Surname Karacay - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Karacay: What does the surname Karacay mean?
The last name Karacay is a saltanat (royal) name of Turkish origin. The root of the name is the anatolian tribal origine Karaca, meaning brave and courageous. The suffix ‘ay’ is thought to come from “ahi” which means a nobleman or gentleman. Together this results in Karacay meaning brave or noble.
The Karacay family is believed to have originally derived from Eastern Anatolia and Kurdish tribal ancestry and is one of the oldest saltanat surnames in Turkey. It is thought that this surname was adopted by members of the Karaca family when they adopted the use of surnames, which was first introduced to the Ottomans in the early 1700s.
Today, the Karacay family is widely found in Turkey, where they are closely related to other saltanat families such as Duman, Bayeff, Efe, and Kurt.
The name Karacay is still seen as a token of nobility and bravery, representing the family’s ancestral legacy and is a source of pride for the family and its members. The name is also seen as an inspiration for the generations to come, prompting them to live up to the proud legacy of the Karacay family and its values.
Order DNA origin analysisKaracay: Where does the name Karacay come from?
The last name Karacay is generally found most commonly in Turkey. Karacay is an old Turkish word meaning "black eye". It is one of the many Turkish surnames associated with genes of Central Asian origins, indicating long-standing migrations from that region to the Anatolian southwestern part of Turkey.
Most Karacay families remain concentrated in Turkey in the present day, particularly around the Central Anatolia, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions as well as major cities including Ankara, Izmir, and Istanbul. Karacay families are also found to a lesser extent in various European countries, most notably Germany and Austria which welcomed significant numbers of Turkish migrants during the 1990s. Additionally, Karacay families can be found living in parts of the United States such as California, Arizona, and Washington.
Karacay families classically identify as Sunni Muslims, of which most practice Hanafi Islam. The Karacay family has its roots in the ancient city of Kutahya, located in the western part of Turkey, where they still remain in good numbers today. Karacay is also a name used in Arab countries as a variant of the nickname “Karachay”. The famous Turkish film director Yılmaz Güney has the surname Karacay.
Variations of the surname Karacay
Karacay is a multicultural surname, with variants and spellings found in multiple countries and cultures. In Turkish, the surname can be spelled Karaçay, Karacay, Caracay, and Carachey, and also found in other variants such as Karacai, Karacaj, Caracas, and Karacaoglu. In English, the name can be spelled Caracas, Carkais, Carreck, Caracace, and Karacay. In French, the name is spelled Karacaüze, Karacaussa, or Caracas. In Spanish, the surname can be spelled Caracas and Caracaussa or Caracaze. In Italian, the surname is Caracas, Caracca, and Karacay or Caracas. In German, the surname can be Karacay, Karackay, Caracas, and Karrackay. In Hebrew, the surname is Carakal, Karakay, and Karacz.
The surname is also found in multiple cultures and countries. In the Asia Minor region, the surname is frequently found in Armenian, Greek, Georgian, and Armenian cultures. In Israel, the surname is spelled Kar-Kasel, with a variant being Karkal. In Serbia, the surname can also be spelled Karakaš, Karačić, and Caracaš.
The meaning of the name Karacay is disputed, with some saying it is derived from Arabic meaning "minaret", while others say it is derived from Turkish meaning "from the mountain peak or top". Regardless of its origin, the surname is associated with a wide variety of cultures and countries.
Famous people with the name Karacay
- Gökhan Karacay: a professional Turkish footballer who currently plays for Galatasaray Football Club.
- Serap Karacay: a Turkish actress known for her roles in TV series such as Strangers in Paradise and Wounded Love.
- Emre Karacay: a Turkish actor and model who has starred in numerous films and series such as Forbidden Fruit and To Give Everything.
- M. Sami Karacay: a Turkish film director and producer mainly known for his films Such a Dream, The King of the Beach, and Therefor We Will.
- Ercüment Karacay: a Turkish composer and music producer best known for his works on musical films such as Haydar’s Wife and Inside the Picture.
- Eren Karacay: a Turkish singer-songwriter known for his popular songs such as “Gökkuşağı” and “Köprüler”.
- Seçil Karacay: a Turkish actress who has starred in films such as The Edge of Heaven and Girl with an Orange in Her Hand.
- Nizam Karacay: a Turkish chef specializing in Ottoman Cuisine, known for his cookbooks The Best of Nizam’s Kitchen and Traces of Istanbul in Cuisine.
- Gül Karacay: a Turkish television presenter, radio presenter and film actress who has starred in the films, Hababam Sinifi and Büyük Yalan.
- Zekeriya Karacay: a Turkish journalist and newspaper editor who has been on the editorial staff of the newspapers Günaydın and Akşam.