Surname Turkey - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Turkey: What does the surname Turkey mean?
The last name Turkey might not have a specific meaning as many surnames are derived from various sources such as professions, geographical locations, or descriptive nicknames. In this case, it is likely that the last name Turkey could be derived from a nickname, perhaps inferring a connection to the country Turkey or the popularly known bird turkey. Furthermore, it could also be a variant of some other surname that has evolved linguistically over time. Specific meanings would largely be speculative without extensive genealogical research. It is also possible that the surname could bear specific meanings in different cultures and languages. Therefore, while the surname 'Turkey' can have potential allusions, no definitive meaning can be universally assigned without considering its cultural, linguistic and historical context.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkey: Where does the name Turkey come from?
The last name Turkey is most commonly found today in the United States of America. It appears to be most concentrated in the states of Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. The frequency of the name is largely attributed to the migration of several Native American tribes in the nineteenth century that had adopted the surname, most notably the Cherokees.
The Turkey surname has been present in the United States for several hundred years and appears in records as far back as 1776. Examples include a Richard Turkey appearing in a North Carolina state census record in 1790 and a Joseph Turkey from Virginia who served in the Civil War.
The name can occasionally be found in other countries such as Canada and Germany, but there are no records to suggest it originated in a specific foreign country. Many of those with this surname have some Native American ancestry, though it is also possible to have Turkish lineage.
In recent decades, there has also been a noticeable rise in the number of people with Turkish ancestry adopting the surname. Turkish immigrants or those of partial Turkish origin are more than likely to have adopted the last name from either family tradition, surname simplification, or simply because they liked it.
Regardless of origin, the surname Turkey is still pretty popular today, and more than likely to increase in popularity as Turks and Native Americans alike continue to migrate to the United States.
Variations of the surname Turkey
The surname Turkey is thought to be of either English, Irish or Scottish origin. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word turgen, meaning 'to be strong'.
The variants, spellings and surnames of Turkey are Turke, Turkeye, Turkie, Turky, Turkye, Turkyer, Turk, Turke, Turkeer, Turcountey, Turco, Turkys, Turcus, Turkeys, Turcker and Turney.
In some cases, Turkey may also be the anglicized version of two other surnames; Thorke and Torke. Thorke originates from the Old Norse, meaning 'strongened' or 'approved'. Torke is thought to be a variant of the Old English surname Thurrock, believed to mean 'thorny hill'.
The various spellings of Turkey and its variants are thought to appear in particular countries, including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, and the United States. As such, different surnames may be used to describe people of the same background, but in different contexts.
In some cases, the surname may have been altered over time as a result of sound changes, resulting in different spelling. For example, in Ireland, the ‘k’ in Turkey may have been swapped out for a ‘ch’ resulting in Transco or the ‘y’ may have been pronounced ‘ey’ creating Turkeye.
Historically, the surname Turkey has been associated with a number of notable people of varying professions, including Oliver Turky, a Revolutionary War veteran, and Elizabeth Turck, a German prima ballerina.
Famous people with the name Turkey
- Deniz Turacı: Turkish singer and songwriter
- Ali Turacı: Turkish filmmaker
- Türker Ertürk: Former Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs
- Gökhan Türkmen: Turkish singer and songwriter
- Aylin Türkmen: Turkish television actress
- Salih Türkmen: Turkish football player
- Türkü Turan: Turkish actress and singer
- Hakan Türkçapar: Turkish football player
- Burak Türkyılmaz: Turkish long jumper
- Aysim Türkoğlu: Former Turkish Prime Minister