Surname Temür - Meaning and Origin
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Temür: What does the surname Temür mean?
The last name Temür (or Temur) is of Mongolian origin, and is primarily found in Central and Northeastern Asia. The meaning of the name is sometimes said to signify strength, or to refer to Tumeng (or Temür Khan), a Mongol leader and grandson of Genghis Khan.
The name Temür has been adopted in other countries throughout its historical usage, with the variants Timur, Timour, Temur, and other forms. The famous voices of Temür Khan included both successes and failures. He gained vast territories in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and secured an area from the Black Sea in the west to the people of the northern shorelines of the Caspian Sea in the east.
This legacy has endured, with some of Temür Khan's descendants returning to Mongolia as rulers and diplomats. The best known of these is probably the 14th-century warlord known as Amur Timur, or Tamarlane, who extended Temür Khan's Central Asian influence over much of Eurasia.
The last name Temur is still popular among Turkic-speaking people today, particularly among the Uyghur, a group of predominantly Turkic people in the Xinjiang region of China, and among the Kyrgyz people of Central Asia. It can also be found among families in Russia and Ukraine, as well as many other countries and cultures.
The popular legacy of Temür Khan and his descendants has helped to elevate the name to the present day, where it carries a legacy of both strength and greatness.
Order DNA origin analysisTemür: Where does the name Temür come from?
The last name Temür is most commonly found today in Central Asia and Turkey.
In Central Asia, the last name is especially popular in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Of these countries, Mongolia stands out as having the highest probability of someone bearing the last name Temür.
According to a survey conducted in 2019, Temür is the 10th most common last name in the country, with an estimated 69,550 people bearing the surname. It is thought to derive from the word temür, which translates to "iron will" in Mongolian. As a result, it is likely that the Temür family has inhabited the region for many generations.
While more rare, it is also possible to find the last name Temür in Turkey, where it is thought to have originated several centuries ago. According to the Turkish Association of the Historical Research and Culture, the last name is traditionally associated with the Ottoman dynasty as the name of dynasty’s founder, Osman Temür.
Today, it is estimated that around 500 people still bear the last name Temür in Turkey. However, it is much more prevalent in Central Asia, where thousands of people bear the surname in countries like Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Variations of the surname Temür
The surname Temür is the Turkish form of the Mongolian title 'Temujin' which was given to Genghis Khan when he united the nomadic Mongol tribes. It means "iron" or "blacksmith". This surname is seen in several variants and spellings all over the world, particularly in Asia and Europe. In Turkish, the spelling may be 'Temur', 'Temurlu', or 'Temuroglu'. In other cultures, the variants include 'Tamarlane', 'Tamir', 'Tamorlane', 'Temar', 'Timir', and 'Timirgoy'. In Cuba, the surname is known as Demorillo. In India, the surname may be spelled 'Timoor', or 'Timoori'. In Ukraine, it is 'Timurovich'. In Bulgaria, it is 'Timurov'.
In Europe, 'Tamerlane' (or 'Timur' for short) is the most common variant and is found largely in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia. In Persia, the form 'Timori' is found and in Russia, the name is transcribed as 'Timofeyev'. In the United Kingdom, it is known as 'Temar' or 'Tammerlane’.
In addition to these variants, some exceptions exist such as the 'Timurai' from Japan, a Buddhist sect that worshiped Timur as their saint, and in the Caucasus, there is a tribe of nomads known as 'Timurlu'.
Overall, the surname Temür has a number of variants and spellings across many cultures, reflecting its magical story and its storied legacy from Genghis Khan.
Famous people with the name Temür
- Genghis Khan (Temüjin), founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire
- Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan, fourth Khan of the Yuan dynasty
- Toghon Temür, Emperor of Ming and greatgrandson of Genghis Khan
- Esen Temür, last Khan of the Chagatai Khanate
- Oljeitu, Emperor of Ilkhanate related to Toghon Temür
- Ahmad Temür, last Yuan dynasty Emperor
- Lkhamsuren Dorjsuren, member of the first Mongolian National Olympic Committee.
- Radnaabazar, noted 20th Century Mongolian scholar
- Magsarjavyn Temür, pioneer Mongolian politician
- Yönglüg Temür, noted Mongolian actor
- Nirvan Khan Temur, Mongolian poet and novelist
- Järel Ochirbaatar, Mongolian film director and producer
- Amarsanaa Chuluuntemür, Mongolian soprano vocalist
- Badar-Uugan Enkhbat, Mongolian Olympic Judo Bronze medalist
- Claude Temür, recognized French photographer
- Uyanga Bold Temür, Mongolian singer-songwriter
- Zekel Temür, Mongolian rally driver
- Iskander Temür, Hungarian composer, folklorist and trumpet player
- Onon Bayasgalan, Mongolian modern rock singer
- John Temür, British-born film composer.