Surname Zurnaci - Meaning and Origin
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Zurnaci: What does the surname Zurnaci mean?
The last name Zurnaci is a Turkish name which comes from an ancient Turkish word meaning “potter” or “ceramist”. It can also translate as “tiler” or “carpenter”. The name may also have some tribal connections to the ancient Anatolian province of Zurnak, which was known for its pottery workers and ceramic production.
The Zurnaci family is found mainly in Turkey but also in regions of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. It is likely that they originally settled in the town of Külahçam near the Aegean coast and moved further inland to the Turkish cities of Ankara, İzmir, İstanbul, and Bursa.
Within the context of modern day Turkey, Zurnaci is considered an occupational surname, meaning that it originally indicated a person’s profession. It is not uncommon to find people today who use this surname who are involved in similar trades such as stone-masonry, carpentry, ceramics and tinkering, as well as other related crafts.
Given its occupational/craftsman origin, it is thought that the Zurnaci family’s last name originated during the 12th century when guilds were first established in Turkish cities to train craftsmen. Over the centuries, this craft was passed down from generation to generation which explains why most people with the Zurnaci surname today are still engaged in trading, making pottery, tiling, carpentry, and masonry.
Order DNA origin analysisZurnaci: Where does the name Zurnaci come from?
The last name Zurnaci is most commonly found today in the countries of Turkey, Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, and the United States. It is used throughout Europe and the Americas by people of the same family or those with a similar ancestral background.
In Turkey, the Zurnaci surname is one of the most commonly found surnames today, and is native to the country. It is thought to derive from the Old Turkish word “zurna”, meaning “pyramid” or, more commonly, “top”. It is thought that it could be used to refer to someone who was swift or decisive in their actions, with the connotation of the pyramid as a difficult shape to conquer.
In Germany, the surname is also commonly found in both northern and southern Germany, often associating with those with ancestral ties to Turkey. The presence of the surname can be traced back to the 16th Century, with records depicting individuals financially supporting various religious institutions and churches.
In both Bulgaria and Serbia, the surname is also seen as relatively common, thought to have spread from Turkey through Serbia and Bulgaria in the 15th and 16th century.
Finally, in the United States, the surname is relatively rare, usually found in small pockets of communities of Turkish descent, with a much higher concentration in states with larger immigrant populations, such as California and New York.
Overall, the last name Zurnaci is fairly common today, mainly seen in Turkey, Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, and the United States. It is thought to be originally derived from the Old Turkish word zurna and is thought to have spread across Europe and the Americas through migration.
Variations of the surname Zurnaci
The surname Zurnaci is a Turkish last name that originates in Ottoman times that has many variant spellings and surnames. The most common spelling of Zurnaci is Zuranici. Other variant spellings of Zurnaci include Zuranic, Zuranicic, Zuranicich, Zurnich, Zurnik, and Zurkic. These variant spellings are all still related to the surname Zurnaci and originate in the region that is now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The variants of Zurnaci can also be grouped into surnames. The two common surnames derived from Zurnaci are Zuranic and Zurnik. The difference between the two surnames is that Zuranic is used for Christians and Zurnik is used for Muslims of the region. It is thought that the difference arose when the Ottoman Empire was in power in the region.
In addition to this, in some cases, the surname Zurnaci is used interchangeably with the surnames Zilski and Zuljani. These surnames were adopted by families of the Zurnaci origin, often due to marriage between different families in various communities.
Overall, the surname Zurnaci has many variants and derived surnames, all stemming from its Ottoman Empire origins. These variants are very common throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as many other countries with Ottoman Empire diasporas. While they are all related and have similar spellings, they have all developed slight differences that make them distinct.
Famous people with the name Zurnaci
- Burak Zurnacı: actor, singer, composer and host in Turkey.
- Aylin Zurnacı: Turkish actress, model and TV personality.
- Kadir Zurnacı: Turkish writer, poet and orator.
- Esma Zurnacı: Turkish actress and model.
- Elena Zurnacı: Roma-Italian actress and singer.
- Ferşan Zurnacı: Turkish composer and singer.
- Orçun Zurnacı: retinal surgeon in Turkey.
- Cengiz Zurnacı: Turkish scholar of Islamic finance.
- Ozan Zurnacı: Turkish footballer.
- Abdullah Zurnacı: Turkish footballer.
- Gültekin Zurnacı: Turkish historian.
- Furkan Zurnacı: Turkish footballer.
- Arzu Zurnacı: Turkish dancer, choreographer, teacher and activist.
- Serkan Zurnacı: Turkish actor.
- Fazil Zurnacı: Turkish composer and singer.