drama film “Ianthe”. The film was nominated for several awards, such as Best Film at the Los Angeles Movie Awards and Best Feature-Length Drama Film at the Brooklyn International Film Festival.
• Merve Alacali: Merve Alacali is a Turkish actress, best known for her roles in movies such as 2012’s “Araf” and 2017’s “Alma and the Penguins”.
• Onur Alacali: Onur Alacali is a Turkish engineer and entrepreneur. He is the CEO and founding member of corporate technology venture Caterva, which is a technology company improving the way companies operate with technology that facilitates artificial intelligence, big data, and analytics.
• Sevgi Alacali: Sevgi Alacali is a Turkish actress, known for her roles in films such as “Araf” and television series such as “Küçük Kadınlar”.
• Deniz Alacali: Deniz Alacali is a Turkish actress, who is best known for her roles in television series like “Asi” and “Delibal”.

Other surnames

Alaca