Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 3,860

Pala

Pala /paˈɫa/

“short curved sword, cutlass”1

Established origin Pala: root entries for pala + pala · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
4 / 2
Formation
Plain noun
Vowel harmony
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Initial
P
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How do you pronounce Pala?

Pala

IPA /paˈɫa/

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

What does the surname Pala mean?

A pala is a short, curved sword that widens towards the tip; the same word names the broad, flat part of an oar. It comes from Italian pala, Latin pāla “broad blade, spade”. The phrase pala bıyık, a sweeping moustache, takes its image from the sword’s curve.1

Pala is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Pala made of?

Pala is a single French root: pala (pala: short, curved broad-tipped sword).

Pala + root pala pala: short, curvedbroad-tipped sword FRENCH pala “short curved sword;blade of an oar” FRENCH pala “Italian pala, from Latinpāla ‘broad blade,…’” Pala pala root pala: short, curved broad-tipped sword pala FRENCH “short curved sword; blade of anoar” pala FRENCH “Italian pala, from Latin pāla‘broad blade, spade’”
Pala: parts and root words
  • pala French — short curved sword; blade of an oar1
  • pala French — Italian pala, from Latin pāla “broad blade, spade”1

How was the name Pala formed?

Pala is the word pala (“pala: short, curved broad-tipped sword”), taken unchanged as a surname.

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

Which surnames are related to Pala?

Pala Gümüşpala Palalı
Circle area shows the number of bearers; dashed circle: no national count published. Solid line: same root; dashed line: same affix.
#SurnameRelationRankPeople
01 Gümüşpala same root – –
02 Palalı same root – –

Who are some well-known people named Pala?

  1. İskender Pala writer 1958–
  2. Volkan Pala association football player 1997–
  3. Mithat Pala association football player 2000–
  4. Doğukan Pala association football player 1992–
  5. Özge Pala Tulu volleyball player 1981–
  6. Ayhan Pala author 1978–
  7. Kayıhan Pala researcher
  8. Tuğçe Pala singer 1974–

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

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Pala?

Gümüşpala, Palalı and Hançerli share gloss keywords with Pala within the same primary category.

Which guides add context to Pala?

Read the root, formation and register information for Pala 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: pala
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: pala
  3. 3 Wikimedia Wiktionary: pala
  4. 4 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name
  5. 5 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525)

Common questions about Pala

Q1

What does the surname Pala mean?

A pala is a short, curved sword that widens towards the tip; the same word names the broad, flat part of an oar. It comes from Italian pala, Latin pāla “broad blade, spade”. The phrase pala bıyık, a sweeping moustache, takes its image from the sword’s curve.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Pala?

The root word of Pala is pala (European): “short curved sword; blade of an oar”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Pala?

Pa·la, 2 syllables; IPA: /paˈɫa/.