Surname Turchi - Meaning and Origin
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Turchi: What does the surname Turchi mean?
The last name Turchi is of Italian origin and directly translates to "Turkish". It is an ethnonymic surname that was originally used for individuals who had connections with Turkey. This could mean the person might have had Turkish ancestry, visited the country, traded with Turkey, or even had a physical appearance that was considered typical of the Turks. Italian surnames often have roots in nicknames or descriptive terms, locations, occupations, or parent's name. The surname Turchi, hence, is likely to have been a descriptive term that somehow became associated significantly with a family or individual, and thus passed down through generations as a surname. However, the exact origin and context of the surname Turchi can vary widely among those bearing it, depending upon their specific family histories.
Order DNA origin analysisTurchi: Where does the name Turchi come from?
The last name Turchi is most commonly found in Italy. According to WorldNames PublicProfiler, the overall frequency of this surname in Italy is low, with only 1,625 people bearing this last name in 2017.
The vast majority of these individuals are located in the central regions of Italy, particularly in Marche, the Abruzzo, and Lazio. Additionally, people with this surname can be found in Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Campania, and Sicily, albeit in comparatively lower concentrations.
The surname appears to be most concentrated in and around Ancona, the capital city of Marche. This is likely where the surname originated, since Turchi is thought to be an Italianized form of Turse or Tursech, which was once used as a name for the people of San Marino prior to Italian unification.
Turchi is also the 8th most common surname in San Marino. Given its Italian origin, this probably isn’t surprising. Less than 400 people have this surname in San Marino, however, suggesting it might be in the process of dying out.
Outside of Italy, Turchi is present in small numbers in many other countries, from the United States and Mexico to Brazil, Argentina, and the UK.
Variations of the surname Turchi
The surname Turchi is derived from the Italian word "turco" which literally means Turk. It is a common Italian surname that is likely derived from Italian surname Polizzi; the two are often confused. The surname Turchi is also known by alternate spellings such as Turchy, Turchio, and Turchini.
In Italian, when the last syllable of a word ends in a vowel, the ending of the word often changes to "i". As such, there are many surnames that are derivatives of the surname Turchi, such as Turchi, Turcchi, and Turcin. Additionally, there are also several variants that are derivatives of Polizzi; these include Polizza, Polizzo, Polizzotti, Polizzi, Polizzini, and Polizio.
In terms of surnames that have the same origin as Turchi, there is the Spanish surname Turqui. This surname is derived from the Latin word "Turrus" which has a similar meaning to Turk. The Italian surname Turco is another common name of the same origin, which is the Italian form of the French name Turc.
Turchi is also a common surname in some South American countries, particularly Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. In these countries, the surname is often spelled as Turqui, Turquia, Turquias, and Turquini.
Overall, the surname Turchi has a variety of variants, spellings and derivatives due to its origins. However, all of these can trace their origin back to the Italian word "turco" which literally means Turk.
Famous people with the name Turchi
- Marco Turchi: Italian barrister, lawyer and public prosecutor who has held various positions in the Italian Ministry of Justice.
- Emma Turchi: Swedish model and actress who has starred in films such as Indecent Proposal and The Man Who Knew Too Little.
- Artemisia Turchi: Italian opera singer of the 19th century, known for her performances at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
- Joe Turchi: professional golf caddy for Masters champion Jordan Spieth.
- Ryan Turchi: a major league baseball pitcher who has played for the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers.
- Jorrit Turchi: Dutch soccer player who plays for the Netherlands national team.
- Paul Turchi: American artist, architect and designer who is best known for his colorful and abstract stained glass windows.
- Thomas Turchi: American author of fiction and non-fiction books, including The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland and When You Close Your Eyes.
- Antonella Turchi: Italian fashion designer and founder of the eponymous clothing line.
- Alfredo Turchi: Italian sculptor, painter and graphic artist.