Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 2,954

Kepenek

Kepenek /kepeˈnek/

“shepherd’s felt cloak”1

Probable origin Kepenek: root entries for kepenek · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
7 / 3
Formation
Plain noun
Vowel harmony
front
Initial
K
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How do you pronounce Kepenek?

Kepenek

IPA /kepeˈnek/

The stress usually falls on syllable 3 (marked). In everyday Turkish, stress in surnames varies by speaker and region.

What does the surname Kepenek mean?

A kepenek is the thick, seamless, sleeveless felt cloak that shepherds throw over their shoulders; it keeps off rain and cold and serves as a bed at night. In dialects the same word also means a small moth that circles a light after dark. The surname most likely comes from a nickname tied to shepherd life.1

Grammar A simple noun.

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

Kepenek is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Kepenek made of?

Kepenek is a single Turkic root: kepenek (shepherd’s felt cloak; in dialects a moth).

Kepenek root kepenek shepherd’s felt cloak; indialects a moth TURKIC kepenek “sleeveless seamless feltcloak worn by…” Kepenek kepenek root shepherd’s felt cloak; in dialects amoth kepenek TURKIC “sleeveless seamless felt cloakworn by shepherds; in dialects…”
Kepenek: parts and root words
  • kepenek Turkic — sleeveless seamless felt cloak worn by shepherds; in dialects a moth circling a light1

How was the name Kepenek formed?

Kepenek is the word kepenek (“shepherd’s felt cloak; in dialects a moth”), taken unchanged as a surname.

Shared note · 1934Surnames became compulsory with Surname Law No. 2525 of 21 June 1934.4

Who are some well-known people named Kepenek?

  1. Süleyman Sami Kepenek governor 1881–1955
  2. Ethem Şevki Kepenek statesperson 1888–1981
  3. Yakup Kepenek politician 1937–
  4. Ali Kemal Kepenek mountaineer 1978–2001
  5. Evrim Kepenek journalist
  6. İbrahim Kepenek writer 1969–

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

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Kepenek?

Çelen shares gloss keywords with Kepenek within the same primary category.

Which guides add context to Kepenek?

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

Where do these facts come from?

All sources accessed 8 November 2026

  1. 1 Sevan Nişanyan Nişanyan Sözlük: kepenek
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: kepenek
  3. 3 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name
  4. 4 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525)

Common questions about Kepenek

Q1

What does the surname Kepenek mean?

A kepenek is the thick, seamless, sleeveless felt cloak that shepherds throw over their shoulders; it keeps off rain and cold and serves as a bed at night. In dialects the same word also means a small moth that circles a light after dark. The surname most likely comes from a nickname tied to shepherd life.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Kepenek?

The root word of Kepenek is kepenek (Turkic): “sleeveless seamless felt cloak worn by shepherds; in dialects a moth circling a light”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Kepenek?

Ke·pe·nek, 3 syllables; IPA: /kepeˈnek/.