Surname Türkel - Meaning and Origin
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Türkel: What does the surname Türkel mean?
The last name Türkel is of German, Jewish, or Turkish origin. The name is derived from the German or Jewish word "türkisch" which means "Turkish". A literal translation of the name would be "turk" or "Turkish person".
The earliest reference to the surname Türkel dates back to the 12th Century as a variation of the given name "Turkul" or "Turkel". The origin of the name is thought to be from the city of Turku located in Finland.
The German meaning of Türkel is "turkic", suggesting a connection with those of Turkish origin. In addition, some Jewish families who adopted the name in the 19th century have their origins in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The Jewish family of Türkel may have taken on the name as a way to distinguish themselves from other German Jews who had the same given name and surname.
Today, the surname Türkel is widely spread throughout Europe. Some of the countries where it can be found include Germany, Austria, Sweden, Czech Republic, Poland and the United States.
Türkel is a name that speaks to a sense of cultural identity and demonstrates a connection to Turkish heritage, whether it is of German, Jewish or Turkish origin. The name also reflects a proud cultural identity that has been preserved and passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisTürkel: Where does the name Türkel come from?
The last name Türkel is most commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many Turks from Anatolia settled in modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Late Ottoman period, while some Turkic migrants from Crimea also settled in the region during the post-Soviet period. More recent immigrants from Turkey, Macedonia, Albania, and other parts of the Balkans have added to the influence of the Turkic element in the population.
The Türkel surname was first documented in the 13th Century in the Bosnia region and is believed to be of either Turkic or Slavic origin. Variations of the name include Tirkel, Tirkil, and Terkel.
Census data from Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2020 shows that the Türkel surname is most common in the Republika Srpska region (formerly the Yugoslav federal unit now inside of Bosnia and Herzegovina), specifically the city of Prijedor and its surrounding villages. In fact, records show that the Türkel family has been in the town since 1811.
This surname is also common in the nearby regions of Montenegro and Kosovo, as well as in other areas of the former Republic of Yugoslavia. There is also a fairly sizeable presence of the Türkel name in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, where many descendants of the Bosnian Türkel families have immigrated. It is likely that some Türkels can also be found in the United States, Australia, and the wider diaspora of the former Yugoslav regions.
Variations of the surname Türkel
The surname Türkel is an occupational name that has a variety of variants and spellings. In German, the base word "Türk" means “Turk” and is derived from Turkisch, the modern form of French turc or Latin turcus, both of which refer to the inhabitants of Turkey, but was used very broadly in the Middle Ages to refer to anyone regarded as an exotic, outlander, or barbarian.
In German, this name may be spelled “Türkel”, “Tuerk”, “Türk”, “Türck” or “Thürk”, all these variants are derived from the same root.
In Hungarian, it is spelled “Török” and in Czech “Tůrk”.
In English, the lastname is usually found as Turkish, Turkel or Turkell, while the form Turck is sometimes found in American records.
The surname may also be found in other languages, such as Dutch (Tuercken, Türksen), French (Turck, Turk) and Italian (Turci, Turco).
Variant spellings of the surname includeTirkel, Tirkell, Tarkir, Turkir, Turczer, Turcho, Tursk, Tursk, Turski and Turskey.
In addition, the surname is also found in other surnames with the same origin, such as Tuerkisch, Turkenburg, Turkendorf, Turkmanson, Türkmann, Türkheimer, Turkheimer, Turkle, Turklestone, Turkman and Turkenkopf.
Famous people with the name Türkel
- Bulut Türkel: a professional Turkish footballer
- Ağusta Türkel: a successful Turkish television actress
- Ertuğrul Türkel: a prominent Turkish film and theater actor
- Leman Türkel: a Turkish actress
- Yaşar Türkel: an esteemed Turkish businessman and philanthropist
- Ali Nihat Türkel: a renowned Turkish economist and politician
- Kadir Türkel: a popular Turkish YouTube influencer and comedian
- Ali Nihat Türkel: the former Turkish Republic Prime Minister
- Zafer Türkel: a notable Turkish actor and voice actor
- Esra Türkel: a respected Turkish film and television actress