Surname Pehlivan - Meaning and Origin

Pehlivan: What does the surname Pehlivan mean?

The last name Pehlivan is of Turkish origin. It is derived from the Turkish word for wrestler “pehlivan.” It likely originated as an occupational surname for a professional wrestler or a family descendant of a notable wrestler. It was typically used as a title of respect for those who had either earned it through competition, or were given it as a hereditary title from their families.

The Pehlivan name is especially common throughout the Middle East. In Turkey, the family was responsible for producing erzincan, a very popular wrestling style in the region. Erzincan is still being practiced today throughout the Middle East, and many of the folk wrestling competitions are still overseen by families of the Pehlivan surname.

The Pehlivan name is also known in Bulgaria, but it is likely not derived from the same source as the Turkish origin. It might have come from the Slavic word for snow, which was written as "петливан" or "peklevan" in Bulgarian.

Overall, the last name Pehlivan is a proud and distinguished one that has been passed down through the generations. It is strong and noble, connected to centuries-old traditions of wrestling and combat, making it a powerful and unique last name that has stood the test of time.

Pehlivan: Where does the name Pehlivan come from?

The last name Pehlivan is most commonly found in Turkey and the surrounding region, including Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Armenia. This is mainly due to the fact that the Turkish language is the dominant language of the region, and this particular surname is of Turkish origin.

The last name Pehlivan is derived from the word 'pehlivan', which literally translates to 'wrestler' in Turkish. The name was likely given to people who were particularly good at wrestling or distinguished themselves through martial arts. This surname was especially popular in areas of the former Ottoman Empire.

Today, the surname is still relatively popular in Turkey, especially in the coastal cities and larger cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. Pehlivans have also emigrated to countries all around the world, and the name is today found in the United States, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia. It is especially numerous in the United States, since the country has historically accepted a large number of Turkish immigrants. Additionally, the surname is especially common among those of Armenian descent, since the Ottoman Empire encompassed parts of present-day Turkey, Armenia, and other countries.

Variations of the surname Pehlivan

The surname Pehlivan is an incredibly ancient name originating in the lands of Central Asia. The original spellings of this name are Pahlavan and Pehlevan, while variants of the name found in different countries include Pehlawan, Pahlawan, Pulawan, Pahlavani, and Pelvan.

Descendants of this name can be found within various cultural communities of Central Asia. In some cases, the name has been transliterated into local tongues which has changed the spelling of the name slightly, such as Pakhlevan, Pahlwan, Pahalwan, Pulovan, and Pahlevan.

Further variants of the name have been adapted to suit different languages. In the Turkish language, for example, the surname is spelled Pehlivan, meaning "hero" in English. In other languages, such as Persian and Arabic, the name is spelled Pahlavan, and in northern India the name is written as Bilvan.

Variant spellings of the surname can also be found among a number of other communities. The Azerbaijani spelling of Pehlevan is Piklevan, while in other North Indian communities and Nepal, the name is spelled Pulkhavan. In Greek, the name is written as Pelvatios, and in Georgia the name is written as Pakhlovani.

In some communities, the surname Pehlivan is sometimes used as a given name. Other surnames that are derived from Pehlivan in various Central Asian cultures include the Afghan name Pulawani and the Kazakh name Palvan. Additionally, in some parts of Central Asia, Pehlivan is also used as a given name meaning "hero".

Famous people with the name Pehlivan

• Serdar Pehlivan: Turkish kickboxer
• Salim Pehlivan: Turkish sports commentator and former athlete
• Ali Pehlivan: Turkish footballer
• Emre Pehlivan: Turkish actor and photographer
• Deniz Pehlivan: Turkish singer
• Galip Pehlivan: Turkish Paralympic athlete
• Sezen Pehlivan: Turkish Paralympic athlete
• İlker Pehlivan: Turkish Paralympic athlete
• Mustafa Pehlivan: Turkish actor
• Eren Pehlivan: Turkish goalkeeper softball player

Other surnames

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