Index·47 categories
Surnames by meaning
Surnames are grouped into 47 categories of meaning in 10 groups, from nature and landscape to trades, from colours and numbers to Ottoman titles. Each category explains how its words became surnames under the 1934 Surname Law.
Nature and landscape
The whole Nature and landscape group → 528 surnames
- Mountains, rocks and stones 176 surnames Surnames naming landforms such as mountains, hills, rocks, stones, slopes and summits. Kaya · Aktaş · Adatepe · Akbayır
- Water, sea and rivers 128 surnames Surnames from words for water: sea, lake, river, stream, spring, source and wave. Ada · Adalı · Adatepe · Akan
- Plains, highlands and countryside 34 surnames Surnames describing open land and farmland: plain, highland pasture, countryside, steppe, meadow, field, vineyard and garden. Akalan · Akova · Alan · Altınova
- Trees and forest 78 surnames Surnames from tree names such as plane, oak, poplar, willow, cypress, pine and juniper, and from forest, sapling, branch and root. Abanoz · Akbudak · Akçam · Akkiraz
- Flowers and plants 79 surnames Surnames from flower names such as rose, tulip, hyacinth, violet and narcissus, and from general plant words like flower, leaf and shoot. Ağgül · Akçiçek · Akgül · Aküzüm
- Wind, rain and lightning 52 surnames Surnames naming weather phenomena: lightning, flash, cloud, rain, snow, storm, deluge, north wind and frost. Yıldırım · Şimşek · Akbulut · Akduman
- Sky, sun, moon and stars 165 surnames Surnames naming the sky and celestial bodies: star, moon, sun, sky, the Pleiades (Ülker) and dawn (Tan). Yıldız · Güneş · Acun · Akay
- Light and fire 86 surnames Surnames from words for brightness and fire: light, fire, flame, hearth, nur and ziya. Aydın · Ağar · Akaydın · Akçakın
- Time and seasons 46 surnames Surnames from season names (spring, summer, autumn, winter) and from words for times of day and occasions such as morning, pre-dawn, evening, daytime and festival. Akbayram · Akgündüz · Aktan · Akyıl
Metals and objects
The whole Metals and objects group → 124 surnames
- Metals and gemstones 170 surnames Surnames from metal names such as iron, steel, copper, bronze, gold and silver, and from precious or worked stones such as diamond, ruby, emerald and marble. Demir · Çelik · Özdemir · Polat
- Tools and objects 72 surnames Surnames from everyday tools and objects: axe, adze, hammer, anvil, cauldron, ladle, tent and lasso. Abak · Altınçekiç · Altınörs · Altıntop
Animals
The whole Animals group → 124 surnames
- Birds of prey 49 surnames Surnames from hunting birds: falcon, peregrine, eagle, sparrowhawk, gyrfalcon (sungur), saker and toğrul. Şahin · Doğan · Çakır · Erdoğan
- Other birds 27 surnames Surnames from non-raptor birds such as crane, nightingale, partridge, swan, pigeon, turtledove, lark and sparrow, and from the general word for bird. Akkuş · Alakuş · Balaban · Bülbül
- Lions, wolves and predators 38 surnames Surnames from predatory mammals: lion (Aslan/Arslan), wolf (kurt, börü), tiger and leopard (pars). Arslan · Aslan · Kurt · Akkurt
- Domestic and other animals 82 surnames Surnames from domestic animals, game and other creatures: ram, foal, bull, lamb, gazelle, deer, red deer (maral), bee and fish. Koç · Adal · Akat · Akatlı
Colours and numbers
The whole Colours and numbers group → 58 surnames
- Colours 288 surnames Surnames from colour words: black (kara), white (ak), red (kızıl, al), yellow (sarı), grey (boz), sky blue (gök) and green. Kara · Çakır · Aktaş · Abanoz
- Numbers and quantity 44 surnames Surnames containing numbers and quantity words: single, twin, three, forty, hundred and thousand. Altıok · Altıoklar · Altıparmak · Beşok
Character, virtue and appearance
The whole Character, virtue and appearance group → 745 surnames
- Courage and resilience 123 surnames Surnames expressing fearlessness, perseverance and toughness, such as Yılmaz, Korkmaz, Çetin, Sarp, Yürekli and Yenilmez. Yılmaz · Çetin · Korkmaz · Yavuz
- Virtue and integrity 229 surnames Surnames naming moral qualities: virtue, honesty, purity, generosity and loyalty. Açıkalın · Açıkel · Açıksöz · Adam
- Intellect and wisdom 122 surnames Surnames expressing intellect, knowledge and good sense: sage, scholar, clever, well-behaved, intelligent and perceptive. Aydın · Abay · Açıkgöz · Afacan
- Heart, joy and hope 195 surnames Surnames from words for feeling and inner life: soul, heart, love, joy, hope, peace and enthusiasm. Özcan · Can · Abasıyanık · Akbayram
- Fortune, blessing and fame 161 surnames Surnames expressing luck, blessing and renown: good omen, kut (divine favour), fortune, glory and fame. Abadan · Adıbelli · Adıgüzel · Adıvar
- Appearance, body and strength 231 surnames Surnames describing height, looks, body and strength: tall, handsome, strong, robust, wrestler and big-headed. Acar · Ablak · Açıkbaş · Akbaş
Society, kinship and values
The whole Society, kinship and values group → 197 surnames
- Kinship and family 112 surnames Surnames from kinship terms: ancestor, father, maternal uncle, paternal uncle, sibling, nephew and sister. Abaoğlu · Abay · Abla · Ağa
- Homeland, nation and ideals 112 surnames Surnames containing homeland, nation, ideal, progress, leadership and the word Türk. Öztürk · Acartürk · Aktürk · Aktürkoğlu
- Words from religious vocabulary 74 surnames Surnames from words belonging to religious and Sufi life, such as hoca, hacı, derviş, molla, şeyh, hafız, sofu and dede. Abdal · Abdullah · Adak · Ademoğlu
Titles and nicknames
The whole Titles and nicknames group → 218 surnames
- Old Turkic titles 81 surnames Surnames formed from titles of the old Turkic state tradition: han, hakan, kağan (Kaan), tekin, tarhan, inal and bey. Ahunbay · Akşit · Aktekin · Alpagut
- Ottoman titles 46 surnames Surnames from titles and offices of Ottoman administration and society: paşa, ağa, efendi, çelebi, kâhya, subaşı and kadı. Ağa · Ağacık · Ağaoğlu · Ağbaba
- Surnames from nicknames 181 surnames Surnames from old nicknames that describe behaviour or a bodily feature in a teasing way: wild, lame, one-armed, blind, bald, bearded and hunchbacked. Abalı · Abalıoğlu · Acemoğlu · Aday
War and heroism
The whole War and heroism group → 178 surnames
- Heroes and warriors 126 surnames Surnames from words for warrior and hero, such as yiğit, alp, er, batur, bahadır, kahraman and gazi, and from war concepts such as war, raid and victory. Akatlı · Akçakın · Akın · Akıncı
- Weapons and arms 103 surnames Surnames from weapons and armour such as sword, arrow, bow, shield, spear, lance, bayonet and mail, and from war emblems such as banner, horsetail standard (tuğ) and flag. Kılıç · Akbayrak · Akkale · Akkılıç
- Military ranks and roles 76 surnames Surnames from military ranks and offices such as sergeant (çavuş), corporal, captain, major, sipahi, commander and company chief, and from troop types such as gunner, archer and cavalryman. Akıncı · Alayoğlu · Albay · Alemdar
Occupational surnames
The whole Occupational surnames group → 373 surnames
- Crafts: metal, wood, stone and leather 100 surnames Surnames from the trade names of craftsmen who work a material: blacksmith, coppersmith, tinsmith, farrier, goldsmith, carpenter, joiner, stonemason, potter, saddler and tanner. Akdülger · Aynacı · Bakırcı · Bakırcıoğlu
- Textile and clothing trades 50 surnames Surnames from trade names connected with cloth, felt, dye and clothing: tailor, weaver, dyer, felt-maker, carpet-maker, quilt-maker, cotton-fluffer, coarse-wool maker and turban-maker. Abacı · Abacıoğlu · Abalı · Abalıoğlu
- Farming, herding and hunting 96 surnames Surnames from trades of land, livestock and the hunt: farmer, shepherd, vine-grower, gardener, beekeeper, sower, thresher, miller, hunter, fisherman and falconer. Afyoncu · Altınbaş · Altunbaşak · Arıcı
- Food, market and trade 115 surnames Surnames from trades that prepare or sell food or deal in the market: butcher, cook, baker, bread-maker, halva-maker, coffee-house keeper, confectioner, grocer, herbalist (attar), merchant and market seller. Akbal · Aktar · Alıcı · Alver
- Services, roads and seafaring 67 surnames Surnames from service, transport and seafaring trades: barber, bath-keeper, watchman, innkeeper, carter, camel driver, muleteer, caravan leader, boatman, sailor and captain. Alabora · Arabacı · Arabacıoğlu · Arayıcı
- Scribes, scholars and healers 43 surnames Surnames from trades of writing, knowledge, translation, architecture and healing: scribe, clerk, physician, surgeon, interpreter, architect, astronomer and bookseller. Andıç · Atasağun · Baksı · Baytar
- Bards, poetry and music 34 surnames Surnames from words connected with poetry, folk minstrelsy and instruments: bard, poet, minstrel (aşık), ney player, drummer, shawm player, violinist and saz player. Aksak · Aşık · Aykaç · Baksı
Lineage, place and name patterns
The whole Lineage, place and name patterns group → 905 surnames
- Patronymic -oğlu surnames 424 surnames Surnames formed by adding -oğlu ('son of') to a personal name: Hasanoğlu, Osmanoğlu, Mustafaoğlu, Yusufoğlu and the like. Abacıoğlu · Abalıoğlu · Abaoğlu · Abbas
- Place-based -lı/-li surnames 75 surnames Surnames formed by adding -lı/-li/-lu/-lü to the name of a province, district, village or region, meaning 'from that place': Trabzonlu, Konyalı, Erzurumlu, Bursalı, Giritli and so on. Ahıskalı · Alanyalı · Altaylı · Amasyalı
- Names of mountains, rivers and places 221 surnames Surnames that use the proper name of a specific mountain, river, lake, region or settlement without a suffix: Toros, Erciyes, Ilgaz, Uludağ, Fırat, Aras, Sakarya, Altay and others. Abadan · Adıyaman · Akdeniz · Akkerman
- Oghuz and historical Turkic tribe names 45 surnames Surnames from the names of the Oghuz tribes recorded in the lists of Mahmud al-Kashgari and Rashid al-Din, such as Kayı, Bayat, Avşar/Afşar, Kınık, Salur, Bayındır, Eymür, Döğer and Çepni, and from other historical Turkic tribal names such as Kıpçak, Peçenek and Karluk. Afşar · Akkoyun · Akkoyunlu · Alaş
- Built from Turkic name elements 324 surnames Surnames built by combining elements common in old Turkic personal names, such as er, alp, ay, gün, tuğ, bay, kut, han, kan, tekin and tay, which are also used as given names: Ayhan, Erhan, Alper, Alpay, Erol, Tuncay, Baykal, Oğuzhan and so on. Özkan · Özcan · Erdoğan · Acuner
- Compounds coined in 1934 78 surnames Surnames from the period of the Surname Law built by joining evaluative elements such as Öz-, Ak-, Gök-, Gür-, Ün- and Yüce- with elements such as -soy, -kan, -er, -el, -men and -ay, which are neither dictionary words nor common given names: Akyol, Gürses, Özbay, Ünver and similar. Acarbay · Akad · Akbal · Akışık
- Lineage, blood and origin words 77 surnames Surnames containing words for family and origin, such as soy (lineage), kan (blood), kök (root), boy (clan) and nesil (generation): Soylu, Soysal, Aksoy, Ersoy, Gürsoy, Ulusoy and similar. Özkan · Akkan · Aksoy · Alkan
- Historical and legendary names 111 surnames Surnames from the names of historical rulers, commanders or epic heroes, such as Alparslan, Atilla, Timur, Cengiz, Oğuz, Mete, Korkut, Battal and Köroğlu. Yavuz · Akşit · Alaş · Alpar