Surname Olgun - Meaning and Origin

Olgun: What does the surname Olgun mean?

The last name Olgun is of Turkish origin and is believed to have originated in the Seljuk Empire. The name derives from the Turkish oğlan, meaning “son”, “boy” or “young man”. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely originally sons of a notable family, perhaps members of the ruling class or aristocrats, and were distinguished by the title of oğlan in order to set them apart from commoners.

The Olgun family was mainly found in Turkey and Greece, suggesting immigration from the Seljuk Empire as it slowly declined in power. Later, the Ottoman Empire rose and the Olgun family would have grown alongside it. In the 19th century, some members of the Olgun family immigrated to other parts of the world, most notably to the US, Canada, and Australia.

Today, Olgun is an uncommon last name in many parts of the world, but in areas where the Ottoman Empire had influence, such as Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, it is still relatively common. It is seen as a sign of Ottoman history and is a prestigious surname, even though its original meaning of “son” has been lost among urban populations. The Olgun family stands as a reminder of the Ottoman Empire’s long-standing presence in its many former provinces and can serve as a symbol of that history.

Olgun: Where does the name Olgun come from?

The last name Olgun is most commonly found in Turkey today, but it is also scattered throughout several other countries neighbouring Turkey. Olgun is derived from the Old Turkic word "olgun," meaning great and powerful. Turkish immigration has resulted in the surname being shared amongst multiple countries, therefore making it a fairly widespread last name. In Turkey, Olgun can be found mainly in the Southwest of the country, recently coming up in the southeastern region of Izmir. In neighbouring countries it is mostly still seen within Turkey's northern borders. Other countries where Olgun is regularly found include Germany, Greece and Kosovo.

In Germany, it is advertised in the Berlin area of Kreuzberg, a well-known neighborhood where Turkish immigrants have lived for two generations now. In Greece, Olgun is found in the western part of the country due to immigration spreading the name from Turkey. And, in Kosovo, the name has started to emerge due to refugees from the Turkish-Greek conflict, although not as commonly as other neighbouring countries.

Immigration into Europe throughout the 19th and 20th centuries has seen an increase in the amount of people with Olgun as their last name. In the 21st century, the name can be found all over Europe and in other parts of the world where Turkish diaspora have settled, raising awareness of the surname. In Turkey, it has been adopted by families who are prominent for political and religious reasons, amongst others.

Variations of the surname Olgun

The surname Olgun is an Arabic or Turkish name that is thought to be derived from the word “olgun”, which means “valiant” or “wise”. It is a very common surname in countries with large Turkish populations, such as Turkey, Germany, and the United States.

The surname Olgun is sometimes spelt as Algun or Ulgun. This is common in languages such as Turkish or Arabic, where the letter “o” is replaced by “a” or “u”. In some areas it is also seen with the letter “g” or “k”, so its spelling may be Algun, Ulgun, Olgun, Alkan or Ulkan.

Different surnames derived from the same root are also possible. These can include Olkan, Alkan, or Elgun. Another variation of Olgun is Olgac, which is probably a combination of the words “olgun” (valiant) and “gac” (honest). Other variations of Olgun include Olgaç, Algaç, and Ulgaç.

In some areas, the surname Olgun may be seen as Alcorn or Ulcorn. This variation of the surname is thought to be derived from the original “Olgun”, with the addition of the word “corn” which is derived from the Greek κορων, meaning “helper”.

Although Olgun is not a very widespread surname, it is still commonly found in many areas of the world with large Turkish populations. As such, the variations of the surname are plentiful and are likely to be encountered by family history researchers.

Famous people with the name Olgun

• Ümit Olgun: Renowned Turkish footballer
• Zühre Olgun: Prominent Turkish pop singer
• Utku Olgun: Prominent Turkish film director
• Banu Olgun: Prominent Turkish fashion designer, illustrator and visual artist
• Metin Olgun: Notable Turkish professor of International Law
• Ertan Olgun: Famous Turkish governmental policy advisor
• Alp Olgun: Popular Turkish industrial engineer
• Barış Olgun: Eminent Turkish molecular biologist
• Tuğçe Olgun: Noted Turkish energy sector specialist
• Zeynep Olgun: Renowned Turkish geneticist and research scientist

Other surnames

Olguin