Surname Timur - Meaning and Origin
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Timur: What does the surname Timur mean?
The last name Timur is thought to have originated from the word "timur," which means "iron" in Mongolian. The name is associated with powerful leaders, including Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, and Timur the Lame—also known as Tamerlane—a 15th century conqueror who reigned over much of Central Asia and the Middle East.
The meaning of Timur reflects the strength and resilience of the Timurid Dynasty, a lineage of rulers that traces its roots back to Timur. The dynasty flourished from the 13th century to the 18th century and essentially unified Persia and Central Asia under one sovereignty.
Today, the last name is shared by those who trace their heritage to the tribal areas where the Timurid Dynasty's influence was strongest, including parts of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. It is also popular throughout the Middle East and is sometimes associated with members of the Ottoman Empire, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, and the Seljuk Dynasty.
At its core, the last name Timur continues to symbolize strength and endurance, a reflection of the legacy of its historical namesake. It is a reminder of our common history and a testament to the power and perseverance of the human spirit.
Order DNA origin analysisTimur: Where does the name Timur come from?
Timur (also spelled Timour, Temur or Tamerlane) is a Turkic name historically found in many places throughout Eurasia. Today, Timur is an especially popular name in Turkey, as well as in the countries of the former Soviet Union, particularly Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
In Turkey, Timur is one of the top ten most popular baby names, with over 10,000 babies given the name in 2020. The popularity in Turkic countries of the former USSR is likely linked to the legacy of Turco-Mongol conqueror Amir Timur (Timur the Lame), who established an empire in much of the region between 1370 and 1405 A.D.
Timur can also be found in countries still on the edge of Timur's former empire, such as Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In addition, it has become popular among Turkish diaspora populations in Western Europe and the United States. This is likely due to the fact that Turkey is one of the main countries that people from the former USSR and Middle Eastern countries have relocated to in search of better job and educational opportunities.
In spite of its geographical expansion, the last name Timur remains intimately tied to its history and culture. To younger generations of Turco-Mongols, it serves as a reminder of the powerful empire Timur the Lame once created.
Variations of the surname Timur
Tamer, Temur, Timoor, and Thamer are the variants and spellings of the surname ‘Timur’, which is derived from the Arabic and Persian name Timur or Timur-ul-Lang (Timur the Lame). In the Turkic language, it means “iron”.
Timur has also been used as a surname in various Central Asian cultures such as Uyghur Muslims, Turkish, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Azeri, and Turkmen, among others. In addition, this surname has spread to several languages in the region like Uzbek, Tajik, and Kazakh.
Though its spelled slightly differently, Timur also appears as Taimur, Taimuraz, and Taimurazov in some parts of Central Asia including Azerbaijan. In some cases, it is also written as Тимур (in Cyrillic script, Timur) in Russia and Ukraine.
Some of the other surnames of the same origin are:
add-Tazhikov, Temirov, Teymurov, Teymuroglu, Tavur, Tevimur, Tavmor, Tiyomor, Timirhanov, Tinomur, Tekmir, Tymkiv, Taamyr, Tuomar, and Taomar.
Timur is also used as a first name in some countries, such as Malaysia, and as a surname elsewhere, like the Timurids who ruled much of Central Asia and Iran in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Overall, many cultures have adopted some form of Timur as a surname, variant, or spelling, and it continues to be used as such to this day.
Famous people with the name Timur
- Timur Tengah: An Indonesian rapper with a penchant for creative storytelling and flow.
- Timur Shaov: An Uzbekistani football player who plays as a forward for Georgian club Arsenal Tbilisi.
- Timur Miroshnichenko: A Russian sculptor and painter, most noted for his monumental sculptures in public places.
- Timur Sugrim: A Canadian cardiologist and professor at the University of Toronto.
- Timur Kibirov: A Russian stage and film actor.
- Timur Aliyev: An Azerbaijani boxer and kickboxer who competes in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
- Timur Yaev: An award-winning Russian film director and screenwriter.
- Timur Si-Qin: A German fashion designer and entrepreneur.
- Timur Novikov: A Russian art historian, founding member of the New Academy of Fine Arts and leader of the Bright Cross movement.
- Timur Ibragimov: A former Heavyweight boxer from Uzbekistan, most noted for his win over former WBC Heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev in 2008.