Surname Türkowicz - Meaning and Origin

Türkowicz: What does the surname Türkowicz mean?

The last name Türkowicz is of Slavic origin and is primarily used in Poland. The root of the name, "Türk" or "Turk", typically refers to individuals or groups from Turkey or with Turkish roots. However, in a Polish context, the ending "-owicz" is a patronymic suffix meaning "son of". Thus, Türkowicz might generally translate to "son of a Turk". This surname could have been bestowed upon individuals or families who had Turkish ancestors or possibly had a significant connection to Turkish culture or people. The interpretation, however, can vary based on specific family histories and regional differences.

Türkowicz: Where does the name Türkowicz come from?

Türkowicz is a Polish surname and today it is most often found in Poland. It is a relatively common name, with upwards of three thousand people sharing the name either in Poland or with Polish ancestry living abroad. Although it is not a particularly common name outside of Poland, there are some people who possess the last name who can be found in parts of Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, and Brazil.

Türkowicz is thought to have originated in the Kraków region of Poland in the medieval era, with the first known family bearing the name appearing in the early fifteenth century in the town of Oświęcim. Since that time, the name has been passed down through the generations, allowing it to remain common in certain areas of Poland. It is thought that the name could come from an occupational name, as those with the surnames Türk or Türkan often practised leatherworking and could have given rise to Türkowicz as an extension of the original root word.

Today Türkowicz is a relatively common name in Poland and can also be found amongst some Polish immigrants in other countries. Although it is not as widely known outside of Poland, it is likely that those who bear the last name will find one another in the diaspora, allowing the name to thrive and preserving its history.

Variations of the surname Türkowicz

Türkowicz is an ethnic surname originating in Eastern Europe and is common throughout the region, especially in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia.

The variants of the surname Türkowicz includes Türkovics, Türkovitz, Turkovitz, Turkowicz, Turkovych, Turkovich, and Turkevich.

The origin of the surname Türkowicz is thought to be derived from two Slavic words, “turk”, meaning “genuine”, and “vit”, meaning “lord”. It is believed to be derived from the Old Slavic word turkobog, which literally translating to “lord of Turks”, indicating that the family were Turkish or had ties to the Turks.

In the Ukraine, the spelling of Türkowicz is sometimes also changed to Turkivich, Turkivych, Turkowych, Turkowich, Turkov, and Turkovs.

In Russia, the surname Türkowicz is often spelled Turkovits, Turkovichev, and Turkovski.

In Poland, the spelling of the surname Türkowicz can also be found as Turekowicz, Tureckiewicz, Turkewicz, Turek, Turkowicz, and Turczynski.

Other variations of the surname Türkowicz include Turekow, Turka, Turcyk, Turski, Turek, Turka, Turczynski, Turk, Turkiewicz, and Turkewiecz.

Thus, it is clear that the Türkowicz surname has varied spellings and surnames in Eastern Europe, depending on the region. The common characteristic amongst all the variants is its association with the Turks, indicating that the family had a long history of ties to the group or lived in the region, despite spelling variations.

Famous people with the name Türkowicz

• Mieszko Türkowicz: a Polish professional football player, currently signed to Pogoń Szczecin.
• Paweł Türkowicz: a Polish professional soccer player, who last played for Górnik Zabrze.
• Bartosz Türkowicz: a Polish professional football player, currently playing for KGHM Zagłębie Lubin.
• Adam Türkowicz: a Polish professional football player, currently signed to Widzew Łódź.
• Karol Türkowicz: a Polish film director, screenwriter, and actor, best known for his productions „Tak jak się szło” (2010) and „Lawstorant” (2015).
• Stanisław Türkowicz: a Polish boxer, who competed in the 1948 London Olympics in the bantamweight division.
• Jan Türkowicz: a Polish politician, who served as Minister of Culture from 1947 to 1951.
• Mikołaj Türkowicz: a prominent Polish diplomat of the 16th century.
• Wojciech Türkowicz: a Polish long-distance runner, who attended the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
• Wiktor Türkowicz: a Polish actor best known for his roles in the films „Smoleńsk” (1982) and „Descendants” (1994).

Other surnames

Turkowitch