Surname Turkyn - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Turkyn: What does the surname Turkyn mean?
The last name "Turkyn" is not common and its origins are difficult to trace. It may be a variation of the surname "Turk," which has multiple possible origins. It could derive from the Middle English word for a Turkish person, indicating that one of the bearer's ancestors may have been linked with Turkey in some manner, such as through trade or military service. Alternatively, "Turk" may have been a nickname referring to someone who had a difficult or unruly nature, based on medieval stereotypes about the Turks. It's worth noting that surnames can morph over time due to several factors including local dialects and literacy levels, hence "Turkyn" may have derived from "Turk". In any case, last names are often coined according to a person's occupation, location, or characteristic feature and the exact meaning may differ across regions and countries. Given the lack of available records pertaining specifically to "Turkyn," it is difficult to accurately infer its meaning. As name meanings can vary greatly depending on language, culture, and historical context, a definitive meaning for Turkyn may require more specialized genealogical research.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkyn: Where does the name Turkyn come from?
Today, the last name Turkyn can be commonly found in Slavic countries, predominantly in the Ukraine, and in smaller numbers also in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Russia, and other surrounding countries. This last name is a patronymic Ukrainian surname, derived from the male given name 'Turko'. This name was likely used as a nickname to describe someone of Turkic descent, though over time it has been adopted as an official surname.
The Turkyn last name can be especially common in areas of Eastern Europe which were impacted by the Turkic-Mamluk invasion of the 14th century, which caused mass migration of Turkic peoples into Europe.
In addition to being found in Slavic countries, there are also small numbers of individuals who bear the Turkyn name in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Today, Australia is home to the majority of the outside of Europe's Turkyn households, with the American West Coast, Ontario, and Midwest also having some concentration of the name.
Outside of Europe, the Turkyn name is common amongst the descendants of post-WWII refugees and immigrants, with many from the Ukraine and Slovakia fleeing the nations at the time, in search of a better and safer life in a western nation. It is likely that most of the European immigrants who bore the Turkyn last name were from the Ukraine, due to the high number of the name's occurrences there.
Variations of the surname Turkyn
The surname Turkyn can be spelled in a variety of ways including Turkin and Turckin. There are no variants or surnames of the same origin for the name Turkyn, as it is an Americanized spelling of the more common Turkish surname, Turkay, which is of Turkic origin.
The Turkish surname Turkay has a variety of interchangeable spellings, including Turkyay, Turkoglu, Turkee, and Turkayli. It is also commonly misspelled as Turkia and Turkney.
Other derivatives of the surname Turkay include Turkeli, Turkvi, Turkamani, and Turkez. These spellings are mainly used in Armenia and parts of Turkey, but not in the United States.
The surname Turkyn is also not related to the surname Turkan. This separate surname of Turkic origin is mainly used in Asia and has a variety of spellings, such as Turkan, Turkhan, Turkham, and Turkash. It is sometimes confused with the surname Tughan, which is of Mongolian origin.
In summary, the surname Turkyn has many misspellings and variations, but no variants or surnames of the same origin. The Turkish surname Turkay has several interchangeable spellings, and can be found mainly in Turkey and Eastern European countries. The Turkan surname is unrelated and found primarily in Asia.
Famous people with the name Turkyn
- Bill Turkyn: American entertainer, dance band leader, music director and music arranger.
- Tom Turkyn: British soldier and Victoria Cross recipient.
- Lewis Turkyn: American professional football player.
- Stephen Turkyn: American musician who plays the harmonica.
- John Turkyn: Canadian artist whose work has appeared in galleries around the world.
- Austin Turkyn: Canadian actor and pop singer.
- George Turkyn: Former professional basketball player for the American Basketball Association.
- Lisa Turkyn: Award-winning Canadian news anchor and journalist.
- Ray Turkyn: American visual effects artist, credited as co-producer for Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and others.
- William Turkyn: British professor and historian, specialising in the history of classical culture.