Surname Safak - Meaning and Origin

Safak: What does the surname Safak mean?

The last name Safak is mainly found in Turkey and throughout the Middle East. It is an ancient name with an unknown origin that has held a special place in Turkish culture for centuries. One possible origin of the name is that it was a title conferred on individuals who served at the court of an Ottoman Sultan; in this case, “Safak” could mean “Protector,” reflecting the individual’s important role as a royal guard. Other plausible etymological sources point to the Safak family’s Kurdish ancestry. The name could have been derived from collequial Kurdish words or phrases, such as “saf Help” or “sa Difference”, each of which represent strength and resilience in uncertain times.

Safak families often take great pride in their name, since it serves as an anchor that connects them to their place of origin. Today, many Safak descendants continue to make a noticeable impact within their local communities, ranging from points of popular culture to politics. Perhaps the most notable example of a Safak family member is Hasan Aydın Safak, a prominent journalist and newspaper editor who played a key role in reforming the Turkish media landscape. His impressive achievements serve as a reminder that Safak’s still possess a powerful potential to make their mark on the world.

Safak: Where does the name Safak come from?

The last name Safak is common in Turkey and surrounding countries as well as parts of Europe. According to World Names Profiler, it is most commonly found in Turkey, where it ranks in the country’s top 500 last names. It is also common in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Latvia and Kazakhstan. In the United States, Safak is a rare surname, but it is found in large cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The etymology of the name is unknown, but experts suspect it may have originated from an old Turkish word meaning “brave” or “crazy.” This interpretation makes sense given the surname’s usage in the Turkish language. It is often used as a title of respect for brave and courageous individuals, such as warriors, soldiers, and heroes. It has also become common in modern times as a surname, usually among members of the Ottoman Empire.

In Turkey, the name is often associated with honour and bravery. Turks believe that the Safak name carries cultural heritage and a storied past. It is said to symbolize strength, resilience, and courage. Many families that have been granted this surname consider it a great privilege. Members of the Safak family are proud to have a distinguished name and an associated history.

Variations of the surname Safak

The surname Safak has several variants, spellings, and surnames derived from the same origin. The spelling of the name may sometimes be found as Sahaf, Shafak, Shafik, Shafaq and Shafique. Sometimes, a short version of this name is used such as Safi, which is a Turkish diminutive of Safak. This variant, as well as the surname Safaq, can also be found in some countries, like Iran and Afghanistan.

In Arabic speaking countries, Safak is most often spelled with the Arabic letter ف, and is usually pronounced with an ‘f’ sound instead of a ‘v’ sound. Thus, names like Safa, Safi, Saf, and Soof are all related to Safak.

In India, a variant of the surname is found as Saif and in Pakistan, it is spelt Safaq. The spelling may also be changed to fit the phonetic spelling of the language. For instance, the name may be spelled Såfch or Shåfak in France, and Sáfìk in some eastern European countries.

In some cases, Safak may also be used as a personal name, rather than as a surname. In other cases, the name might denote the location of a person’s ancestral home or origin. There are other spellings, too. For instance, Saffoq, Seffaq, Shaffaq, and Shefak are all commonly used in Kurdistan.

Overall, the surname Safak has a diverse range of variants, spellings and surnames that are all derived from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Safak

• Oktay Sinan Şafak: Turkish best-selling novelist, columnist and public speaker
• Behiç Şafak: Turkish novelist, poet and philosopher
• Yılmaz Şafak: Turkish writer and humorist
• Ece Temelkuran Şafak: Turkish journalist and writer
• Ali Şafak: Turkish painter
• Belkıs Şafak: Turkish film actress
• Kenan Şafak: Turkish film director and screenwriter
• Zeynep Şafak: Turkish business executive
• Yavuz Şafak: Turkish architect
• Nafiye Şafak: Turkish writer, poet and calligrapher
• Selim Şafak: Turkish professor, author and public speaker
• Murat Şafak: Turkish professor in bioinformatics
• Ebru Şafak: Turkish television and radio host
• Gülşen Şafak: Turkish vocalist and songwriter
• Ozgur Şafak: Turkish self-help and motivational author
• Mustafa Şafak: Turkish doctor and public health specialist

Other surnames

SafarSafaricSafarik