Surname Kizilkan - Meaning and Origin

Kizilkan: What does the surname Kizilkan mean?

The last name Kizilkan is of Turkish origin, deriving from the word 'kizil', meaning 'red'. It is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was adopted by the descendants and family of an ancestor whose name was 'Kizil'. In Turkish culture, the colour red is typically associated with courage and power, and so the surname Kizilkan is often interpreted as meaning 'one of power and bravery'.

The most likely source of the surname Kizilkan is the medieval title 'Kizil Yuzlu Asker', which translates to 'Red-Faced Soldier' - indicating associated strength and courage. An alternative source of the surname could be the Anatolian town of Kizilkilise, which roughly translates to 'Red Church' and was named after the `red-colored bricks used to build it.

Kizilkan is a common surname in many regions that have a large population of ethnic Turks, as well as in other destinations with significant Turkish populations, such as Bulgaria and Greece. It is also a common surname throughout the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans, as it is found among Slavic, Greek and Balkan nations.

The Kizilkan surname meaning may vary slightly depending on region and culture, but its most universal interpretation is that of courage and power.

Kizilkan: Where does the name Kizilkan come from?

The last name Kizilkan is most commonly found in Turkey and in Turkish communities around the world. The word Kizilkan, which translates to “red leader” in English, likely refers to a leader or warrior in Turkish culture. The surname is relatively uncommon outside of Turkish communities, though there have been records of it found in German census records going back to the 1700s.

Kizilkan can also be found in various provinces in Turkey such as Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Van, Mardin, and the Kurdish region of Hakkari. In Istanbul, for example, Kizilkan is the fifteenth most common surname according to a 2019 population census.

Because of the high population of Turkish immigrants in European countries such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, Kizilkan is also becoming increasingly more common among these countries. Although no records specifically on the name have been found, according to the 2016 EU survey, the Turk population increased by 0,7% in the Netherlands and 5,5% in Germany.

Finally, Kizilkan is found in parts of the United States as well. According to a study from 2007, the Turkish population grew significantly in the US between 1980 and 2013 from 716,279 to 3,387,000. This could explain why the surname Kizilkan is becoming more common in the US as well.

Overall, Kizilkan is most common in Turkey and Turkish communities around the world and is increasingly gaining popularity among countries with high Turkish populations such as Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Kizilkan

The surname Kizilkan has several variant spellings including Kizilkhan, Kizelkan, Kizilkhn, Kizilkhana, and Kizelkhana. It stems from the ancient Armenian word "kizel" meaning red and is thought to have originally been used to indicate someone with red hair.

Kizilkan is a popular surname for Armenian people living in countries such as the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. It is also becoming increasingly popular amongst ethnic Turks, Georgians, and Iranians.

Due to different dialects and local customs, there are several related surnames of Kizilkan origin including Kizilkhanly, Kizilkhanlou, Kizilkhanian, and Kizilkhanyan.

Other regional variants include:

Kizilkanparov – A surname found in parts of Belarus

Kizilkanov – A surname found in parts of Uzbekistan

Kizilkanly – A surname found in parts of Georgia

Kizilkangil – A surname found in parts of Turkey

Kizilkhanov – A surname found in parts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

In some countries the surname has also been adapted to sound more like a local spelling. For example, Kizilkhan may be spelled as Kisilhan in Turkey or Kizylhan in Kazakhstan.

No matter the spelling, the surname Kizilkan is of Armenian origin.

Famous people with the name Kizilkan

• Emre Kızılkan: Turkish footballer.
• Cenk Kızılkan: Turkish martial artist and kickboxer who competed at the 2012 London Olympics.
• Muhammed Kızılkan: Turkish Olympic wrestler who also has a world while medal.
• Haydar Kızılkan: the oldest known traditional oil wrestler who wrestled in Istanbul and competed in the longstanding Kirkpinar festivals in Edirne, Turkey.
• Akin Kizilkan: Senior Technology Leader and Global Business Manager at an internet technology firm.
• Deniz Kızılkan: Turkish visual artist who studied at the Academy Of Fine Arts in Istanbul.
• Halit Kızılkan: Turkish mathematician and professor at Istanbul Technical University who also serves as a senior adviser in the Department of Mathematics at TOBB ETU.
• Murat Kızılkan: Turkish boxer and 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championship Medalist.
• Ali Akçakaya Kızılkan: Turkish basketball player who played in the Euroleague and was part of the Turkish national team’s roster for the EuroBasket 2005 Qualifying Round.
• Olcay Kızılkan: Turkish basketball player who also played professionally in Spain’s ACB League.

Other surnames

Kizilkaya