Surname Turku - Meaning and Origin
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Turku: What does the surname Turku mean?
Turku is a Finnish word that translates to "marketplace" in English. It is commonly associated with the city of Turku in Finland, known as the oldest city of the country and an important commercial and cultural center. As a last name, it may imply geographic origin, indicating that the person or family comes from Turku. Surnames based on locations were often given to individuals or families who moved from one place to another. The adoption of such names made it easier to distinguish between people with similar first names. However, the exact meaning of the last name Turku can vary based on cultural and family history and it might not necessarily have a literal translation or specific significance. Ultimately, the interpretation of the surname Turku would be deeply personal and unique to the individual or family carrying it.
Order DNA origin analysisTurku: Where does the name Turku come from?
Today, the last name Turku can most commonly be found in Finland. It is the fifth-most common last name in Finland, according to a study from 2014, with Turku typically being derived from the city itself. According to the stud, between 1996 and 2015 there were over 19,000 people with the surname Turku in Finland.
The top ten regions in Finland with the highest prevalence of the surname Turku include Uusimaa at 19.2%, Southwest Finland at 15.3%, Pirkanmaa at 12.9%, Kanta-Häme at 4.2%, Ostrobothnia at 3.3%, Kymenlaakso at 2.9%, Satakunta at 2.9%, Central Ostrobothnia at 2.6%, North Karelia at 2.1%, and Åland at 1.0%.
Outside of Finland, the name Turku is not overly common. In the U.S., it was not listed among the top 1000 last names in the U.S. in 2018. Other countries with a few individuals bearing the surname Turku include Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Overall, the last name Turku is most prevalently found in Finland. This can be attributed to the name's association with the city of Turku, the former capital of Finland, located on the shores of the country's southwest coast.
Variations of the surname Turku
The surname Turku has many variants that may be encountered in research. These include Turkoo, Turko, Turkki, Turkkii, Turkka, Turo, Turoo, Turro, Tureo, Thuro, Tyro, and Toraku. It is also found in places like Austria, Canada, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and in those locations, its variants are often spelled in a slightly different way.
The surname Turku is a patronymic or toponymic name derived from the Finnish, Swedish, and German word Turku and its variants Turke, Torge, and Turcke, meaning Finland, which is a country of north-central Europe. The original Turku surname would have originated from a person who was born near the city which is its namesake.
In many cases, the surname Turku has been altered over time because of the various languages spoken in different areas where it is found. In the United States, for instance, it has become more Americanized in many instances, and it may appear as Turko, Turoo, Turro, Turkeo, Thuro, Tyro, or Toraku.
In some cases, the Turku surname can also become confused with other surnames throughout its migratory history. It can become confused with surnames that have a similar origin and spelling, including Turkkie, Turkka, Tsraku, Tarku, and Trarku. The Turku surname is also sometimes used with other forms of surnames, such as those derived from locations, occupations, and physical characteristics, creating surnames like Turku-Hudson, Turku-Miller, Turku-Rodriguez, Turku-Grizzly, and Turku-Alastair.
Famous people with the name Turku
- Piret Jaaks, Estonian singer/songwriter
- Otso Kantokorpi, Finnish actor
- Joonas Turku, Finnish professional ice hockey player
- Antti Turku, Finnish professional football player
- Emil Turku, Finnish actor
- Ilmari Turku, Finnish author and Fennophile
- Tuija Turku, Finnish television presenter
- Jori Turku, Finnish musician
- Aarne Turku, Finnish businessman
- Pertti Turku, Finnish entrepreneur
- Kaisa Turku, Finnish writer
- Heikki Turku, Finnish actor
- Merja Turku, Finnish television presenter
- Teea Turku, Finnish actress
- Heikki Turku, Finnish jazz musician