Surname Turck - Meaning and Origin
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Turck: What does the surname Turck mean?
The surname Turck typically originates from Central Europe, specifically Germany and the Netherlands. In German, "Turck" is derived from the word "Turk," which means Turkish. This does not necessarily mean the person’s ancestors were from Turkey, but could suggest a variety of interpretations such as they engaged in trade with the Turks, lived in a house called "The Turk," or even had a Turkish look or demeanor.
In the Netherlands, the surname is often spelt "Turk". The spelling variations of the name are often due to transcription errors in early immigrant records, but might also reflect different branches of the family. It's important to note that it doesn't necessarily point towards Turkish ancestry.
In general, surnames were often based on a person’s occupation, the location of their home, a personal characteristic or a clan name. In any case, it is always beneficial to trace the lineage and roots of the surname for a more accurate interpretation of the meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisTurck: Where does the name Turck come from?
The last name Turck is most commonly found today in Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. It is believed to have originated from the Rhineland around the 1400s. Turck is thought to originally have been an occupational surname indicating someone who was a watchman, food taster, or locksmith. It hasarisen in various forms and variations throughout the years, such as Thürck, Thurk, Türck, and Terrk.
In Germany, Turck can be found in heavy concentrations in the states of Nordrhein Westfalen and Baden-Württemberg. In Baden-Württemberg, the cities of Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Freiburg, and Mannheim account for the highest amount of Turck families. In Switzerland, the majority of Turck families are concentrated in the cantons of Zürich and Bern. In Belgium, the province of West Flanders has a large number of Turck families.
The last name Turck is also recorded in lesser numbers in Austria, the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and France. It is notable that Turck families can be found in New Amsterdam, the first Dutch settlement in what is now New York City. This indicates that Turck families have been present in North America since the mid-1600s.
In the United States, Turck families can be primarily found in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Additionally, families with variations of the name have spread throughout the United States, and can be found as far away as California and Texas.
Within the last few hundred years, the number of Turck families has grown considerably. As of 2020, there are more than 10,000 Turck families scattered throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Turck
The surname Turck is most commonly seen as Turck, but occasionally with some have spelling variations. These alternate spellings include: Turc, Turk, Terck, Tercke, de Turck, Tercker, Tercks, Terckes, Turco, Turkow, Turcu, Thiercke, Thiercken, Thircken, Thuercken, Turcken, and Thierckes.
The origin of the surname is thought to be of German origin, though some claim it derives from Turkish Huurcek.
In Germany, the surname was mostly spread around the areas of modern-day Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony, though some believe pieces of the family-line might have moved to other parts of Germany, Netherlands, and even England.
In addition to the country’s modern borders, the existing Turck families tend to have roots in places like Luxembourg, and Austria.
The variants and surnames were probably adopted by members of the Turck surname during emigration. In the United States and Canada, the Turck surname is roughly equally divided between spellings Turck and Turk, while various other spellings are generally much less common.
Apart from alternative spellings, this surname has been altered over the course of history, potentially resulting in many other surnames with similar origin. Generally, the surnames or synonymous names that have evolved from Turck are Tirk, Tyrk, Turkiewicz, Turkowka, Turkin, Turkovic, Thuerck, Thuercken, Thuerckes, Thierck, Thiercke, Thiercken, and Thircken.
All these surnames are believed to derive from Hoyerswerda, a small village found in Saxony.
Famous people with the name Turck
- Andre Turck: was a French poet and playwright who lived in the late 1800s.
- Robert Turck: was an American jazz pianist active in the 1960s.
- Bart Turck: is a Belgian journalist and political commentator.
- Wanda Turck: was a Dutch member of the Dutch resistance during WW2.
- Julius Turck: was a German art historian and collector of diamond jewelry in the early 20th century.
- Horst Turck: was a German footballer who played in the 1970s.
- Anne Turck: was a Luxembourg-born American journalist and novelist who lived in the early 1900s.
- Guillemette Turck: is a French pediatrician.
- Erwin Turck: was a German politician and mayor of Gelsenkirchen in the 1940s.
- George Turck: was an American artist, author, and illustrator in the first part of the 20th century.
- Ernie Turck: is the former mayor of Bassano, Alberta, Canada.
- Inge Turck: is a Danish animal behaviorist and author.
- Carl Turck: was a German general in the late 1800s.
- Linda Turck: is an American singer and songwriter who has performed in Nashville, Tennessee, and has a following in the Midwest.
- Winnie Turck: is a Belgian author and journalist.