Surname Turkowna - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Turkowna: What does the surname Turkowna mean?
The surname Turkowna has roots in Eastern Europe with Ukrainian, Polish and Russian origins. The literal translation of the name is “belonging to Turk", and it is believed the name was derived from a Turkic tribe that settled in the region centuries ago. It is likely derived from the verb ‘turkuvaty’ which translates to ‘to take possession of’.
The Turkowna surname is very rare, but has been noted in multiple countries that share a border in the region; Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania. The surname is thought to have originally been used as a way of identifying a family’s reference to the Turkic tribe.
In some cases, the name may have been adopted through marriage, as the native Ukrainian, Polish and Russian ethnicities were commonly married to people who belonged to the Turkic tribe. Over time, the Turkic traces in the name likely dwindled away, but the surname was kept as a way of remembering the old family origins.
Today, the Turkowna surname can still be found in all the countries that share the border in the region, but is still relatively uncommon. For those with the surname, it stands as a tribute to their family origin, a proud reminder of their heritage in Eastern Europe and a connection to a time long gone.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkowna: Where does the name Turkowna come from?
The surname Turkowna is of Slavic origin and is most commonly found today in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia. It is a surname derived from Turk, an ethnic group found in many parts of Central and Eastern Europe and Western Asia, and the suffix -owna, which denotes ownership or family.
The Turkowna surname is believed to have arisen as an occupational name given to those who were employed to serve or guard a Turk or as an ethnic name indicating descent from Turkic people. It is thought that Turkowna was likely a name that was assigned to individuals whose ancestors had Turkish origins and who lived in Europe, as well as those who were descended from Turkic nomadic groups.
Today, the Turkowna surname is most common in Russia, where it is found in rural areas and in regions where the population has a large Turkic presence. It is also common in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia as these countries have had a long history of ethnic Turkic populations residing within their borders.
In addition, the Turkowna surname is also present in other European countries where there is a large Turkish minority population, such as Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Variations of the surname Turkowna
Variants and spellings of the surname Turkowna include Turkovena, Turkovna, Turkovnian, Turkovna, Turkownian, Turkvina, Turkovny, Turkovinner, Turkevina, Turkvnian, Turkovenian, Turkevna, Turkowny, and Turkovnina. Some other surnames of the same origin include Turchena, Turchenko, and Turchevina.
Turkowna is an occupational surname derived from an old Slavic term, 'turkovets' or 'turkovet'. This term originally referred to a timberman, or a lumberjack. Over time, its meaning evolved to include woodworker, merchant, builder, architect, blacksmith, and journeyman. It is also a variation of the word 'turka' or 'turkau', which referred to someone who made wooden objects, vessels, tools, and wheeled vehicles.
Other variants of the surname Turkowna are derived from it. Turchenko, for example, means 'turk"s child'. It is likely this variant refers to someone who was related to or raised by a lumberjack. Turchevina is another variation. It is derived from 'turkeiv', which means 'axe-man'. This was likely an occupational surname for a family of axe-makers or carpenters.
Turkowna is still in use today, as are its various variants and spellings. It is a unique surname that reflects an ancient tradition of timber work, and the multiple variations of it share a common origin.
Famous people with the name Turkowna
- Anna Turkowna: a Ukrainian communist revolutionary and politician, one of the most significant figures in the 1918-1920 struggles for the independence of Ukraine.
- Blagoi Turkowna: a Bulgarian scientist and statesman who was the editor of the newspaper Bûlgarski narod (Bulgarian Nation), and the first Minister of Education of Bulgaria.
- Nikolay Turkowna: a Soviet military commander during World War II, who commanded the Transcaucasian Front during the Battle of Kiev in 1941.
- Stanislav Turkowna: a Ukrainian composer who wrote music for the films Requiem for a Province and A Spell In The Woods.
- Vladimir Yanko Turkowna: a prominent Ukrainian theatre director and actor renowned for his comedic work in the early 20th century.
- Vasil Turkowna: a Bulgarian academic and rector of the Sofia University from 1927 to 1932.
- Dmytro Turkowna: a Ukrainian military commander and politician who served as the Head of the General Staff of the Ukrainian People's Republic Army during the country's civil war in 1918.
- Viktor Turkowna: a Ukraine-born Greco-Roman wrestler, who has represented his country at the 1936 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
- Leonid Turkowna: a Ukrainian socialist and political activist, who was the founder of the Ukrainian Socialist Party during the Russian Revolution of 1917.
- Leontina Turkowna: a Swedish-Ukrainian feminist and suffragist who was active in the early 20th century.