Affix·287 surnames
-oğlu
son of; of the family of
- Surnames
- 287
- in this dictionary
- In the national top 30
- 0
- ADNKS 2025
- Position
- final element
What does -oğlu mean?
Article 6 of the Surname Regulation is brief: “Soyadı ya yalnız olarak veyahut (oğlu) ile birlikte kullanılır” – a surname is used on its own or together with “(oğlu)”. Dated 24 December 1934, it is the one surname rule that names the -oğlu pattern outright. That the regulation mentions the pattern at all shows it was a known structure at the time.
-oğlu is really a word, not a suffix. The noun oğul ‘son’ takes the third-person possessive -u, and the vowel of its second syllable drops: oğul → oğlu. The result is a possessive compound: ‘Hasan’s son’ → Hasanoğlu. The plural -oğulları means ‘sons of, descendants of’.
Because it is a free word, -oğlu does not follow vowel harmony. It stays oğlu even after a front-vowel base: Terzioğlu, Demircioğlu. After a vowel-final base no linking sound appears, and the base keeps its last vowel: Kocaoğlu, Hacıoğlu, Babaoğlu. Base and -oğlu are written as one word.
The meaning comes from the base, so reading an -oğlu surname means looking at the base first. In Hasanoğlu and Kemaloğlu it is a personal name. Demircioğlu is ‘son of the blacksmith’, Terzioğlu ‘son of the tailor’ and Yazıcıoğlu ‘son of the scribe’; their bases are occupations. In Çavuşoğlu the base is a rank, in Hacıoğlu a title. Babaoğlu is built on a kinship word, baba ‘father’. Karaosmanoğlu comes from a name with a nickname, Kara Osman: ‘son of Kara Osman’.
A base may have more than one meaning. The Koca in Kocaoğlu may be a nickname resting on ‘big’, ‘old’ or ‘great’. The form alone does not say which.
False friends are rare with -oğlu. The real point of care is putting the meaning in the right place. Demircioğlu is an occupational surname; -oğlu only adds ‘of the family of’.
One limit should also be stated. The surname carries a personal name or an occupation. It does not prove that today’s bearers descend from that person or from someone in that trade.
What does -oğlu do grammatically?
- Meaning
- son of; of the family of
- Function
- Possessive construction forming patronymics or family names: 'son of X'. Attached directly to the base (Hasanoğlu).
- Forms
- -oğlu-oğulları-ioğlu (after vowel-final bases: Hacıoğlu, Kocaoğlu keep the base vowel)
- Examples
- Karaosmanoğlu, Hasanoğlu, Demircioğlu, Kocaoğlu, Hacıoğlu, Çavuşoğlu, Terzioğlu, Yazıcıoğlu, Babaoğlu, Kemaloğlu
Which words does -oğlu combine with?
- aba + oğlu coarse woollen cloth Abacıoğlu, Abalıoğlu, Abaoğlu
- abbas + oğlu male name; Arabic ʿAbbās Abbasoğlu
- abdi + oğlu Abdi: ‘servant’; short for names in Abdul- Abdioğlu
- acar + oğlu acar: bold, capable, strong Acaroğlu
- acem + oğlu Acem: Arabic ʿajam; Iran, Persian Acemoğlu
- âdem + oğlu Adam, the first human; male name Ademoğlu
- adil + oğlu Adil: just Adiloğlu
- ağa + oğlu ağa: landowner, man of standing; Ottoman title Ağaoğlu
- ahmet + oğlu male name: praised Ahmetoğlu
- ak + oğlu white; pure Akoğlu
- akbaş + oğlu ak: white Akbaşoğulları
- akça + oğlu akça: whitish; also a given name Akçaoğlu
- akın + oğlu raid Akıncıoğlu
- aktürk + oğlu ak: white; clean, unblemished Aktürkoğlu
- alay + oğlu alay: regiment; also mockery Alayoğlu
- alemdar + oğlu standard-bearer Alemdaroğlu
- alim + oğlu given name; learned Alimoğlu
- araba + oğlu cart, carriage Arabacıoğlu
- ardıç + oğlu ardıç: juniper Ardıçoğlu
- arık + oğlu lean; clean; irrigation channel Arıkoğlu
- arpa + oğlu arpa: barley Arpacıoğlu
- arslan + oğlu arslan: lion; man’s name Arslanoğlu
- aslan + oğlu aslan: lion; man’s name Aslanoğlu
- ata + oğlu father, ancestor; male name Ataoğlu
- atabey + oğlu the title atabeg Atabeyoğlu
- av + oğlu game, hunt Avcıoğlu
- ay + oğlu ay: moon; beautiful Ayoğlu
- âyan + oğlu notables, leading men Ayanoğlu
- aydın + oğlu given name; bright Aydınoğlu
- ayvaz + oğlu household servant; or the name İvaz Ayvazoğlu
- aziz + oğlu male name; dear, esteemed Azizoğlu
- baba + oğlu baba: father; respected elder, sheikh Babaoğlu
- bakır + oğlu bakır: copper Bakırcıoğlu
- bal + oğlu honey Balcıoğlu, Baloğlu
- baltacı + oğlu axe-maker or seller; Ottoman halberdier Baltacıoğlu
- barbaros + oğlu male name, related to Italian barba rossa ‘red beard’ Barbarosoğlu
- baş + oğlu head; leader, chief Başoğlu
- bayazıt + oğlu the name Bayezid Bayazıtoğlu
- bayraktar + oğlu flag-bearer Bayraktaroğlu
- bayram + oğlu Bayram: man’s name; bayram “festival” Bayramoğlu
- bedirhan + oğlu full moon Bedirhanoğlu
- behram + oğlu Behram: male name; Persian Bahrām Behramoğlu
- bekâr + oğlu unmarried, bachelor Bekaroğlu
- bekir + oğlu Bekir: Turkish form of Arabic Bakr Bekiroğlu
- bektaş + oğlu a common male name in early Anatolian Turkish Bektaşoğlu
- ben + oğlu mole, beauty spot Benlioğlu
- bender + oğlu Bender: Ottoman fortress town; Persian bandar ‘port’ Benderlioğlu
- berber + oğlu barber Berberoğlu
- bereket + oğlu abundance, blessing Bereketoğlu
- beşik + oğlu cradle Beşikçioğlu
- beşir + oğlu male name: “bringer of good news” Beşiroğlu
- bey + oğlu bey, lord, chief Beyoğlu
- beyaz + oğlu white Beyazoğlu
- bıyık + oğlu moustache Bıyıklıoğlu
- bostan + oğlu vegetable garden Bostancıoğlu
- boya + oğlu dye, paint Boyacıoğlu
- boz + oğlu boz: grey, dun; nickname Bozoğlu
224 more groups (227 surnames) are in the full list below and on the following pages.
All surnames with -oğlu
| # | Surname | Meaning | Origin | Letters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Abacıoğlu | son of the aba-cloth maker | Arabic | 9 |
| 02 | Abalıoğlu | son of the cloak-wearer | Arabic | 9 |
| 03 | Abaoğlu | aba (woollen cloak) + -oğlu | Arabic | 7 |
| 04 | Abbasoğlu | son of Abbas | Arabic | 9 |
| 05 | Abdioğlu | son of Abdi | Arabic | 8 |
| 06 | Acaroğlu | son of Acar (‘bold’) | Arabic | 8 |
| 07 | Acemoğlu | son of Acem | Arabic | 8 |
| 08 | Ademoğlu | human being; son of Adam | Arabic | 8 |
| 09 | Adiloğlu | son of Adil | Arabic | 8 |
| 10 | Ağaoğlu | son of the ağa | Turkic | 7 |
| 11 | Ahmetoğlu | son of Ahmet | Arabic | 9 |
| 12 | Akbaşoğulları | sons of Akbaş (‘white head’) | Turkic | 13 |
| 13 | Akçaoğlu | son of Akça | Turkic | 8 |
| 14 | Akıncıoğlu | son of the raider | Turkic | 10 |
| 15 | Akoğlu | son of Ak | Turkic | 6 |
| 16 | Aktürkoğlu | son of Aktürk | Turkic | 10 |
| 17 | Alayoğlu | son of Alay (regiment) | Greek | 8 |
| 18 | Alemdaroğlu | son of the standard-bearer | Persian | 11 |
| 19 | Alimoğlu | son of Alim | Arabic | 8 |
| 20 | Arabacıoğlu | son of the carter | 11 | |
| 21 | Ardıçoğlu | son of Ardıç (juniper) | Turkic | 9 |
| 22 | Arıkoğlu | son of Arık | Turkic | 8 |
| 23 | Arpacıoğlu | son of the barley dealer | Turkic | 10 |
| 24 | Arslanoğlu | son of Arslan (“lion”) | Turkic | 10 |
| 25 | Aslanoğlu | son of Aslan (“lion”) | Turkic | 9 |
| 26 | Atabeyoğlu | son of the atabeg | Turkic | 10 |
| 27 | Ataoğlu | son of Ata, son of the forefather | Turkic | 7 |
| 28 | Avcıoğlu | son of the hunter | Turkic | 8 |
| 29 | Ayanoğlu | son of the notable | Arabic | 8 |
| 30 | Aydınoğlu | son of Aydın | Turkic | 9 |
| 31 | Ayoğlu | son of Ay (‘moon’) | Turkic | 6 |
| 32 | Ayvazoğlu | son of Ayvaz, the steward | Arabic | 9 |
| 33 | Azizoğlu | son of Aziz | Arabic | 8 |
| 34 | Babaoğlu | son of the elder (baba) | Turkic | 8 |
| 35 | Bakırcıoğlu | son of the coppersmith | Turkic | 11 |
| 36 | Balcıoğlu | son of the honey seller | Turkic | 9 |
| 37 | Baloğlu | son of Bal (‘honey’) | Turkic | 7 |
| 38 | Baltacıoğlu | son of the axe-man | Turkic | 11 |
| 39 | Barbarosoğlu | son of Barbaros | French | 12 |
| 40 | Başoğlu | son of the chief | Turkic | 7 |
| 41 | Bayazıtoğlu | son of Bayazıt | Arabic | 11 |
| 42 | Bayraktaroğlu | son of the flag-bearer | Turkic | 13 |
| 43 | Bayramoğlu | son of Bayram | Turkic | 10 |
| 44 | Bedirhanoğlu | son of Bedirhan | Turkic | 12 |
| 45 | Behramoğlu | son of Behram | Persian | 10 |
| 46 | Bekaroğlu | son of the bachelor | Arabic | 9 |
| 47 | Bekiroğlu | son of Bekir | Arabic | 9 |
| 48 | Bektaşoğlu | son of Bektaş | Turkic | 10 |
| 49 | Benderlioğlu | son of the man from Bender | Persian | 12 |
| 50 | Benlioğlu | son of the one with a mole | Turkic | 9 |
| 51 | Berberoğlu | son of the barber | French | 10 |
| 52 | Bereketoğlu | son of Bereket; abundance | Arabic | 11 |
| 53 | Beşikçioğlu | son of the cradle-maker | Turkic | 11 |
| 54 | Beşiroğlu | son of Beşir | Arabic | 9 |
| 55 | Beyazoğlu | white + son of | Arabic | 9 |
| 56 | Beyoğlu | son of the bey | Turkic | 7 |
| 57 | Bıyıklıoğlu | son of the moustached one | Turkic | 11 |
| 58 | Bostancıoğlu | son of the market gardener | Persian | 12 |
| 59 | Boyacıoğlu | son of the dyer | Turkic | 10 |
| 60 | Bozoğlu | son of Boz (“grey”) | Turkic | 7 |
| 61 | Bulutoğlu | son of Bulut (‘cloud’) | Turkic | 9 |
| 62 | Cebecioğlu | son of the armourer | Mongolic | 10 |
| 63 | Ceritoğlu | son of Cerit | Arabic | 9 |
| 64 | Cerrahoğlu | son of the surgeon | Arabic | 10 |
| 65 | Cevizoğlu | son of Ceviz (walnut) | Arabic | 9 |
| 66 | Civaoğlu | son of Civa (‘mercury’) | Persian | 8 |
| 67 | Çakıroğlu | son of Çakır (“grey-eyed”) | Turkic | 9 |
| 68 | Çakmakoğlu | son of Çakmak | Turkic | 10 |
| 69 | Çalışkanoğlu | son of the hard-working one | Turkic | 12 |
| 70 | Çapanoğlu | son of Çapan | Turkic | 9 |
| 71 | Çapkınoğlu | son of the playful one | Turkic | 10 |
| 72 | Çavdaroğlu | son of Çavdar | Persian | 10 |
| 73 | Çavuşoğlu | son of the sergeant | Turkic | 9 |
| 74 | Çayoğlu | son of the stream (or tea) | Turkic | 7 |
| 75 | Çelebioğlu | son of the gentleman | Turkic | 10 |
| 76 | Çiçekoğlu | son of Çiçek; flower | Turkic | 9 |
| 77 | Çiftçioğlu | son of the farmer | Persian | 10 |
| 78 | Çilingiroğlu | son of the locksmith | Persian | 12 |
| 79 | Çiloğlu | son of the freckled one | Turkic | 7 |
| 80 | Çobanoğlu | son of the shepherd | Persian | 9 |
| 81 | Çolakoğlu | son of Çolak (nickname) | Turkic | 9 |
| 82 | Çorbacıoğlu | son of the çorbacı | Persian | 11 |
| 83 | Çulhaoğlu | son of the weaver | Persian | 9 |
| 84 | Dağlaroğlu | son of the mountains | Turkic | 10 |
| 85 | Davutoğlu | son of Davut (David) | Arabic | 9 |
| 86 | Dayıoğlu | son of the maternal uncle | Turkic | 8 |
| 87 | Dedeoğlu | son of Dede (grandfather) | Turkic | 8 |
| 88 | Değirmencioğlu | son of the miller | Turkic | 14 |
| 89 | Demircioğlu | son of the blacksmith | Turkic | 11 |
| 90 | Demiroğlu | son of Demir (“iron”) | Turkic | 9 |
| 91 | Derelioğlu | dereli (of the stream) + -oğlu | Persian | 10 |
| 92 | Dermancıoğlu | son of the remedy-maker | Persian | 12 |
| 93 | Dervişoğlu | son of the dervish | Persian | 10 |
| 94 | Develioğlu | son of the Develi | Turkic | 10 |
| 95 | Dizdaroğlu | son of the castle warden | Persian | 10 |
| 96 | Döngeloğlu | medlar + -oğlu | Turkic | 10 |
Common questions
- Why does -oğlu not change with vowel harmony?
Because it is not a suffix but the possessive form of the word oğul ‘son’. Free words keep their own vowels in a compound.
- What did the 1934 rules say about -oğlu?
Article 6 of the Surname Regulation says a surname is used on its own or together with “(oğlu)”.
- Is Demircioğlu an occupational surname?
Yes. Its base demirci ‘blacksmith’ is an occupation, and -oğlu adds ‘son of’.
Sources
- 1Türk Dil Kurumu, TDK Güncel Türkçe Sözlük
- 2Sevan Nişanyan, Nişanyan Sözlük
- 3T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr), Soyadı Nizamnamesi (Bakanlar Kurulu Kararı 2/1759)