Surname Karakulak - Meaning and Origin

Karakulak: What does the surname Karakulak mean?

Karakulak is an uncommon Turkish surname thought to have originated in the Karakulak village located in the Muş Province of Turkey. Over the years, it has been adopted by people of different ethnic backgrounds including Turkish, Armenian, and Kurdish.

The origin and literal meaning of the surname Karakulak is unknown since it is a rare name. However, some scholars suggest that the name Karakulak has Turkish roots, possibly referring to the Turkish word “karakulak” which means “black village.”

The surname is most commonly found in western and southeastern Turkey. In recent years, Karakulak has spread to other countries such as Germany and the United States, as some members of the Karakulak family have moved in search of better economic and educational opportunities.

Though there is no confirmed meaning for the surname Karakulak, it is associated with the qualities of resilience and resourcefulness. It has become a symbol of pride and identity for those who carry it, and it is a reminder of the rich heritage of its namesake village.

Karakulak: Where does the name Karakulak come from?

The surname Karakulak is most common today in Cypriot and Turkish communities, largely due to the Ottoman Empire’s influence in the region. The last name originated from the Ottoman Empire and was most common in Anatolia within Turkey. It is likely that the Karakulak surname was derived from “Kara” meaning “black” and “Kulak” meaning “ears”.

When the Ottoman Empire fell, many Turkish and Cypriots fled the empire and moved across the world. Today, the surname Karakulak is still present in Cyprus, Turkey, and countries that have large Turkish and Cypriot diasporas. It is especially common in United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, due to migration overseas.

At present, the highest concentration of people with the last name Karakulak is in Cyprus, where over one-third of the population carries the surname. In Turkey, the surname is also very common, mainly around the western part of the country near the Aegean Sea.

In the diaspora, more than half of the Turkish and Cypriot immigrants with the Karakulak surname settled in the United States, with sizable populations located in Europe, Australia, and Canada.

Overall, the surname Karakulak remains present in many modern-day countries, particularly in Cyprus and Turkey as well as in the diaspora across the world.

Variations of the surname Karakulak

The surname Karakulak has several variants, spellings, and related surnames depending upon the language and geographical origin.

The surname Karakulak is derived from the Turkic word "karakulak" meaning "black head" and is most common in Turkey. It is also found in Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Variants of Karakulak are Karakułak, Karakuła, Krakulak, Krakuła, Krākulak, and Krakułak.

In some geographical regions, the surname has been spelled with the letter “C” at the beginning, and in others, variant spellings have been more common. Surname spellings such as KARAKULAC, KARAKULACH, KARAKULAK, KARAKULCZ, KARAKULCZA, KARAKULEC, KARAKULIK, KARAKUŁAK, KROKULAK, KROKULEC, KROKULIK, KROKUŁA have been noted in some regions.

Related surnames include Karakuluk, Karaculuk, Krupulak, Krupułak, Kračulak, Kračulec, Kračułak.

Karakulak is often confused with Karakuluk, which is derived from the Turkic word “karakuluk” meaning “black eyes”. However, Karakulak and Karakuluk are not related surnames despite the similarity.

Famous people with the name Karakulak

• Berrin Karakulak: Berrin Karakulak is a Turkish television presenter, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as the presenter of the popular game show "Kesin Bilgi" which is aired on the channel Fox.
• Leyla Karakulak: Leyla Karakulak is a Turkish racewalker, who has also competed in hurdling and heptathlon in her career. She has won numerous medals in international and national competitions, several of them in the Olympics.
• Mimar Sinan Karakulak: Mimar Sinan Karakulak is a Turkish university professor, architect, and art historian. He is currently professor of architecture at Middle East Technical University in Ankara as well as the head of the Department of Conservation and Restoration at the same university.
• Reyhan Karakulak: Reyhan Karakulak is a Turkish politician and a current Member of Parliament from Ankara. She is affiliated with the Justice and Development Party (AKP). She is involved in debates and discussions related to agriculture and food production, women's rights, and environmental issues.
• Fatih Karakulak: Fatih Karakulak is a Turkish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Istanbul-based team Fenerbahce. He is renowned for his highly agile, acrobatic style of play and is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in Turkey.

Other surnames

Karakullukcu