Surname Subay - Meaning and Origin

Subay: What does the surname Subay mean?

The origin of the last name Subay is most likely Ottoman Turkish. It is derived from the word Subaşı, which was historically a title given to a military or administrative official. In the Middle Ages, it was a title given to a person responsible for a province, district or village. The title of Subaşı was one of the most powerful titles granted by the Ottoman Empire as it was given to a military officer, administrator, or governor of a province or a district.

The word Subay was used as a surname in some Turkish families associated with the Ottoman Empire. It is believed that the surname was given to those descendants who held the Subaşı title or those serving in the Subaşı position.

Today, the surname Subay is most common in the Greek-Cypriot, Turkish, and Romanian communities. The surname may refer either to someone descended from a Subaşı ancestor, or simply a person who shared the same title or served in the same position.

Subay is a unique last name which can be linked to the great Ottoman Empire. Not only does the surname provide insight into the individuals connected to the position of Subaşı, it is also an important part of family history and the culture of many ethnicities.

Subay: Where does the name Subay come from?

The last name Subay is common today in the Middle East, particularly in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. It is also relatively common in the diaspora of those countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

The Subay surname is thought to have originated in what is now Iraq, though the exact origin is up for debate. Some U.S. sources say it is French in origin, while a source in the Middle East claims the name has Spanish origins.

The Subay surname is found in many places across the world and is especially common throughout communities in the Middle East and Levant regions. A variety of different spellings is in use such as Subahi, Sobahi and Superior.

It is difficult to trace the history of the Subay surname because of its popularity in multiple countries. It likely began as an occupation-based surname, referring to those who worked in public service and government offices, similar to Smith or Taylor in the United States. One common meaning of Subay's etymology is "governor".

The Subay surname is still popular today and commonly used amongst Middle Eastern families. The number of Subays in the diaspora has grown in recent years, and many individuals of the Subay surname are found in various countries throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Subay

The surname Subay can have several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

Subay is a variation of the Spanish and Portugese surname Subías, meaning ‘son of Subías’. The Spanish name Subías is derived from the Arabic name Subayy, which means either ‘earlier’ or ‘big’.

Variants of Subay include Subey, Subié, Subias, Subiás, Suvías, Subiay and Sobias.

Subay is also a variation of the German, Dutch, and Jewish surnames Sabey, Sabia, Sabie, or Sabai. All of these variations are derived from the Hebrew name Shabay or Shabaya, which refers to a ‘person of great faith’.

In addition to these variations, Subay can also be spelled Subayo, Subayy, Subait, Subaiti, Subaitie, Subaite, Subaithe, Subyty, Shubay, Shubey, Shubai, Shubie, and Shuby.

Lastly, Subay is a variation of the English surname Subayth, which is derived from the Old English personal name Subeð, meaning ‘young warrior’.

In conclusion, the surname Subay can have many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Variations of Subay may be derived from Spanish, Portugese, German, Dutch, Jewish, Hebrew, English and Old English sources.

Famous people with the name Subay

• Engin Subay: Turkish film, TV, and stage actor.
• Serhat Subay: Turkish powerlifter, as well as an actor, presenter, and model.
• Emel Subay: Turkish Taekwondo athlete who has represented Turkey at several international competitions.
• Onur Subay: Turkish ice hockey player who competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
• Ahmet Subay: Turkish former Olympic wrestler who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• Kaan Kaan Subay: Turkish pop singer and songwriter.
• Volkan Subay: Turkish actor and model.
• Ali Subay: Turkish singer and YouTube sensation.
• Büşra Subay: Turkish singer and viola player.
• Şebnem Subay: Turkish sculptor and painter.
• Nihat Subay: Turkish radio and TV presenter.
• Burak Subay: Turkish Paralympic athlete and shot putter.

Other surnames

SubaihSubasi