Surname Pekmez - Meaning and Origin

Pekmez: What does the surname Pekmez mean?

The last name Pekmez is an occupational surname derived from the Turkish word pekmez, which translates to 'molasses' or 'mulberry syrup'. Pekmez was historically used as a substitute to sugar, as it was easier and cheaper to obtain at the time.

Tracing the origins of the surname back to Turkey, Pekmez likely began as a signifier of one of many professions related to the production and sale of the syrup. It was not uncommon for people to take on surnames that referenced their professions, with those in the business of producing mulberry syrup taking on the name Pekmez or its derivatives.

In modern times, the name Pekmez is still strongly associated with the production of syrup, although the profession itself has changed and diversified. In addition to the syrup, it is now used to refer to a wide variety of sweet items, such as jams, jellies, and candy. The modern context has also changed the notion of the name from an occupational one to a more familial one, with many families utilizing or indeed being named after the Pekmez surname.

In this way, the name Pekmez can be passed down through generations, connecting families to a common ancestral origin rooted in the production and sale of molasses. Despite the multifaceted meaning of the name, its origins remain strongly linked to its original source: the syrup.

Pekmez: Where does the name Pekmez come from?

The last name Pekmez is most commonly found in Turkey today. It is a Turkish name derived from the Turkic word "pekmez," which means honey or syrup. Within Turkey, the surname Pekmez is most prevalent in its southeastern regions, particularly in the cities of Diyarbakir, Mardin, and Batman.

Pekmez is also one of the most common surnames among Turkish descendants living in Germany. According to a recent study, the surname ranks 26th out of the most common Turkish-origin names in the country. The majority of these Pekmez descendants have roots in East and Southeast Turkey.

Outside of Turkey, Pekmez is also found in some other countries with large Turkish diasporas, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It is also common in other countries in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine, and Iraq.

There may be slight variations in the spelling of the name Pekmez in different countries. This is because certain consonants are pronounced differently in differing accents. For example, in some places the name will be spelled as "Pekmaz" or "Pehmez."

Variations of the surname Pekmez

The surname Pekmez is most commonly used in Turkey and across the Balkan region. The surname can have a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant and spelling is Pekmez, which itself can be spelt in different ways as either Pehmez or Pahmez.

Other related surnames include Pekmezi, Pakmez, Pehmezi and Pakmezi. These are variants of the original spelling, derived from small orthographic changes, such as inserting a vowel in the original spelling.

In some regions of the Balkan region such as Romania, the surname can also be spelt as Pekmeş or Pakmeş, which are phonetic spellings of the original.

In Turkey, there are more related surnames including Pekmezer, Pakmezer, Pehmezer and Pakmezer. These are common variants of the original surname and are also found throughout the Balkan region.

For different countries in the region, other variations of the original name can be spelt out; for example in Bulgaria and Serbia the surname can be spelt as Pecmez or Pakmez.

In addition to the different variants and spellings of the original surname, there is also a possibility for it to be of foreign origin and have other spellings, such as Petkevitch, Petrokevitch and Petrak, which are derived from Slavic and Turkish versions of the original name.

Overall, the surname Pekmez has a variety of spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin, depending on the region. The different spellings are mainly based on the same root, but might have slight variations.

Famous people with the name Pekmez

• Serhat Pekmez, a composer and musician from Turkey.
• Bülent Pekmez, an influential academic from Turkey.
• Seyfi Pekmezci, a former Turkish professional basketball player.
• Berat Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Mehmet Kürşat Pekmez, a German professional squash player.
• Ragıp Pekmezci, a retired Turkish professional football player.
• Musa Pekmez, a retired Turkish professional football player.
• Soner Pekmez, a Turkish professional basketball player.
• Kemal Pekmez, a former Turkish professional football player.
• Ercan Pekmez, a former Turkish professional football player.
• Ümit Pekmez, a retired Turkish professional footballer.
• Selim Pekmez, a former Turkish professional football goalkeeper.
• Süleyman Pekmez, a retired Turkish professional football player.
• Ufuk Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Rahmi Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Aydın Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Nurcan Pekmez, a Turkish professional volleyball player.
• Özgür Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Ozan Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.
• Murat Pekmez, a Turkish professional football player.

Other surnames

Pekmezci