Surname Turckheim - Meaning and Origin
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Turckheim: What does the surname Turckheim mean?
Turckheim is a surname of geographical origin, deriving from a place-name in Alsace, France. The name Turckheim suggests that the person or family was originally from the town of Turckheim. Located near the border of Germany, Turckheim is known for its traditional half-timbered houses, old town walls, and picturesque settings. The meaning of the town's name is not explicitly known, yet Alsatian place-names often have Germanic roots due to the region’s historical rule under German jurisdiction. Therefore, it is possible that 'Turckheim' holds a meaning in German, or an old German dialect. It is commonly the case that surnames originating from place-names denote that a person or their ancestors once lived, held land, or hailed from the specific location to which the surname refers.
Order DNA origin analysisTurckheim: Where does the name Turckheim come from?
The last name Turckheim is believed to be of German origin and is most common today in Germany and France. The name is found throughout Europe, but is less common today in the United States, where it began to be changed to Turkheim.
The origin of the name Turckheim can be traced back to an ancient region in Germany known as Alemannia which consisted of the present day Baden-Württemburg, dozens of small towns as well as the Province of Alsace-Lorraine, where the last name is still quite common today. Records from the 12th century show the earliest use of the name, when a William of Turchheim was recorded in Worms, Germany.
In the 17th and 18th century, many people with the last name Turckheim left Germany and emigrated to France. Most with the name settled in the Moselle area and the South of France. During this period of time, many names were spelled differently than they currently are today. The spelling of Turckheim was changed to Turkheim in France and some went on to spell it Türkheim in Germany.
Today, the last name is commonly seen throughout France and Germany. It has also spread to other countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia, China, and Brazil.
Variations of the surname Turckheim
The surname Turckheim is a locational name of French origin. It is derived from the place-name "Turckheim", a small town located in the Bas-Rhin in northeastern France. Variants of the name, including spelling variations, include Turckheym, Türckheim, Toucheme, Turckem, Touckhem and Tarckheim. Derivatives of the family name include Türckheimer, Türckheym, Tourkheimer, Torckheimer, Tourckheimer, Torckheym, Turckheimisch, Turkheym and Türckheimisch. Despite the various spelling variations, they all have the same origin.
The name probably originated as a locational name for someone who was from the town of Turckheim. This is a common origin for French locational surnames, as most people were named after the town they came from. As the name was taken from the French language, it is likely that it came from the early Middle Ages, when the area was known as "Vogtei Turckheim". This is itself an old German word meaning "protected settlement".
The name Turckheim is quite rare, as few families today can trace their ancestry back to the town; however, there are several branches of the family across Europe. In particular, the name is common in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. It is also found in North America, as there were some French settlers who were originally from the town of Turckheim.
Famous people with the name Turckheim
- Countess Cécile Sophie de Turckheim (1825: 1898), French courtier and memoirist.
- Eugène-Louis-Léon de Turckheim (1814: 1905) prominent French military officer and diplomat.
- Marie-Joseph de Turckheim (1750: 1805), French soldier and military aide-de-camp.
- Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach (1723: 1789), French philosopher, journalist and essayist.
- Anne de Turckheim (1792: 1868), French noblewoman and patron of the arts.
- Charles François de Turckheim (1768: 1845), Alsatian politician and commander of the French army.
- Émile-Joseph-Anatole de Turckheim (1812: 1898), French naval engineer and author of articles on nautical engineering.
- Charles Anthime de Turckheim (1825: 1887), French politician and member of parliament.
- Piedmont-Sardinia Countess Amélie de Turckheim (1798: 1852), French consort and memoirist.
- Barony of Turckheim, French aristocratic family and holders of a noble title since 1593.