Surname Soyak - Meaning and Origin

Soyak: What does the surname Soyak mean?

The last name Soyak is derived from the Altaic language spoken by the Turkic people of Anatolia. The origin of the name is uncertain, however, it is most likely related to the Turkish word “soyaq” which means “king” or “royal”. It is possible that those same Turkish people brought the name with them when they migrated and settled in other parts of Europe.

Soyak families have been present in the Balkan region since the 16th century. It is possible that during the frequent migrations and population movements of those times, Soyak families spread into different parts of Europe. It is also likely that Soyak families adopted different spellings of their name depending on the language of the region they settled in.

Today, the Soyak name is most commonly found in Turkey, Bulgaria, and various parts of Europe. In Turkey, it is pronounced as “SO-yahk”. In Bulgaria and other parts of Europe, it is usually pronounced as “so-YAK”. The Soyak name carries a deep sense of pride and it is seen as a sign of nobility and respect among those who bear it.

In general, the Soyak name stands for a sense of trust and loyalty, and those carrying the name are looked up to as trustworthy individuals. It is a name that has been passed down through generations and will continue to be a source of pride for years to come.

Soyak: Where does the name Soyak come from?

The last name Soyak is most commonly found in Turkey. This is because many Turkish families adopted the Soyak surname as a form of self-identification in the early 20th century. In 1928, the "Law of Family Names" was passed following the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, which encouraged people to take on surnames that were considered more "Turkish" and "modern". As such, families with the Soyak surname could be found mainly in the littoral regions of Istanbul, Antalya, Edirne and Adana.

Today, the Soyak surname is still popular in Turkey, and the majority of those with the name are of Turkish descent. However, the name can also be found in other countries, such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and the United States. The Soyak surname is particularly common among Islamic and Anatolian communities, indicating that it may have some sort of religious or ethnic origin.

In addition to this, the Soyak surname has come to be linked with a variety of businesses. Numerous companies in both Turkey and the United States bear the name Soyak, suggesting that the family may have played a significant role in the development and success of various enterprises. Such businesses span various industries, from finance and construction to hospitality and agriculture.

Variations of the surname Soyak

The surname Soyak may be spelled either Soyak or Soyack, and both variants are of Slavic origin. The name Soyak is derived from the word “soyka” which means primate, but it is also used to describe any person who is particularly adept at any kind of skill. The spelling with a “ck” at the end is the adopted spelling for the United States.

Descendants of the Soyak family often adopt alternate spellings such as Sojak, Sojack, and Soiac, as well as the more popular variants Soyak and Soyack. These spellings are all of the same bourgeois origin and they are all pronounced in the same way.

The Soyak surname can also be found as other surnames with similar origins, such as Soyka, Soykowski, Soik, and Soyal. These spellings highlight cultures of different nations, with Soyka indicating a Ukrainian or Belarusian origin and Soykowski showing a Polish background.

The Soyak/Soyack surname is an old surname, with the first known record of the family being that of Nicholas Soyack in Ukraine in 1388. This family line is still well known for producing skilled craftsmen. Overall, the Soyak and Soyack surname is a unique name that has been associated with multiple different versions of itself from various cultures.

Famous people with the name Soyak

• Hasan Soyak: Turkish professional basketball player who won the Turkish Basketball League title with Anadolu Efes in 2016.
• Akın Soyak: Turkish business magnate, the chairman of Soyak holdings with investments in the real estate, construction, hospitality and finance sectors.
• Salih Soyak: Turkish former football goalkeeper with two caps for the Turkey national team.
• Vildan Soyak: Turkish actress and TV presenter, best known for her leading role in the comedy series Evim Sensin.
• Kadir Soyak: Turkish former Olympic swimmer, who competed in the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.
• Mert Soyak: Turkish professional basketball player who plays for Darüşşafaka of the Turkish Basketball Super League.
• Ecem Soyak: Turkish beach volleyball player, who participated in the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Turkey.
• Tuğçe Soyak: Turkish actress best known for her role in Zümrüdü Anka.
• Ayşe Soyak: Turkish college professor and radio personality with her weekly show Gözler Türküyle.
• Selin Soyak: Turkish actress, best known for her television roles in Hayata Dönüş and Muhteşem Yüzyıl.

Other surnames

Soyal