Surname Turk - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling the Genetic Legacy of Surname 'Turk': A Voyage from Central Asia to Europe Through iGENEA DNA Test
Unfolding a tale of ancestry and migration, iGENEA DNA test results have left me fascinated with an insight of the historical journey of the surname "Turk." Interestingly, the surname "Turk" seems to carry a significant genetic legacy that unveils its roots in Central Asia, spotlighting the movement of Turkic tribes from the Siberian and Mongolian regions, which is marked in our genetic code and heralds a tale of progression and assimilation of these tribes from Central Asia to Europe.
L. Turk
read moreTurk: What does the surname Turk mean?
The surname Turk has multiple origins, making its meaning slightly varied. Firstly, it traces back to a Middle English term for the Turkish people, and thus used as an ethnic name for someone of Turkish origin or someone who had connections with the Turkish region. Secondly, it could also originate from the pre-7th century Old French term "turc." In this context, it was likely a nickname for someone who either performed in pageants wearing Turkish attire, or looked or behaved like a Turk. Lastly, the surname can also have German roots, where the name "Turk" or "Türk" translates to "Slav" and was used for people of Slavic descent. There are also instances where it might be derived from Jewish people. In summary, the surname Turk can therefore indicate a person's regional or ethnic origin, or a distinctive physical or behavioral characteristic.
Order DNA origin analysisTurk: Where does the name Turk come from?
The last name Turk is most commonly found in countries of the former Ottoman Empire and surrounding countries, including Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Macedonia, and Serbia. In addition, it is also common in some Arab and Central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, and Uzbekistan.
In Turkey the surname Turk is the 8th most common name, with an estimated 662,533 people of all ages bearing the name. The name is also very common in Bulgaria, with more than 24,000 people having the last name Turk. In the Albanian population, Turk is among the top 30 surnames, with more than 10,000 people registered with the name.
In the United States, the surname Turk is mainly found in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. There are over 16,400 individuals living in the U.S. with the name. It is also found in Australia. According to the 2016 Australian Census, the surname Turk was the 968th most common surname, with over 1,500 people identified with the name.
Other countries where the surname Turk is common today include Canada, England, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Turk
Turk is a common surname which has multiple variants and spelling variations, depending on the region and language. The origin of the surname can be traced back to medieval Turkey, where it referred to Turkish people.
The most common variations of the surname are Turke, Turkle, Turck/Turk, and Turc. Additionally, there are some Middle Eastern variations, such as Tourek, Turki, Turkiye, Turky and Turkman.
In Eastern Europe it is found as Turek, Turkic and Turko. In Russia and Central Asia it is typically written as Turkin, Turkina, Turka and Turkova. In some cases the name can be written as Torke or Turkevich.
In France spelling variations can be found such as Tourke, Tourki, Tourque, Tourquette, Turque and Turpin. Scattered around Europe threre can be found variants such as Turkeman, Turkeson, Turkingson, Turkin, Turko, Turkyl and Tuerk.
In the United States, the surname is usually spelled as Turck or Turk, however some other variants are seen such as Trader, Traut, Trudell and Turkevi.
Overall, variations of the surname Turk are quite common. Depending on the language and region, the surname can be written in multiple different ways, leading to variations in the spelling. However, regardless of the spelling variation, the origin of the surname still remains the same.
Famous people with the name Turk
- Ted Turk: a former professional basketball player who was famously known for his great defensive skill and was part of the most successful teams of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Jennifer Turk: an American actress who is best known for her roles in films such as Nurse Betty and Schindler's List.
- Adam Turk: an American retired professional soccer player who was part of the MLS team LA Galaxy.
- Craig Turk: an American television writer, producer, and showrunner. He is best known for his work on shows like Law & Order and The Good Wife.
- Aygün Turk: a Turkish Olympic weightlifter.
- Catherine Turk: an American professional dancer and choreographer.
- Charles Turk: a former American professional boxer who held the IBF Middleweight Championship.
- Ed Turk: an American major league baseball player in the 1880s and 1890s.
- Regina Turk: a Turkish music composer and sound designer, whose work has been featured in various movies and television series.
- Sarah Turk: an American actress who has appeared on such television shows as The Big Bang Theory, Californication, and How I Met Your Mother.