Surname Turkow - Meaning and Origin
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Turkow: What does the surname Turkow mean?
The surname Turkow doesn't have a definitive meaning universally recognized. Its origins are, however, likely Eastern European, given the suffix "-ow" is common in that region. Its usage has been traced to countries like Poland and Russia. In some cases, it may be related to "Turk," possibly indicating ancestral or geographical ties to Turkey or Turkic regions. An individual's family history or specific lineage often provides the most accurate interpretation. There are also notable personalities with the surname, such as Polish actor Jonas Turkow and his wife Diana Blumenfeld Turkow. One must be cautious in interpreting surname meanings, as they can vary significantly based on geographical locations, dialects, and historical contexts.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkow: Where does the name Turkow come from?
The last name Turkow is most commonly found in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada.
The majority of individuals bearing the name, however, can be found in the United States. The U.S. census data from the past several years estimates that there are about 1,400 individuals with the surname Turkow living in the United States. Its highest concentration is in Wisconsin, followed by Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California. In Canada, there are around 300 individuals with the family name, mostly living in Ontario.
Unlike some surnames, the origin of the name Turkow is known. It was originally derived from the Middle High German word "turkowe" which means "warrior". The name is believed to originate from the region of Germany that is now known as Thuringia. The surname was initially used to identify individuals from this area and eventually made its way to North America with those emigrating from Germany during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, the name Turkow is still associated with Germany, and is still commonly found in the areas of North America inhabited by those of German descent.
Variations of the surname Turkow
The surname Turkow is derived from the Slavic word turek, which means a Turk, and is a habitational name for someone who hailed from a place called Turkow in Poland. Variants of the surname include Turko, Turkowo, Turkiew, Turkev, Turkov, Turkov, Turkof, and Turerkov.
The Turkow surname is also spelled differently in various countries. In England, for example, it is spelled as Turkeu and Turku in Estonia. The surname can also be seen spelled as Turkovs in Latvia and Turkevich in Ukraine. In America, the surname is most frequently spelled as Turkow. In German, the surname is written as Türkew and in Czech, as Turkev. The Russian equivalent of the surname is Турков (Turkov).
The surname can also be seen in conjunction with other last names, usually referring to that of a place. For example, one might take the last name Turkow-Koziow, referring to someone from the town of Koziow as well as Turkow. Surnames such as Turkow-Zinow, Turkow-Russia, Turkow-Sheiff, and Turkow-Kampen can all be seen as combinations of the surname Turkow with other identifying references as well.
Overall, the Turkow surname is quite varied in its versions and spellings, due to its presence in a variety of countries.
Famous people with the name Turkow
- David Turkow: Actor and screenwriter.
- Alfred Turkow: Former professor of Law at Harvard University.
- Inga Turkow: Swedish singer-songwriter.
- Joachim Turkow: German actor and director.
- Peter Turkow: Lead singer and frontman of an American rock band called Turkow & the Devils.
- Rafal Turkow: Actor and model.
- Matthias Turkow: Senior director of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership for the European Commission.
- Magda Turkow: Polish actress and theater director.
- William Turkow: Film director, writer, musician, and actor.
- Robin Turkow: Digital media entrepreneur.