Surname Turco - Meaning and Origin
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Turco: What does the surname Turco mean?
Turco is an Italian surname. In Italian, the word "Turco" literally translates to "Turkish", referring to someone from Turkey. The origin of such a surname could be attributed to several possibilities. It might have been a nickname for individuals who came from Turkey or someone who did frequent trades with Turkey during the medieval times. It could also purportedly refer to someone who took part in the Crusades or had some connection to them since the Italians often referred to Muslims in general as "Turks". Furthermore, in some cases, it may have been used to refer to a person who had some characteristics or habits that were associated or stereotypically linked to the Turkish people. Like many European surnames, Turco is likely geographic in origin, used by or assigned to people who were Turkish or had connections to Turkey.
Order DNA origin analysisTurco: Where does the name Turco come from?
The last name Turco is most strongly associated with Italian heritage, as it is a common name among Italian families in both Italy and its diaspora. Historically, it was most popular in the Abruzzo region of south-central Italy and today the surname remains prominent there.
It is also fairly common throughout southern Europe, including Spain, France, Portugal, and Greece as a result of Italian immigration. In terms of other countries, it also appears to be quite common in Argentina, due mainly to Italian immigration to the country from the late 19th to the mid 20th centuries. It is also relatively frequent among American families of Italian descent, as its popularity in US cities with large Italian populations bears out.
In the UK, Turco is not a particularly common surname, although there are a handful of people living there with the name, suggesting that some Italian immigrants had arrived in Britain before the Second World War.
In short, the last name Turco remains most common in Italian regions and among descendants of Italian immigrants in other countries, particularly in South America. It is also found to a lesser extent in other parts of Europe, the United States, and the UK.
Variations of the surname Turco
The surname Turco is of Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish origin. It is derived from the Latin word "turcus," meaning "Turk" or "someone of Turkish descent." Variants of the surname Turco include Turko, Torco, Turcko, and Turchi. Spellings of the surname Turco often vary within different countries and regions. Examples of alternative spellings include Turcu, Turki, Turqui, Turquois, Turcoes, Turcotte, and Turk.
Surnames of the same origin as Turco can also be found in other countries such as France, Germany, and Hungary, where they are known as Tourkay, Turkai, and Turci respectively.
Other surnames related to the name Turco include those stemming from Turkish personal names, such as Turan, Turkan, and Turgay. Similarly, there are some Hungarian surnames related to this name that are derived from Turkish personal names such as Turkay, Turka, and Torka.
In the United States, the name Turco has generally been assimilated into different forms, such as Turck, Turk, and Turkovich. Other spellings may also be encountered in America, such as Turquette, Turcoff, Turcola, and Turcza.
In conclusion, the surname Turco is widely used across many different countries and continents and has numerous variations and spellings. It is also related to a number of surnames based on Turkish personal names.
Famous people with the name Turco
- Alyssa Turco: American singer-songwriter
- Steve Turco: American actor, director, producer, and writer
- Jenna Turco: American costume designer and actress
- Antonella Turco: Italian actress
- Robert Turco: American politician
- Robert Turco Jr.: American politician
- Peter Turco: American author
- Giancarlo Turco: Italian footballer
- Alex Turco: American painter
- Rocco Turco: Italian actor, writer and director