Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 1,073

Bitlis

Bitlis /ˈbitlis/

“Bitlis, province in eastern Anatolia”1

Disputed origin Bitlis: root entries for Bitlis · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
6 / 2
Formation
Place name
Vowel harmony
front
Initial
B
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How do you pronounce Bitlis?

Bitlis

IPA /ˈbitlis/

The stress usually falls on syllable 1 (marked). In everyday Turkish, stress in surnames varies by speaker and region.

What does the surname Bitlis mean?

The name of Bitlis, a province and city south-west of Lake Van. The city appears as Bałēš in Armenian sources and in Byzantine forms close to Bitlis; the origin of the name has not been settled.1

The origin is disputed. The views put forward are:

  1. A popular explanation derives the name from “Badlis”, a general of Alexander the Great said to have founded the city; this is not supported by the sources.

What is Bitlis made of?

Bitlis is a single root: Bitlis (Bitlis: province and city in eastern Anatolia).

Bitlis root Bitlis Bitlis: province and cityin eastern Anatolia UNKNOWN Bitlis “city name in easternAnatolia; Armenian Bałēš” Bitlis Bitlis root Bitlis: province and city in easternAnatolia Bitlis UNKNOWN “city name in eastern Anatolia;Armenian Bałēš”
Bitlis: parts and root words
  • Bitlis unknown — city name in eastern Anatolia; Armenian Bałēš1

How was the name Bitlis formed?

Bitlis comes from a place name: Bitlis (“Bitlis: province and city in eastern Anatolia”).

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

Who are some well-known people named Bitlis?

  1. Eşref Bitlis military personnel 1933–1993

People surnamed Bitlis as recorded in Wikidata, ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions.

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Bitlis?

Kars, Anadol and Aras share gloss keywords with Bitlis within the same primary category.

  • Karsthe province and city of Kars
  • Anadolshort form of Anadolu (Anatolia)
  • Arasthe Aras river
  • Batumthe city of Batumi
  • Edirnecity and province in Thrace
  • Erzincana province in eastern Anatolia
  • Sakaryathe Sakarya river and province
  • Yanyathe city of Ioannina

Which guides add context to Bitlis?

Read the root, formation and register information for Bitlis alongside this guide: How to research a Turkish surname and family tree.

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Wikimedia Wikipedia: Bitlis accessed 9 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name accessed 8 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 Bitlis

Q1

What does the surname Bitlis mean?

The name of Bitlis, a province and city south-west of Lake Van. The city appears as Bałēš in Armenian sources and in Byzantine forms close to Bitlis; the origin of the name has not been settled.
Q2

How do you pronounce Bitlis?

Bit·lis, 2 syllables; IPA: /ˈbitlis/.