Surname Turek - Meaning and Origin
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Turek: What does the surname Turek mean?
The surname Turek is of Polish origin and literally translates to "Turk." It was often used as a nickname for people who had a connection to Turkey, such as traders or people with distinct characteristics thought to be typical of Turks. These characteristics could be physical attributes, behavior, or dress style. Over time, the nickname was passed down through generations and eventually became a surname. Today, the surname Turek can be found in various forms around the world and is especially prevalent in Poland and the Czech Republic. The surname Turek reflects a historical connection between the individuals bearing the surname and Turkish culture, although this connection may date back many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisTurek: Where does the name Turek come from?
The last name Turek is most common today in Poland, with the most prevalent concentrations located in Katowice, Sosnowiec, and several other cities in the Silesian region. According to Ancestry.com, it is also present in several other European countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, and even the Netherlands.
The surname is derived from the old Polish word "turek," which meant Turk or foreigner. It was used for individuals who had migrated from other areas, particularly from Turkey during the Middle Ages. The majority of Turek families in Poland today can trace their roots back to 16th century German settlers, although the name is also associated with certain Roma individuals.
The prevalence of the name in North America is much lower, although it can be found in varying frequencies in the United States, Canada and some other countries. It is likely that migrants from Europe have brought the Turek surname over through Ellis Island.
In sum, the surname Turek is primarily found in Poland today, with other smaller occurrences across Europe, North America and beyond.
Variations of the surname Turek
The surname Turek is a Slavic language name meaning "shining with glory". As a surname, it can have numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the more common variations include: Turecky, Turecki, Turekovic, Turekowsky, Turcky, Turkevich, Turkevichy, Turkevič, Turkevyč, Turkovich and Tuschik.
In Polish, the name is written as “Turek”, while in spelling variations are Turcka, Turecka, Tuschka, Tuschman, Tuschmann and Turska. Furthermore, Turek can be spelled with an "e" instead of an "a" in the Polish language, which presents the variations Turkie, Turke, Turkev and Turkew.
In the Czech language, the German spelling of Turek is mostly used. The most common variations of this spelling are filmed in documents as Thureck, Thureke, Turec, Tureck, Turcke, Tureka, Turekal, Turekovic, Thureka, Thurekal, Thurekowicz, Thurekovic, Thurecek, Thurecki and Thurecky.
Turek can also be found written as Thureke, Thurekal, Thurekowicz and Thurecky, and other Slovak variants may include Turkevichy, Turkevyč, Trcke, Tirck and Tirckovy.
In Hungary, variants of Turek include Turik, Tyrke and Tyrk. There are also variations of the surname from Ukraine, in languages such as Belorussian, like Thurek and Variant Thurekow. In Ukraine, the Russian spelling of Tureck is used in surnames, and it may be written as Turka, Turkosov, Turkaš, Turik and Turko.
Finally, American spelling may present the surname as Terryk.
Famous people with the name Turek
- Martin Turek: Czech professional ice hockey defenceman
- Miroslav Turek: Czech artist and sculptor
- Robert Turek: Former professional baseball player
- Jim Turek: American modern Pentecostal pastor
- Pavel Turek: Professional cross country skier
- Roman Turek: Professional ice hockey goaltender
- Karel Turek: Czechoslovak fencer
- Blahoslav Turek: Czechoslovak football central defender
- Charles Turek Robinson: American modernist painter
- Katarína Tureková: Slovak javelin thrower
- Anna Turek: Founder of the Zonta club
- Miloslava Turek: Czech/Austrian novelist
- Franta Turek: Czech middle-distance runner
- Petr Turek: Czech professional ice hockey goaltender
- Jan Turek: Czech speed skater
- Richard Turek: Polish boxer
- Jasper Turek: American inventor and engineer
- Zdenek Turek: Czechoslovak football goalkeeper
- Mtislav Turek: Czechoslovak sprint canoeist
- Milan Turek: Slovak professional ice hockey player