Surname Bölük - Meaning and Origin

Bölük: What does the surname Bölük mean?

The last name Bölük is thought to be of Turkish origin, derived from the word “bölük” which translates to “tribe” or “division”. It is believed to be a toponymic surname, meaning the family originated from within a tribe or community, or an area known as “Bölük”.

Assuming the family were originally a nomadic tribe, it is likely that the migration of the name follows the extended research of where the families originally are from. It may be possible to trace the path of the Bölük family given the information that they were originally a tribe, or it is also possible that the surname doesn’t reflect upon their actual origin.

There is little concrete information on the use of the last name Bölük over time, but various examples can be seen throughout Turkey during the 19th century. It is likely that the name was used to refer to a group of people or clan of nomadic tribes at that time.

As with any surname or family name, the term Bölük can be seen to mean different things to different people. It may denote a shared group of people who follow a certain set of values or have a close association with a particular area, or it may simply be a name that is passed through generations and carries personal meaning for each family.

Bölük: Where does the name Bölük come from?

The last name Bölük is most commonly found in Turkey today. The name orginates from the Turkic language and means "group of shepherds". This last name is believed to have been adopted by Turks back in the 1300s, during the Ottoman Empire. Today it is a common name in the country, with an estimated 32,400 people bearing the name.

The majority of people with the name Bölük live in rural areas, specifically in Anatolia. The capital city of Ankara also has a high concentration of people with this last name. While there are pockets of people with the name living in other parts of Turkey, the majority of them are concentrated in rural areas of the country.

Outside of Turkey, there are some people with the last name Bölük living in the U.S., particularly in the states of California and Michigan. However, the vast majority of individuals with this last name still reside in Turkey.

In addition to being a common last name, the word Bölük is also part of some common Turkish surnames. For example, the last name Bölüksü-kaya is derived from the word and means “group of shepherds' house.” Moreover, many place names throughout Turkey include the word Bölük, such as the towns of Karacabölük and Söğütbölük.

Variations of the surname Bölük

The surname Bölük has several variants, spellings, and surnames originating from the same source, providing its holders with a deep and colourful history across a range of countries.

The most common variant of Bölük is the Turkish version, Boluk or Bolukoglu, which primarily refers to a nomadic Turkic tribe of the same name. Originally living in the steppes of Central Asia, this clan migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century, subsequently assuming a variety of spellings dependant on localised pronunciations.

The Boluks also have the honour of providing multiple former sultans of the Ottoman Empire with their surnames, including Boludar and Bolkan. Further variants of 'bolu', such as Bolun, Boluz, and Boluch, have also been inherited by the Boluks as their descendants spread across Caucasian borderlands.

In some Eastern European and Russian states, the Bölük name has become Buluk or Bulakov, thanks to the changing of the 'ö' character to the Cyrillic equivalent of 'u'.

The well-known surname, Boelke, typically German, has its origins in the same source. This adaptation of the Turkish spelling first appeared in the North German regions of the late 16th century, largely carried by descendents of Prussian military officer, August Wilhelm Boelke.

Further variants of Bölük that can be found across Europe include; Bolick, Bolik, Bolak, Boelick, Boelik, Boluch, Bolock, Boelock, Bolek, Bulock, Boolick, Boluke, Boolik, Boluke, Boleke, and Boluke.

Therefore, the surname Bölük both demonstrates the effects of geographical migration and linguistic developments on surnames, and provides a prime example of the Turkish heritage which has been adopted by families around the world.

Famous people with the name Bölük

• Ümit Bölükbaşı: Turkish journalist
• Yusuf Bölük: Professional basketball player for Anadolu Efes S.K.
• Kaan Bölükbaşı: Turkish actor
• Mert Bölükbaşı: Turkish composer, performer, and folk musician
• Duygu Bölükbaşı: Turkish film director and screenwriter
• Gürbüz Bölükbaşı: Turkish former footballer
• İrem Bölükbaşı: Turkish writer and blogger
• Hülya Bölükbaşı: Turkish television presenter
• Burak Bölükbaşı: Turkish actor
• Gülçin Bölükbaşı: Turkish television presenter

Other surnames

BölükbasBölükbasi