Surname Sahinkaya - Meaning and Origin
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Sahinkaya: What does the surname Sahinkaya mean?
The last name Sahinkaya is actually the Turkish equivalent of the English name ‘Shenk’. The word ‘sahin’ is derived from the Persian word meaning ‘hawk’ or ‘falcon’, while the suffix ‘kaya’ means ‘rock’. The last name is thought to have started as a nickname or tribal or clan label likely referring to the ferocity, strength and courage of the falcons, or as a reference to the steep cliffs which hawks frequently inhabit.
Over time, the last name has been anglicized as Shenk, Shane, Sahnk and Sank. It is likely that a member of this group moved from the southern parts of the Middle East/Anatolia, possibly near Mt. Ida in Turkey, to settle in another country and used the name Sahinkaya as an identifier.
In modern times, Sahinkaya is a relatively common last name, particularly in Turkey. People with this name have built successful careers in a variety of fields including the arts, medicine, sports, and business.
Overall, the last name Sahinkaya carries centuries of history and has become a recognizable family name, alluding to the grace, power, and determination of the hawk.
Order DNA origin analysisSahinkaya: Where does the name Sahinkaya come from?
Today, the last name Sahinkaya is most commonly found amongst Turkish-speaking populations, particularly those in Turkey, Northern Cyprus, the Balkans and the Middle East. It is also encountered by smaller ethnic Turkish communities in Western Europe. The name Sahinkaya is a patronymic last name, which means it was adopted in reference to the father's name or family line.
The etymology of the name Sahinkaya suggests that it is of Turkish origin, and it is believed to originate from the place names of Sahin and Kaya, combined together to form Sahinkaya. Sahin may refer to a hawk or a major village in Turkey, and Kaya is derived from the Turkish word for rock or cliff.
In Turkey, the last name Sahinkaya is most commonly associated with the eastern Black Sea region, where it is believed that the first bearers of the name resided. Today, the surname is found amongst varying demographics in Turkey, including people of Kurdish origin.
Outside of Turkey and Northern Cyprus, a small but established immigrant population of people bearing the Sahinkaya surname are also found in Canada, Australia and the United States. In addition, there are smaller ethnic Turkish communities in the Balkan countries, Germany and other parts of Western Europe that have adopted the name.
Variations of the surname Sahinkaya
The surname Sahinkaya is an ancient Turkish surname that can also be spelled Sahinkalay, Sahinkaly, Sahinkell, Sahinkelu, Sahinkelun, Sahinkiul, Sahinkiula, Sahinkukua and Sahinkulu.
It is also made up of two Turkish words – sahin and kay. Sahin has various meanings in Turkish but usually appears in surnames to mean "falcon". Kay has various meanings such as stone, rock, and cliff.
Hence, the surname Sahinkaya means “falcon-stone”, "falcon-rock” or “falcon-cliff”. The surname is thought to be based on a clan name that referred to people who lived near a rocky area of land, inhabited by strong falcons.
It is a widespread surname in Turkey and a few other Middle Eastern countries, and the surname can be found in records and documents from as early as the 17th century.
Variations and spellings of the surname Sahinkaya include Sahinkalay, Sahinkaly, Sahinkell, Sahinkelu, Sahinkelun, Sahinkiul, Sahinkiula, Sahinkukua and Sahinkulu.
The surname may also be used as a given name or as a middle name, and may be used with other surnames such as Calisir, Cakir, and Altintas.
Sahinkaya is also the root of other surnames, such as Sahinkalin, Sahinkaloglu, Sahinkalogullari, Sahinkar, Sahinkilik, Sahinkoy, Sahinkoylu, Sahinoglu and Sahinkuray.
Therefore, there are a large variety of surnames, spellings and variants of Sahinkaya, and the surname is used in many cultures and countries across the world.
Famous people with the name Sahinkaya
- Murat Sahinkaya: Turkish businessman and investor, founder and CEO of MÜSİAD, the Turkish Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association.
- Esra Sahinkaya: Turkish singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Haydar Sahinkaya: Turkish football manager and former player.
- Oğuzhan Sahinkaya: Turkish politician and a former member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
- Neslihan Sahinkaya: Turkish long-distance runner.
- Kaan Sahinkaya: Turkish swimmer who won a bronze medal in the men's 400 metre freestyle event at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships.
- Gökhan Sahinkaya: Turkish footballer who plays as a centre-back for the Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.
- Ömer Sahinkaya: Turkish sports journalist and football analyst working for BeIN Sports.
- Ozan Sahinkaya: Turkish filmmaker and photographer.
- Aykut Sahinkaya: Turkish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Altay.