Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 4,345

Şefkatlioğlu

Şefkatlioğlu /ʃefkatlioːˈɫu/ ASCII Sefkatlioglu

“son of the compassionate one”1

Probable origin Şefkatlioğlu: root entries for şefkat + oğul · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
12 / 5
Formation
Patronymic
Vowel harmony
mixed
Initial
Ş
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How do you pronounce Şefkatlioğlu?

Şefkatlioğlu

IPA /ʃefkatlioːˈɫu/

The stress usually falls on syllable 5 (marked). In everyday Turkish, stress in surnames varies by speaker and region.

What does the surname Şefkatlioğlu mean?

Şefkatli describes a tender, caring person. The base şefkat ‘compassion’ is from Arabic šafaqa. With -oğlu the name reads ‘son of the compassionate one’.1,3

Grammar şefkat + -li + -oğlu.

That Şefkatlioğlu goes back to şefkat and oğul is probable rather than proven: the dictionaries cited agree on it.

What is Şefkatlioğlu made of?

Şefkatlioğlu combines Arabic and Turkic elements in 3 parts: şefkat (şefkat: compassion, tenderness) + -li (possessive adjective suffix) + -oğlu (son of).

Şefkatlioğlu +++ root şefkat şefkat: compassion,tenderness ARABIC şefkat “compassion, kindness,affection” suffix -li possessive adjectivesuffix suffix -oğlu son of TURKIC oğul “son” Şefkatlioğlu şefkat root şefkat: compassion, tenderness şefkat ARABIC “compassion, kindness, affection” -li suffix possessive adjective suffix -oğlu suffix son of oğul TURKIC “son”
Şefkatlioğlu: parts and root words
  • şefkat Arabic — compassion, kindness, affection1
  • oğul Turkic — son3

How was the name Şefkatlioğlu formed?

Şefkatlioğlu was formed by adding -li, “son of”, to şefkat (“şefkat: compassion, tenderness”).

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

How is Şefkatlioğlu written and pronounced abroad?

Without Turkish letters the name is usually written Sefkatlioglu in English-language records. In Turkish, ğ is silent and lengthens the vowel before it; ş sounds like English sh.

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Şefkatlioğlu?

Gamsızoğlu, Akşener and Arman share gloss keywords with Şefkatlioğlu within the same primary category.

Which guides add context to Şefkatlioğlu?

Read the root, formation and register information for Şefkatlioğlu 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 Wikimedia Wiktionary: şefkat accessed 9 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: şefkat accessed 9 November 2026
  3. 3 Wikimedia Wiktionary: oğul accessed 8 November 2026
  4. 4 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Kanunu (Kanun No. 2525) accessed 8 November 2026

Common questions about Şefkatlioğlu

Q1

What does the surname Şefkatlioğlu mean?

Şefkatli describes a tender, caring person. The base şefkat ‘compassion’ is from Arabic šafaqa. With -oğlu the name reads ‘son of the compassionate one’.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Şefkatlioğlu?

Şefkatlioğlu is made up of two elements: şefkat “compassion, kindness, affection” (Arabic) and oğul “son” (Turkic).
Q3

How do you pronounce Şefkatlioğlu?

Şef·kat·li·oğ·lu, 5 syllables; IPA: /ʃefkatlioːˈɫu/.