Surname Sedef - Meaning and Origin
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Sedef: What does the surname Sedef mean?
The last name Sedef is of Turkish origin and is believed to refer to a type of precious stone, known as sard or sardis. This type of stone is typically reddish-brown in color, and might indicate that those with this surname had an ancestor who worked with such stones in some capacity. Sedef is also thought to derive from the Persian word for ‘book’, suggesting that those with the surname had a family tradition of working with books. In some cases, the surname can also be traced back to the Arabic word for ‘happiness’.
In Turkey, the surname is one of the most popular, indicating how widespread the family has become over time. The name is thought to have originated in the western Anatolian region of the country and is now commonly found among those of Turkish ancestry. It is an important part of some Turkish families’ heritage and so is proudly carried forward and celebrated.
The surname is reflected in storytelling to this day. It is said that those with the name Sedef were people of high integrity who followed the values of kindness and generosity. Traditionally, they were known for their pride and dignity; those with the surname were generally well-respected in their communities. As a result, the name has grown in popularity over the centuries, as it is a symbol of shared values and legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisSedef: Where does the name Sedef come from?
The last name Sedef is most common in Turkey, where it originated. It is thought to be of Ottoman Turkish origin and is also found among Turkic populations in southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and China. In Turkey, it is particularly common in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Samsun, and Adana provinces.
Outside of Turkey, it can be found among countries with significant Turko-Mongol populations. These include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, and even China. In Azerbaijan, for example, the spelling is Sədəf. In Georgia, the spelling is Seede.
In the United States, the last name Sedef is not particularly common. It does appear, however, among immigrants from these regions. The Social Security Administration's data from 2019 shows that the name Sedef is used by 0.0006% of the population. This is greater than the 0.0001% of the population listed as Sedef in the 2000 US Census.
In the United Kingdom, the estimated population using Sedef in 2019 was 100 people. This number is likely to be much greater due to large numbers of immigrants from Turkey, particularly refugees, as well as other states of the former Soviet Union and beyond. According to the 2011 Census, 0.001% of the UK population are listed as Sedef.
In short, the last name Sedef is most commonly found in Turkey and among Turkic populations in southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and China. It is also found in small numbers in the United States and United Kingdom among immigrant populations.
Variations of the surname Sedef
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sedef are:
Setef, Sackbut, Sechet, Seshet, Sattef, Sete, Seth, Satem, Settef, Setah, Seteh, Setah, Setep, Setef, Settif, Setyf, Sette, Sated, Setad, Setnet, Satif, Sedif, Sedif, Seettf, Sesf, Sedf, Sedet, Sdet, Sedbt, Sedetf, Satf, Senf, Sedefa, Secheta, Setat, Settle, Settl, Settsp, Setech, Settee, Seddet, Settep, Settees, Sattea, Satena, and Satrap.
Sedef is an ancient Egyptian name originating from the term “seder” which means “red” or “brick”. During this period, it was very common for the upper class of ancient Egypt to prefix the root of their surname with either “Set” or “Sed”, thus making Sedef the ancestor of all the aforementioned variations. Sedef is used widely within the Middle East and goes back to the 4th Century BCE, where it was used by the Pharaohs of Egypt. It is believed that the most common variants of Sedef are Setep (meaning “Avenger”), Setah (meaning “Surmount”) and Setif (meaning “Preferent”).
Many of the descendants of Sedef adopted surnames in the Middle Ages, often depending on the area of their origin and their family’s station. These range from Hebrew names like Sackbut to Arabic names like Seshet.
Today, the surname Sedef is still shared by many people around the world, regardless of their current location. However, the spelling has been altered to suit the language of the local area and its pronunciation, resulting in many creative and unique variants.
Famous people with the name Sedef
- Ece Sedef: Turkish Actress
- Ahmet Sedef: Turkish sculptor, painter, ceramic artist
- Pınar Sedef: Turkish TV presenter
- Serkan Şedef: Turkish poet
- Ahmet Sedef Gürel: Turkish professional footballer
- Ece Sedef Güneş: Turkish Actress
- Bora Şedef: Turkish actor
- Sedef Avcı: Turkish actress
- Gizem Şedef: Turkish actress
- Cem Şedef: Turkish musician
- Sedef Erken: Turkish actress
- Selim Sedef: Turkish footballer
- Funda Sedef: Turkish actress
- Uğur Sedef: Turkish Actor
- Deniz Sedef: Turkish Singer