Surname Türkes - Meaning and Origin
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Türkes: What does the surname Türkes mean?
The last name Türkes is of Turkish origin. Like many Turkish surnames, it is based on an occupation, characteristic, or geographical feature. However, the specific meaning of Türkes is not clear as it doesn't directly translate to a specific word in the modern Turkish language. However, it may be related to the word "Türk," meaning "Turk," a member of the Turkish ethnic group. The addition of "-es" could potentially suggest a patronymic nuance, meaning "son of Turk" or "of the Turks."
In Turkey, surnames were not commonly used until the introduction of the Surname Law in 1934, as part of Ataturk's modernization efforts. Until then, people were known by their fathers' names or their occupations. Given this context, the surname Türkes might have been chosen or assigned based on a person's heritage or lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisTürkes: Where does the name Türkes come from?
The surname Türkes is most common today in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Turkey. It is among the 5,000 most common surnames in the world, indicating some ancient roots.
Most notably, Türkes is an ethnic German surname, with German-speakers using it since the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from “Türke,” a surname used by German-speakers to describe individuals from Turkic-speaking regions. During this time, many Turkic people were hired as mercenaries in the military, which might account for the spread of the surname. It is still quite common in certain regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and North-Rhine Westphalia.
Türkes is also common in Austria, as it was a major stop for Turkic people who were traveling to the rest of Europe in the Middle Ages. A considerable number found themselves settling in Austria which led to the surname spreading in that region.
Finally, Türkes is quite common in Turkey, with several prominent Türkes families in the country. This is largely due to the Turkish diaspora of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many immigrants from Turkey moved to other countries. These immigrants often utilized the same surnames, resulting in the wide distribution of the surname throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Türkes
The surname Türkes is a variation of the Germanic surname ‘Dürkus’. Türk is the Turkish spelling of the surname, while other versions include Türki, Türck, Dürck and Dürkus. The Germanic Dürck is derived from the personal name ‘Dirk’, which is traditionally the diminutive form of the Germanic personal name ‘Dietrich’. This name is derived from the Germanic words ‘theud’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘ric’ meaning ‘powerful or ruler’, and was used to form the name of a minor Germanic god.
The surname is also associated with a specific area in Estonia, where it is spelled Türkis. It has been suggested that this variation of the name is derived from the local Estonian word ‘turk’, meaning ‘country’.
Variations of the surname have been found in many different locations, including Germany, Finland, Estonia, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary and Denmark. In Germany, the surname is spelled ‘Turkes’, while in Finland it is spelled ‘Terkes’. In Switzerland, the surname appears as ‘Türks’. The surname is also found in Poland, where it is spelled ‘Turek’. In Hungary, the surname is found as ‘Türkes’ and ‘Türkei’, while in Denmark it is spelled ‘Thurkes’.
In addition to these variations of the surname, there is also a family of Genevan merchants named ‘Turcke’. The family has a long presence in Geneva and is known for its extensive international business contacts and investments.
Overall, the surname Türkes has numerous variations, spellings and surnames derived from the same origin. These variations reflect the different regions where the surname has been adopted and adapted over the years.
Famous people with the name Türkes
- Cengiz Türkes: Cengiz Türkes is a Turkish actor and musician best known for his appearances in movies such as Fetih 1453, Southpaw, and The Mountain II.
- Vedat Türkali: Vedat Türkali was a Turkish filmmaker, playwright, screenwriter, and director widely recognized for his influential psychological dramas.
- Nuri Bilge Ceylan: Nuri Bilge Ceylan is a renowned Turkish filmmaker, artistic director, and cinematographer who won Best Director and Grand Prize of Jury at the Cannes Film Festival for his movie Uzak.
- Metin Türkcan: Metin Türkcan is a former Turkish professional basketball player and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Ahmet Türk: Ahmet Türk is a Kurdish politician and social activist known for his advocacy of the rights of Kurdish people.
- Dedem Korkut: Dedem Korkut is a legendary warrior-hero who is the protagonist of a famous epic poem from the Oghuz Turks.
- Dogu Perincek: Dogu Perincek is a Turkish Ultra-Nationalist political leader, leader of the Workers' Party and a vocal supporter of the Kurdish people.
- Ziya Türkes: Ziya Türkes was a Turkish general in the Ottoman Army during World War I and was one of the major subjects of the Gallipoli Campaign.
- Teoman Türkes: Teoman Türkes is a Turkish pop singer and acclaimed songwriter.
- Emin Türkay: Emin Türkay is a Turkish volleyball player who competed in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.