Surname Kizilay - Meaning and Origin
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Kizilay: What does the surname Kizilay mean?
Kizilay is a Turkish surname that comes from the word "Kizil," meaning "red" in Turkish. It is believed that the surname originated with the Oğuz Turks, an ancient Turkic people who first resided in the Central Steppes near the Caspian Sea and later spread throughout much of Central Asia, Anatolia, the Caucasus, and beyond. The Oğuz Turks were known for having a strong red color motif within their cultures, both in terms of clothing and in their traditional weapons. Thus, the surname Kizilay likely originated from a tradition of those who favored the color red.
The name Kizilay can also be found in cultures such as Azerbaijan and other Turkic countries in Central Asia. In the Azeri language, the word "Kizil" is used to describe the traditional clothing worn by the brides and grooms during weddings. It is also used to describe red flags and banners. Similarly, in some areas of Central Asia, the name Kizilay is often associated with political symbolism and radicalism.
Throughout history, the color red has been linked with power, courage, and strength. Thus, the surname Kizilay often signifies the same traits in individuals who share it. Red, in general, is often seen as a lucky color, which means that those with the surname Kizilay may feel as if they are able to bear good fortune and strength throughout life.
Order DNA origin analysisKizilay: Where does the name Kizilay come from?
The last name Kizilay is most commonly associated with Turkey and other countries of the Middle East. The Turkish spelling of this last name is pronounced Kee-zee-lye, and it is derived from the word for "red". This name is commonly found in Turkey and parts of Central Asia, with the largest concentration of individuals having this surname residing in Turkey.
Kizilay is an ancient Ottoman Turkish surname that has been around since at least the 10th century. It was first used by the Turkic Kayi clan, one of the several Oghuz Turkic clans that lived in Central Asia around the Black and Caspian Seas before invading Anatolia in the 11th century. This famous clan eventually created the Ottoman Empire which ruled the Middle East and parts of Europe for centuries and during which Kizilay became a well established surname.
The areas with the highest concentrations of people with this surname today include the cities of Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir in Turkey as well as cities in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Furthermore, due to the often high levels of job migration in Turkey, Kizilay is very common in most towns and cities of the country and especially in the eastern Mediterranean area, Southeastern Anatolia and Thrace. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Americas, due to the diaspora that has left Turkey in the last centuries.
Variations of the surname Kizilay
Kizilay is an Turkish surname that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants and spellings of Kizilay include Kizilayi, Kizilayı, Kizilaylı, Kizilayci, Kizilayoglu, and Kizilaya. All of these variations are derived from the Turkish word Kizil, which means “red” or “scarlet” in Turkish.
The surname Kizilay can also be found, with various other spellings, in Albania (Kizili), Bosnia (Kezilaj), Croatia (Kezilaj), Israel (Kizili), Macedonia (Kizilay), and Serbia (Kizilay). All of these variations are derived from the same Turkish word and the Kizilay surname.
In addition, Kizilay can appear in other surnames of Turkish origin like Kizili, Karaoglan, and Aydin. All of these surnames also have roots in the Turkish word Kizil.
The variations and spellings of the Kizilay surname can be confusing, but they are all derived from the same word and the same origin. All of the surnames, spellings, and variants have the same meaning and are used to denote areas of origin, families of origin, or even professions of origin.
Famous people with the name Kizilay
- Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Kızılay: Turkish politician and current President of Turkey.
- Kemal Kızılay: Turkish Cypriot writer and founder of the Cyprus Youth Platform.
- Utku Kızılay: Turkish professional basketball player who plays for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball Super League and the Basketball Champions League.
- Ethem Kızılay: Turkish writer, director, and actor.
- Yusuf Kızılay: Turkish politician who was the Minister of Family and Social Policy from 2014–2015.
- Çağlar Kızılay: Turkish former footballer and current manager of Akhisar Belediye Gençlik Ve Spor.
- Burak Kızılay: Turkish former footballer and current manager for Manisaspor.
- Zeynep Kızılay: Turkish actress and singer.
- İlker Kızılay: Turkish former footballer and current manager of Yeni İstanbul Spor.
- Aslı Kızılay: Turkish singer, songwriter, and radio and television presenter.