Surname Turkowicz - Meaning and Origin

Turkowicz: What does the surname Turkowicz mean?

The surname Turkowicz is of Polish origin and is derived from the term "Turk," essentially meaning "son of the Turk". This could suggest that the ancestors of the individuals bearing this surname could have had connections with or hailed from Turkey, or it might also suggest interactions or relationships with people from Turkey. Ethnic or geographic surnames like this were typically given in the Middle Ages to reflect a person’s occupation, the region they resided in, or their father's name. However, it’s important to remember that surnames do not always supply a precise or absolute ethnicity or lineage as ancestors could have chosen them for several reasons, such as covering their original identity, classification after migration, or receiving it as a nickname due to specific traits, characteristics, or events.

Turkowicz: Where does the name Turkowicz come from?

The last name Turkowicz is primarily found among families in Europe, particularly in Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. In Poland, the last name is especially common in the East, including the historic regions of Podlaskie and Mazovia, as well as larger cities like Warsaw and Lublin. In Germany, Turkowicz is most common in the northwest, particularly the region of Schleswig-Holstein. In Lithuania, the surname is mainly found in the Kaunas, Vilnius, and Kaliningrad areas.

The Turkowicz surname is also found in smaller numbers in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the US, most of the individuals with this last name are the descendants of immigrants from Europe. The largest concentrations are in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and Ohio. In Canada, the family name is most common in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

The Turkowicz family continues to grow, with new individuals and families added every year. Many of them trace their lineage back to Europe, but others are the descendants of immigrants from all over the world. As the family continues to spread across the world, the name becomes more and more common in more regions.

Variations of the surname Turkowicz

The Turkowicz surname has a variety of different spelling variations and it can also be spelled in a variety of different ways, including: Turczewski, Turkiewicz, Turczevski, Turkovics, Turkewitz, Türkewitz, Türkewicz, and Turkenwitz.

Turkowicz is a Slavic surname which has origins with the people of Poland and the Ukraine and, depending on where an individual is from, the spelling of the surname can vary. This surname is derived from the Slavic root term "turk", which means ‘mighty’ or ‘powerful’.

The spelling variants of the surname moved to the United States when Polish immigrants began to come there in the late 19th century. It quickly spread to other countries in Europe, as well as South America and Australia.

On record, the Turkowicz family reached its largest population in Poland in the year 1910. By 2014, the surname had spread to countries like United States, Germany, Austria, Canada, Sweden, Brazil, Australia, and even Argentina.

In terms of other spellings, Turczevski is a variation of the surname which is arguably the most common in the United States, and is one of the most popular surnames for those who are descended from Polish ancestry.

Those who have the surname Turkowicz may also be referred to as Turkovic (Croatian) or Törkowitz (German). As such, the same roots can be seen between all variations of the name, all having their origin from the Slavic root of "turk", meaning strong, powerful, or mighty.

Famous people with the name Turkowicz

• Agata Turkowicz: Polish theologian and Catholic writer
• Alan Turkowicz: former American professional baseball player
• David Turkowicz: Polish professional football winger
• Jan Turkowicz: Polish academic and professor of Ancient Greek literature
• Katarzyna Turkowicz: well-known Polish lawyer and freelance advocate
• Krzysztof Turkowicz: Polish politician and member of the Democratic Left Alliance
• Mark Turkowicz: American cartoonist
• Mateusz Turkowicz: Polish film and stage actor
• Pawel Turkowicz: Polish-Canadian Olympic skeleton racer
• Rafal Turkowicz: popular Polish television presenter and journalist
• Wojciech Turkowicz: Polish lawyer and founder of the International Arbitration Chamber in Warsaw
• Zofia Turkowicz: Polish civil rights activist and historical writer
• Zuzanna Turkowicz: Polish-American professional tennis player and former World No. 1.

Other surnames

Turkowitch