Surname Degirmen - Meaning and Origin
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Degirmen: What does the surname Degirmen mean?
The last name Degirmen is derived from the Turkish-Azeri word "degirmen," meaning "mill." In Turkish culture, this name traditionally indicated an occupation as a miller. Being a miller was historically an important job in Turkey and other Turkic cultures as it was the only way for people to process and mill grains. As such, the term represented industry, craftsmanship, and hard work.
In the past, people of this last name either worked in or owned a mill, or supplied the materials for mills (such as flour and grain). Over time, as the occupation became less common, the last name Degirmen became that of a family name, representing an ancestral connection to the profession. Today, they may or may not still be involved in the milling industry, as many families have since taken up other career paths.
Overall, the last name Degirmen has an important historical and cultural significance, representing a long heritage of hard work and respect for traditional trades. It also hints to a deeper connection with Turkish and Turkic culture, allowing modern holders of the name to feel connected to their ancestors, even if they do not directly interact with the milling industry.
Order DNA origin analysisDegirmen: Where does the name Degirmen come from?
The last name Degirmen is most commonly found in Turkey, especially around the Black Sea region. It is also found in other parts of Europe such as Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. The name is derived from a Turkish word meaning “mill”, which is a reference to the many grain millers and grain traders that were found around the Black Sea region.
In Turkey, the name is often seen in cities such as Bartin, Zonguldak, Bolu, Duzce, Bursa, Yalova, Malatya, Sivas, Isparta and Ordu. It is also fairly common in Istanbul. It is speculated that the name Degirmen may also have been adopted by other ethnicities during the Ottoman period, due to the fact that the last name made it easy to identify one’s profession.
Outside of Turkey, the surname Degirmen can be found in other parts of Europe and the Middle East. It can be found in certain parts of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Austria, Sweden and the United States. It is also fairly common in Syria, Palestine and Israel, due to the history of immigration and intermarriage between Turkish and Levantine populations.
The popularity of the surname Degirmen has been sustained over the centuries as it has been passed down through generations of families living in the same region. It is a great example of how names, as well as cultures, can be preserved despite external changes.
Variations of the surname Degirmen
The surname Degirmen has two variants: Degrimmen and Degirmenci. The surname Degirmen is of Ottoman Turkish origin.
Değirmen is a Turkish word meaning “mill” and has been used as a forename and surname in Turkey for centuries. It is likely the surname was taken on in reference to an occupation or proximity to a mill.
The surname can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Degirmen, Değirmen, Degirmenci, Digrimen, Degrimen, Degrimenci, Dirimmen, Dirimmenci, Digrimmen, Digrimmenci, and Dyrimen. Variants can also include Degirmencioğlu or Değirmencioglu which roughly translates as “son of miller”.
The surname can also take on various other derivations, including Degerli, Degirmencioglu, Degermez, Degirmencik, or Degirmenlik. These surnames come from variations of the phrase "Değirmencioğlu" combined with suffixes such as -li (which means "belonging to"), -oğlu (which means "son of") or -lik (which means "from the place of").
As a surname, Degirmen can have other spellings due to the influence of dialects, language changes, and names becoming adapted and anglicised over time. Examples include Dirimenn, Dirimennci, Digrimen, Digrimenci, Dyrimen, and Dyrimenci.
In addition, Degirmen may be adopted as a primary or given name by Turkic people outside of Turkey, such as in Germany, Turkey, Canada, and the United States, and may be transliterated differently depending on the language being written in. For example, in Arabic, the surname could be written as دغيرمن or in Greek as Ντεγιρμεν.
Famous people with the name Degirmen
- Orhan Degirmen, a renowned journalist who has written several books and was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Dunya.
- Izzet Degirmen, a Turkish film actor and producer who acted in several TV series and movies.
- Esra Degirmen, a Turkish actress, model, and singer.
- Utku Degirmen, a Turkish actor and film producer.
- Sümeyye Degirmen, a Turkish actress and model.
- Alpavsar Degirmen, a Turkish actor.
- Şükrü Degirmen, a Turkish politician who was a member of the Republican People's Party.
- Nurumaga Degirmen, an actor who performed in films and TV series.
- Halil Degirmen, a Turkish actor and director known for voicing numerous animated characters.
- Kutay Degirmen, a Turkish musician and vocalist.