Surname Turkas - Meaning and Origin
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Turkas: What does the surname Turkas mean?
The last name Turkas is of Polish origin, and it is believed to be derived from the name Turka, which is a term for an inhabitant of a certain region in Poland. It may also have derived from the word turka, which means "Tatar".
The name Turkas is most likely associated with those of Tatar origin, referring to a Turkic-speaking people who originated in the Eurasian Steppe and today inhabit many countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. Tatar is a shared culture between the Turks and the Mongols, and the term has been historically used to refer to those of Central Asian or Siberian origin.
The Turkas family name was found in the US in the late 1800s, primarily located in Pennsylvania. The name denotes someone who had either a geographic or ethnic origin; a Tatar from the region of Płock in Northern Poland, or someone of convergent racial or cultural heritage. It is possible that the family came to America during a period of mass immigration from Poland in the late 19th century.
The name Turkas is unique and carries a strong Eastern European background with it. It denotes a strong connection to a rich heritage and clearly illustrates how quickly people were moving between locations at the end of the 19th century. The Turkas family is still present in the United States today, a reminder of how the United States was largely formed from immigration during its most formative years.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkas: Where does the name Turkas come from?
The last name Turkas is most commonly found among people with Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian ancestry. The name is derived from the Turkish language, a cultural legacy of the former Ottoman Empire. Historically, the Ottoman Turks brought the name to those regions during their five hundred year occupation of the Balkans. Today, it is the 76th most common surname in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also commonly found in Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, as well as various other countries in the Balkans.
In addition to the Balkans, the last name Turkas is also found in the United States. This is due to migration from the region, beginning in the latter half of the 19th century. While the magnitude of migration accelerated drastically during the Yugoslav Wars in the late 20th century, people with roots in the Balkans before then also brought the surname to the U.S. As of 2020, the last name Turkas is most commonly found in the states of Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Variations of the surname Turkas
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Turkas include Turk, Turkow, Turkovsky, Turkovich, Turkowski, Turkevich, Turkin, Turkina, Turkevich, Turkovich, and Turko.
Turk is the most common variant of the surname Turkas, and it likely originates from an old Turkic word for “barber.” It also is a reference to the Turkic descent of many Eastern European countries and is found in many countries including Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.
Turkovsky is the second most common variant and likely originated from the small village in Ukraine where many of the first Turkovskys likely lived. The Eastern European surname of Turkow refers specifically to people of Ukrainian or Polish descent who are of Turkic descent. The surname has further evolved and a few modern versions of it include Turkowski, Turkin, and Turkovich.
Turkevich is a rarer variant of Turkas but is still seen in some Eastern European countries. The Turkina form of the name may have originated as a modification of Turkin. The Turko spelling is likely derived from the same root as Turkow and has also been seen in Eastern Europe.
Overall, the surname Turkas has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is linked to the Turkic people of Eastern Europe and has become a common surname in many countries.
Famous people with the name Turkas
- Ertugrul Bey (c. 1288- c. 1360/1361), the Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
- Muhsin Ertuğrul (1892–1979), a Turkish theater director, actor, and playwright.
- Emel Türköz (born 1967), a Turkish beach volleyball player and Olympic champion.
- Melih Gökçek (born 1952), the former mayor of Ankara, Turkey.
- Sümeyye Türkas (born 1990), a Turkish basketball player.
- Burcu Türkas (born 1994), Turkish actress and television presenter.
- Rıza Türkas (born 1997), a Turkish footballer.
- Filiz Türkas (born 1952), a Turkish folk singer and actress.
- Fatih Türkas (born 1975), a Turkish-German actor and musician.
- Giżelle Türkassian (born 1992), a Brazilian TV presenter and actress.