Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 3,536

Oktar

Oktar /okˈtaɾ/

“name of the Hun ruler Octar”1

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

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Letters / syllables
5 / 2
Formation
Plain noun
Vowel harmony
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Initial
O
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How do you pronounce Oktar?

Oktar

IPA /okˈtaɾ/

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

What does the surname Oktar mean?

Oktar is the name of the European Hun ruler recorded as Octar in Byzantine and Latin sources, an uncle of Attila; through him it became a given name and surname in Türkiye. Its origin is debated: Maenchen-Helfen considered the name of unknown origin, while Pritsak derived it from a Turko-Mongolic root meaning “strong, brave”. Linking the name with ok “arrow” is a popular explanation not supported by the sources.1

The origin is disputed. The views put forward are:

  1. Maenchen-Helfen: the name Octar is of unknown origin.
  2. Pritsak: the name rests on a Turko-Mongolic root meaning “strong, brave”.
  3. Popular explanation: a Turkish name based on ok “arrow”; not supported by the sources.

What is Oktar made of?

Oktar is a single Turkic root: Oktar (name of the Hun ruler Octar).

Oktar root Oktar name of the Hun rulerOctar TURKIC Oktar “Octar, a ruler of theEuropean Huns, uncle of…” Oktar Oktar root name of the Hun ruler Octar Oktar TURKIC “Octar, a ruler of the EuropeanHuns, uncle of Attila; per…”
Oktar: parts and root words
  • Oktar Turkic — Octar, a ruler of the European Huns, uncle of Attila; per Pritsak from a Turko-Mongolic root meaning “strong, brave”1

How was the name Oktar formed?

Oktar is the word Oktar (“name of the Hun ruler Octar”), taken unchanged as a surname.

Shared note · 1934Surnames became compulsory with Surname Law No. 2525 of 21 June 1934.5

Who are some well-known people named Oktar?

  1. Başar Oktar figure skater 2002–
  2. Nuran Oktar actor 1942–2004
  3. İbrahim Ruşen Oktar statesperson 1863–1934
  4. Sanem Oktar statesperson 1970–
  5. Süleyman Oktar researcher
  6. Tiğinçe Oktar economist

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

Is Oktar also a first name?

Yes. Oktar is given as a first name too, carrying the same sense: “name of the Hun ruler Octar”.

Oktar as a first name: meaning and statistics — turkiyenames.com →

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Oktar?

Atilla, Balamir and Rona share gloss keywords with Oktar within the same primary category.

  • Atillaname of the Hun ruler
  • Balamirname of a Hun leader; robust
  • RonaHunnic chief Rona; bright
  • Baydurname of a historical Mongol commander
  • Baykaraold Turkic name; Husayn Bayqara
  • Ertuğrulhero-falcon; name of Ertuğrul Gazi
  • Hülagüthe Mongol ruler Hülegü
  • Metename of the Xiongnu ruler Mete Han

Which guides add context to Oktar?

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

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Wikimedia Vikipedi: Oktar accessed 8 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Wikipedia: Octar accessed 8 November 2026
  3. 3 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: Oktar accessed 8 November 2026
  4. 4 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name accessed 8 November 2026
  5. 5 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525) accessed 8 November 2026
  6. 6 turkiyenames.com Türkiye İsimleri (turkiyenames.com) accessed 9 November 2026

Common questions about Oktar

Q1

What does the surname Oktar mean?

Oktar is the name of the European Hun ruler recorded as Octar in Byzantine and Latin sources, an uncle of Attila; through him it became a given name and surname in Türkiye. Its origin is debated: Maenchen-Helfen considered the name of unknown origin, while Pritsak derived it from a Turko-Mongolic root meaning “strong, brave”. Linking the name with ok “arrow” is a popular explanation not supported by the sources.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Oktar?

The root word of Oktar is Oktar (Turkic): ‘Octar, a ruler of the European Huns, uncle of Attila; per Pritsak from a Turko-Mongolic root meaning “strong, brave”’. There are 4 competing views on where Oktar comes from, all set out on this page.
Q3

How do you pronounce Oktar?

Ok·tar, 2 syllables; IPA: /okˈtaɾ/.