Surname Turkalo - Meaning and Origin
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Turkalo: What does the surname Turkalo mean?
The surname Turkalo does not have a widely known or specific meaning related to a certain profession, characteristic, or place like some other last names. It is likely tied to East European origin, specifically Ukraine. The name may have evolved from the Turkish influence in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, as "Turk" is a term associated with people of Turkish origin. The surname could have originated as an ethnic name for someone from Turkey. This is speculative as the true and specific origin of the surname Turkalo isn't well-documented. Like many surnames, it could also simply come from the name of an ancestor. Always remember that surnames represent a small glimpse into a person's ancestry and may not provide a full picture of his or her ethnic or cultural background. Each family's lineage and history will provide unique details.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkalo: Where does the name Turkalo come from?
The last name Turkalo is most commonly found in eastern Europe, especially in Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia. It is believed that the Turkalo family originated in the eastern Bosnian region known as Sandzak in the mid-1800s and that the family name was later adopted by a descedent who immigrated to Croatia or Serbia. Since its adoption, the Turkalo family has spread throughout the Balkans, though some family members have also established themselves in the United States.
In the United States, the Turkalo family is primarily found in the northeastern and midwestern states, especially in Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. In addition, the family is quite scattered throughout California, as well as in some southern states such as Georgia and North Carolina. Many of the family members residing in the United States are descendants of a Croatian immigrant who moved to the United States in the late 1800s.
A great number of people with the surname Turkalo can be found in western Canada, specifically in the province of British Columbia and the city of Vancouver. It is believed that the family first moved to Canada from Croatia in the mid-1900s. Today, they are spread throughout both British Columbia and Alberta, as well as in Ontario.
Overall, the family has established strong roots throughout Europe and North America, and the generational gap between each successive generation has helped to keep the Turkalo name alive and passed down from many generations. The family has maintained its cultural heritage throughout this history and is heavily involved in the Croatian-Canadian community.
Variations of the surname Turkalo
The surname Turkalo is most likely of Slavic origin and has several variant spellings, such as Turkall, Turkel, Turkelis, Turkals, Tourkalis, Tureklis and Turekal. The surname may also take the form of variations in foreign language translations, such as Torlack, Torkal, and Torklis. The surname also has the possibility of being hyphenated, in which case it could be written as Turk-alo or Tourk-alis.
Among the related surnames of Turkalo are Turkevitch, Turka, Turkelson, and Turekovic. These variations could be explained by a combination of language and geographical influences, as the surname may have traveled with the family via migration over the centuries.
The English equivalent of the surname Turkalo is most likely Tucker or Turner. This particular translation of the surname, however, does not necessarily indicate that all members of the family were of English descent. Rather, the English equivalent could be attributed to a pronounced variation of the originally Slavic version of the name, as many names were translated into English over the centuries.
In addition, the surname Turkalo can be found in both the Polish and German language. In Polish, the surname is written as Turkal, while in German, it is spelled as Turkel. Again, just as with the English equivalent, this does not necessarily mean that the family was of German or Polish origin. It could mean, however, that the family was exposed to either language over the course of its travels, resulting in the surname being pronounced slightly differently.
Overall, the surname Turkalo and its related variants represent a truly international family name, spanning centuries of migration and cultural exchange. It is likely the product of both language and geographical influences, resulting in multiple spellings, variants, and translations, overall reflecting the fascinating story of the surname's history.
Famous people with the name Turkalo
- Andon Turkalo: a Greek diplomat and the ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 to 1972 who also served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1961 to 1967.
- Dino Turkalo: the first man to introduce boxing to Greece, who trained its first Olympic team in 1896 and remained active in boxing for more than sixty years.
- Agim Turkalo: a translator of Albanian literature, winner of the Herder Prize for translating the works of Albania’s national poet, and teacher of Albanian at the Department of Modern Greek in the University of Thessaloniki.
- Jovan Turkalo: a prominent Serbian poet from the 1930s.
- Georgi Turkalo: a highly decorated cavalryman in the Second World War who was one of the first recipients of the Order of the People’s Hero for bravery and heroism.
- Nikola Turkalo: a professional footballer who played for AEK Athens F.C., OFK Beograd and several other clubs.
- Sevdalina Turkalo: a Bulgarian journalist, TV presenter, editor and scriptwriter, who also holds a degree in political sciences.
- Sasko Turkalo: an Albanian composer and producer known for his work on the soundtracks of television shows such as Arrested Development, Freaks and Geeks, and Chappelle's Show.
- Stephen Turkalo: an epidemiologist and anthropologist who has done extensive work on the ecology of infectious diseases in Central Africa.
- Taso Turkalo: a Greek businessman, best known for his banking, insurance, and shipping companies, who is also an accomplished sailboat racer.