Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 847

Başçı

Başçı /baʃˈtʃɯ/ ASCII Basci

“seller of sheep’s heads; foreman”1

Probable origin Başçı: root entries for baş · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
5 / 2
Formation
Suffixed
Vowel harmony
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Initial
B
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How do you pronounce Başçı?

Başçı

IPA /baʃˈtʃɯ/

The stress usually falls on syllable 2 (marked). In everyday Turkish, stress in surnames varies by speaker and region.

What does the surname Başçı mean?

A başçı sells raw or cooked sheep, lamb and cattle heads, the keeper of a shop serving head-and-trotter dishes. In dialects the word also means “foreman”. Baş continues Old Turkic bāş.1

Grammar baş + -çı

That Başçı goes back to baş is probable rather than proven: the dictionary entry cited supports it.

Başçı is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Başçı made of?

Başçı is Turkic in origin and breaks into 2 parts: baş (baş: head; sheep’s or cattle head) + -cı (occupational suffix -cı).

Başçı + root baş baş: head; sheep’s orcattle head TURKIC baş “head; Old Turkic bāş” suffix -cı occupational suffix -cı Başçı baş root baş: head; sheep’s or cattle head baş TURKIC “head; Old Turkic bāş” -cı suffix occupational suffix -cı
Başçı: parts and root words
  • baş Turkic — head; Old Turkic bāş1

How was the name Başçı formed?

Başçı was formed by adding the suffix -cı (“occupational suffix -cı”) to baş (“baş: head; sheep’s or cattle head”).

Shared note · 1934Surnames became compulsory with Surname Law No. 2525 of 21 June 1934.3

Which surnames are related to Başçı?

Başçı Akbaş Baş Subaşı Başer Kocabaş Erbaş
Circle area shows the number of bearers; dashed circle: no national count published. Solid line: same root; dashed line: same affix.
#SurnameRelationRankPeople
01 Akbaş same root – –
02 Baş same root – –
03 Subaşı same root – –
04 Başer same root – –
05 Kocabaş same root – –
06 Erbaş same root – –
07 Baştürk same root – –
08 Demirbaş same root – –
09 Başkan same root – –
10 Başoğlu same root – –
11 Yüzbaşıoğlu same root – –
12 Odabaş same root – –

How is Başçı written and pronounced abroad?

In Başçı, ı (dotless i) is usually written i in foreign records; ş (English “sh”) often appears as s; ç (English “ch”) often appears as c, giving forms such as Basci.

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Başçı?

Bozacı, Çerçi and Tütüncü share gloss keywords with Başçı within the same primary category.

Which guides add context to Başçı?

Read the root, formation and register information for Başçı alongside these guides: How Turkish Surnames Are Formed: Roots and Suffixes and How to Pronounce and Spell Turkish Surnames.

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Sevan Nişanyan Nişanyan Sözlük: baş accessed 8 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: başçı accessed 9 November 2026
  3. 3 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525) accessed 8 November 2026

Common questions about Başçı

Q1

What does the surname Başçı mean?

A başçı sells raw or cooked sheep, lamb and cattle heads, the keeper of a shop serving head-and-trotter dishes. In dialects the word also means “foreman”. Baş continues Old Turkic bāş.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Başçı?

The root word of Başçı is baş (Turkic): “head; Old Turkic bāş”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Başçı?

Baş·çı, 2 syllables; IPA: /baʃˈtʃɯ/.