Surname Turkelson - Meaning and Origin

Turkelson: What does the surname Turkelson mean?

Turkelson is a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the name of a father or male ancestor. The surname Turkelson specifically originates from the Scandinavian region, including countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

"Turkel" is a variant of the Old Norse name 'Þórkell', comprising of two elements: 'Þórr' (Thor, the Norse god of thunder) and '-kell' or '-ketill', a term meaning 'cauldron' or 'helmet'. Combined, the elements of the name may imply protection by Thor. The suffix “-son” is a common feature in Scandinavian surnames, simply meaning "son of", hence, Turkelson can be interpreted as "son of Turkel" or "son of Thor's cauldron/helmet".

Although it's essential to note that meanings from centuries ago may include concepts or cultural viewpoints that we do not fully understand today. The exact meaning of the surname Turkelson can differ based on regional dialects and family histories.

Turkelson: Where does the name Turkelson come from?

The surname Turkelson is most commonly found in Scandinavian countries with the highest numbers of this surname located in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The origin of this surname can be traced back to the Scandinavian word “torg” which means “market” or “place for public gathering”.

The U.S. Social Security Administration’s list of top 1000 common surnames puts the surname Turkelson in the 886th place in terms of frequency of occurrence. This surname is most commonly found in the United States in the states of California, Oregon, Delaware, New York, and Illinois.

In the United Kingdom, the surname Turkelson is much less common and can usually be found in immigrant communities and among members of mixed-race households. In some countries, such as Germany, Turkey, and Finland, the surname is not very common but is still listed in the national census.

The Turkelson name is still sometimes seen in use in the Scandinavian countries of origin, where it is most commonly derived from Torkel, the Scandinavian form of the English name Thorkel. In Germany and the Low Countries, the surname is generally derived from the occupational name for a tile maker or mason, called “turkele”.

As a result of migration and intermarriages, the surname Turkelson can be found in a variety of countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, South Africa and even as distant as Australia.

Variations of the surname Turkelson

The Turkelson surname is typically a Scandinavian-based surname, derived from the personal name Turkel, a form of the name Thorkel. This surname is found among many of the Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Variants of the name may include Turkell, Thurkell, Thorkill, Thorkel, Thurnill, Tornell, Turnill, Thurkleson, Torkildsen, and Torkleson.

Spellings of the surname include Turkilson, Turkillson, Thurkilsen, Thorkelson, Thorkilson, Thorkilsen, Thorklesen, Torkesson, and Torkelson.

Surnames that may be of similar origin include Thorgersen, Thorpen, Torkland, Torgerson, and Torgoson.

Overall, the Turkelson surname is a Scandinavian-based name derived from the Old Norse personal name Turkel, a form of the name Thorkel. Variants, spellings, and surnames of a similar origin can provide additional genealogical information when researching the history of the Turkelson surname.

Famous people with the name Turkelson

• Natasha Turkelson: American actress, writer, and environmentalist.
• Amalia Turkelson: Israeli film producer.
• Emilia Turkelson: Greek politician and deputy in the Greek Parliament.
• William Turkelson: American film and television editor.
• Norman Turkelson: American sculptor, painter, and print maker.
• Kirill Turkelson: Russian ice hockey player.
• Gert Turkelson: Swedish singer-songwriter and actor.
• Gustavo Turkelson: Mexican footballer.
• Tony Turkelson: Canadian former professional hockey player.
• David Turkelson: American geologist and former President of the American Geological Institute.

Other surnames

Türkels