Surname Turka - Meaning and Origin
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Turka: What does the surname Turka mean?
The surname Turka is of Eastern European descent. It is most prevalent in Ukraine and also can be found in Poland, Russia, Belarus, and other Eastern European countries. Due to language differences and regional characteristics, the meaning of the last name Turka can vary. Some sources suggest the name could be derived from the old Slavic word "turek" which means "turkey" and could be linked to essential activities like agriculture or trading. Alternatively, it may be derived from "Turk," indicating a historical connection or ancestry tracing back to Turkic peoples. Like many surnames, its meaning could also be linked to a specific geographical area, occupation, nickname, or even patriarch or matriarch. However, without a specific family history, it's often challenging to provide an exact meaning. Generally, "Turka" is simply a marker of Eastern European heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisTurka: Where does the name Turka come from?
The last name Turka is most commonly found in Europe, in countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland. It is also found in parts of the United States, particularly in American cities with large Eastern European immigration, including New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
The name Turka is likely of Slavic origin, and could be derived from the word "tur", which means "tower", pointing to a possible origin as an occupational name for someone who worked in a tower or castle. Variations on the name also include Turke, Turkai, Turki, Turkos, Turkowska, and Turko.
Turka is a relatively rare surname; according to MyHeritage.com less than 1,600 people around the world bear that name, although it is more common in Ukraine, where around 1,300 people have the name.
The United States is home to important centers of Turka settlements, specifically cities in the Midwestern, Northeastern, and Pacific regions, such as New York, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Washington and Oregon.
Despite its relative rarity, it is believed that throughout the world, the collective number of people with the surname Turka may be as high as 7,000.
Variations of the surname Turka
The surname Turka is a variant of the popular Turkic and Slavic surname Turek. Other variants and spellings of this name include Turk, Turko, Tureck, Tureka, and Thurka. Many of these variations are believed to be connected or derived from the Old Turkic words for iron and steel, "tura" and "turqi".
The surname Turka is also highly popular in Central and Eastern European nations, but the surname is not exclusive to those countries. In fact, the surname is also seen in modern Germany and Scandinavia. Variations such as Turko, Thurka, and Tureck are commonly seen in in Germany, while the Italian variant Tureka and the Hungarian version Turek are more common in Eastern Europe.
In addition, variants of the surname Turka can also be found throughout the Eurasian region, including countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. In these countries, the surname may take on a slightly different spelling and pronunciation. For example, in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the surname Turka is rendered as Týrka.
Finally, some Italian and Jewish families also bear the surname Turka. These families likely adopted the name after migrating to other countries during World War II. Additionally, the surname Turka may also have been adopted by non-Turks in an effort to disguise or distance themselves from their ethnic heritage.
Famous people with the name Turka
- Anastasia Turka: Ukrainian politician and journalist.
- Khrystyna Turka: Ukrainian politician and the former acting Minister of Information Policy. 3. Andriy Turka: Ukrainian professional football player.
- Andriy Turka: Ukrainian track and field athlete.
- Viktor Turka: Ukrainian journalist and political analyst.
- Ruslana Turka: Ukrainian singer and composer.
- Stanislav Turka: Ukrainian Philharmonic singer and actor.
- Igor Turka: Ukrainian computer scientist and professor of mathematics.
- Mykhailo Turka: Ukrainian political scientist, professor and former Minister of Justice.
- Khrystyna Turka: Ukrainian director, screenwriter and actor.