Surname Turak - Meaning and Origin
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Turak: What does the surname Turak mean?
The surname Turak is relatively rare and its origins could be traced back to several cultures, including Turkish, Tatar, and Hungarian. In Turkish, "turak" refers to a spinner or a spinning top, suggesting a possible occupational origin for individuals who were spinners in the textile industry. Another interpretation could be that it represents a playful or dynamic personality, like a spinning top which is always in motion. In some regions of Hungary, 'Turák' could be a toponymic surname, which are derived from the name of places, regions, or geographical features. Surnames that have such origins were usually given to individuals who hailed from such regions or possessed lands there. However, without specific genealogical research, it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact origin and meaning of the surname Turak. It is always essential to consider regional variations, linguistic evolution, and individual family histories when researching the meaning and origin of surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisTurak: Where does the name Turak come from?
The surname Turak is most commonly found in Eastern Europe today, particularly in countries like Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Turak was also an established surname in what was formerly Czechoslovakia.
The origin of this family name is likely Hungarian. Records show that the Turak family first originated in the region around 1654, where it is believed to derive from the Hungarian word “turák” meaning “clay.”
The surname is also found in small pockets in the United States and Canada. According to the US Census data for 2020, the surname Turak was the 7,360th most common name in the US. Records also show that this name is present in the United Kingdom, with 558 people registered as having the surname in the England and Wales census report of 2019.
The Turak surname was also formerly common in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and is sometimes spelled “Turack” or “Turak.” Today Turak is still a fairly common surname throughout Hungary and Slovakia, with other smaller pockets of the surname appearing throughout Eastern Europe and North America.
Variations of the surname Turak
The surname Turak is mainly found in territory of present-day Ukraine and is of Slavic origin. It is derived from a word meaning "hard luck" or "trouble", as well as from the root word "tur-", meaning "great/big". This surname has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Variants of Turak can include Turakovsky, Turetska, Turiska, Turka, Turetsky, Turkevich, Turetsky, Turkevich, Turkov, Turik, Turetskyy, Turia, Torok, and many others. Many of these variants are sometimes represented in other ways such as Tarok or Torokh.
The variants Turkevich and Turkevych are Ukrainian surnames of the same origin. They are derived from the personal name Tur, and are associated with the words "Tur" or "Tor" (Tur- a great, powerful man) and "Kev/Kevych" which means "son" in Eastern Slavic languages.
Spellings of Turak may include Turack, Turikk, Turik, Turek, Turacki, Turick, Tourick, Turiko, Turakk, Tuurik, Turac, Turric, and Turacko, among others.
Surnames of the same origin include Turgan, Turkayev, Turenko, Turicyn, Turetskii,Turishchev, Tur and many more. These names are typically of Ukrainian or Belarusian origin and are derived from the same root word as Turak.
In conclusion, Turak is a Slavic surname derived from the word “tur”, meaning “great/big”, and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of same origin. These variants include Turka, Torok, Turkevich, Turkevych, Turgan, Turick, Turiko, and many more.
Famous people with the name Turak
- Ruth Turak: Writer, poet, and actress who is best-known for her comedy work, most notably her show My Dinner With Ruth Turak.
- Richard Turak: American photographer most famous for his portraiture of musicians from the 1980s including Elvis Costello, Joan Jett and Iggy Pop.
- Christopher Turak: An American artist who works in a wide range of media. He has a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of Central Florida and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art.
- Jessica Turak: Emmy Award-winning American TV news anchor on the WCMH-TV morning show in Columbus, Ohio.
- Matt Turak: Award-winning American author, public speaker, and coach on the topic of performance optimization and personal development.
- Alan Turak: Award-winning American musician, sound engineer and producer, best known for his work on the Eurythmics albums ‘Revenge’ and ‘Be Yourself Tonight’.
- Joe Turak: American saxophonist and music professor. He is the lead instructor at the Center for Music and Arts in San Diego, California.
- George Turak: American artist and sculptor known for his work in stone and wood. Best-known for his granite and steel sculpture ‘Gothic Boiler’.
- Bob Turak: Baseball player who played 42 games as a right fielder in the MLB for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
- Warren Turak: American retired art director and production designer whose career spanned three decades in the motion picture industry.