Surname Kök - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kök: What does the surname Kök mean?
The last name Kök is a Turkish surname originating from the word "Kök", which means "root" in the Turkish language. The surname is believed to originate from the ancient Turkic tribes, who believed that ancestors originated from a single root, often represented in tribal culture in the form of a tree. The term kök is also used to suggest strength, referring to the firmness of a tree's roots, symbolizing the strength of one's heritage.
The Kök family originated from the Ottoman Empire, and many members of the family still live in parts of the former empire, such as Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. The origin of the name is unknown, but given its significance within Turkic culture, it is possible that it was chosen either by the head of a family or by a clan leader to symbolize their heritage and strength.
The surname Kök is most common in Turkey today, but there are also people with this last name living in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The name is not particularly common in other countries, and there are relatively few people who bear it outside of the Turkish heritage. It can also be found as an alternate spelling in some countries, such as in Russia, where it can be spelled as Kököv.
In modern times, the name Kök carries less of the symbolic weight it may have done in the past. Regardless, the name still carries with it an association with the strength and heritage of the Turkic people - something that will continue to be celebrated for decades to come.
Order DNA origin analysisKök: Where does the name Kök come from?
The last name Kök is most common in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, where its spelling can vary slightly. It is also seen in several other Turkic-speaking cultures, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.
In Kyrgyzstan, Kök is derived from the Turkic word "koek," meaning "blue" or "green" and is found particularly among the Kyrgyz and some of the smaller ethnic minorities. The name is also found in China, particularly among the Uyghur people, where it is spelled in its original form "Kök."
Kök is also seen scattered throughout Europe, primarily among diaspora communities, and in most cases is an abbreviated or altered version of the original Turkish spelling. In Germany, for example, "Köck" is the most common variant, while in France it is sometimes seen as "Coke" or "Kock." In the United Kingdom, the name is sometimes used as an anglicised "Cook," whereas in Sweden it is written as "Köke" or "Kökegård."
In the United States, the name is much less common, and is primarily found among Turkish, German, and French Americans, as well as some African Americans with roots in the Caribbean. With the recent influx of Turkish immigrants, the name is becoming more prevalent in American culture.
Overall, the last name Kök is most common in Central Asia and Turkey, with diaspora communities contributing to the proliferation of the name around the world.
Variations of the surname Kök
The surname Kök is of Turkish origin and is usually written with the umlaut over the "o". Variations and spellings of this surname include Köck, Kok, Koeck and Kock.
In the earliest documented records of this surname, it is usually spelled with just the letter "K" and with no umlaut. These alternative spellings are K, Keck, Kieck, and Kück.
It is also often seen spelled without the "K" as Oeck or Ock and without the umlaut as Ock, Ockh, and Oech.
The Kök surname can also be encountered with the prefixes "von" and "de". These surnames vary from Van Köck, De Kock, De Koeck, or Von Kock. It is also sometimes seen with double "k" and no umlaut, such as Koeck or Koecke.
The Kök surname is often encountered in various forms in other countries due to immigration. For example, in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and the United States, the Kök surname may appear as Köck, Koeck, Kock, Kok, Koke, Kool, Kuck or Kueck.
Due to many different ways of spelling the same surname, it is often difficult to trace back the origin of the Kök surname. Nevertheless, it is useful to keep in mind that Kök is likely to have many variants, spellings and surnames from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kök
- Orhan Kök: is a Turkish journalist and publisher.
- İhsan Kök: is a former Turkish basketball player.
- Muharrem Kök: was a Turkish boxer.
- Özay Kök: is a Turkish professional football player.
- Hande Kök: is a Turkish actress.
- Seda Kök: is a Turkish singer.
- Hakan Kök: is a Turkish taekwondo fighter.
- Tamer Kök: is a Turkish professional football goalkeeper.
- Alper Kök: is a Turkish volleyball player.
- Ahmet Kök: is a Turkish cyclist who currently competes for the Turkish National Cycling Team.
- Burak Kök: is a Turkish actor and model.
- Efe Kök: is a Turkish politician from the Republican People’s Party.
- Fırat Kök: is a Turkish professional football player.
- Serhat Kök: is a Turkish actor and movie director.
- Emrah Kök: is a Turkish professional football player.
- Talha Kök: is a Turkish stuntman and actor.
- Berkay Kök: is a Turkish volleyball player.
- Mert Kök: is a Turkish professional football player.
- Berat Kök: is a Turkish entrepreneur, angel investor and philanthropist.
- Taner Kök: is a Turkish actor.