Surname Onay - Meaning and Origin

Onay: What does the surname Onay mean?

The last name Onay has its origins in Hebrew and is derived from the Hebrew word “onay” which translates to “my agreement” or “my assent.” It is believed to have been a popular name among Jewish populations in areas of the Mediterranean, possibly as a result of the Enlightenment that swept across Europe during the 18th century.

Today the Onay surname is most common among Sephardic Jews (those descended from Spanish or Portuguese Jews). Most significantly, the name has become synonymous with the Spanish word “enjuagar” which means “to wash” or “to bathe”. This could have been derived from the Spanish-influenced custom of following the ancient Jewish ritual of Miqvah, or ritual bathing, which was important in the observance of Jewish purity laws.

The Onay family name is believed to owe its existence in Spain to Morisco merchants referred to as Onays. In the Spanish lexicon, the Spanish word “onay” is still used to refer to a person that vouches or speaks for another. This correlation between the last name Onay and the roots of its origin provides an interesting narrative surrounding this surname.

Other individuals with the Onay name can be found in the United States, where immigration records of Onays from the Ottoman Empire are also present. What's more, records from American Jewish cemeteries also demonstrate that at least some of these Onays likely served in the American Civil War.

All in all, the surname Onay is an interesting name with a rich history, spanning many different countries and cultures. Its origin in Hebrew provides an intriguing story behind its meaning and significance.

Onay: Where does the name Onay come from?

The surname Onay has a long and varied history. It is a Turkish name which originated in the Middle East and is today seen in countries including Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. It is also found in the Balkans and in some parts of Europe.

In the United States, the surname Onay is most commonly seen in areas with large Turkish immigrant populations such as Michigan, Illinois and New York. It is a relatively uncommon name, though its presence has been documented in United States Census data since 1880. The most recent US Census data indicated that the surname Onay was present in around 900 households across the country.

Onay is also a common surname in many parts of the world, including Turkey, where it was estimated that almost 1% of the population across the country had the surname. In major cities such as Istanbul, the surname was even more prevalent, with around 4% of the population having the surname.

Given its history and its prevalence around the world, the last name Onay is likely to remain commonplace in many countries in the years to come.

Variations of the surname Onay

The surname Onay (sometimes spelled Onaye or Onaie) is a patronymic surname of Spanish or Basque origin, derived from the personal name Ona or Onaya, a diminutive of Ona, a short form of Spanish female names beginning with the element "ona" meaning "grace".

The variants of the surname Onay include Onai, Onaie, Onaye, Oná, Onah, Onaih, Onayhy, Onay, Onayy, Onayeh, Onái, Onáy, Onaik, Onaoky, and Onaiek.

Aside from Onay, the most common patronymic surnames derived from the personal name Ona or Onaya are Onaindía, Onaindías, de Onaindía, and de Onaindías.

Other spellings of the surname Onay include Onai, Oná, Onah, Onaih, Onayhy, Onayh, Onayy, Onayeh, Onáy, Onaik, Onaoky, and Onaiek.

There are several surname variants of Basque derivation which originated from the given name Ona or Onaya, such as Onaindi, Onaindia, Onaindiaz, Onaindis, Onaindiz, Onaindy, Onains, Onainsi, Onanada, Onanaside, Onania, Onaini, Onaniz, and Onandea.

In conclusion, the surname Onay and its variants have both Spanish and Basque origins, and are derived from the personal name Ona or Onaya and patronymic surnames derived from this given name. Common variants of the surname Onay include Onai, Oná, Onah, Onaih, Onayhy, Onayh, Onayy, Onayeh, Onáy, Onaik, Onaoky, Onaiek, Onaindía, Onaindías, de Onaindía, and de Onaindías.

Famous people with the name Onay

• Ahmet Onay: Ahmet Onay is a Turkish soccer player who has held numerous positions in the Turkish Super League, including the Sporting Director of Trabzonspor.
• Servet Onay: Servet Onay is a Turkish lawyer and former politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the True Path Party from 1995 to 1999.
• Turgay Onay: Turgay Onay is a former professional Turkish basketball player. He represented Turkey in international competitions, and is one of the highest-scoring players in the Turkish national team history.
• Haluk Onay: Haluk Onay is a former Turkish economist and former parliament member. He was the Minister of Finance in Ronald Reagan's cabinet from 1979 to 1983.
• Cem Onay: Cem Onay is a Turkish film director, producer and writer. He is best known for his work on the film Usta Beni Azad Ede, which won the Golden Orange Award for Best Screenplay in 2006.
• Ali Onay: Ali Onay is a Turkish composer and musician. He is part of the Milli Görüş movement, a religious-political movement in Turkey.
• Nazmi Onay: Nazmi Onay is a Turkish musician and composer. He was a member of the folk band Türkü Akademisi, and has released several solo albums.
• Güven Onay: Güven Onay is a Turkish singer-songwriter and composer. He has released two studio albums and has become well-known with his unique style of mixing traditional Turkish music with modern music.

Other surnames

ÖnalOnatOnaziOnazy