Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 4,033

Şehitler

Şehitler /ʃehitˈleɾ/ ASCII Sehitler

“martyrs; a village name”1

Letters / syllables
8 / 3
Formation
Suffixed
Vowel harmony
front
Initial
Ş
Contents§1–§8
  1. §1Pronunciation
  2. §2Meaning
  3. §3Root tree
  4. §4Formation & 1934
  5. §5Abroad
  6. §6Sources
  7. §7Questions
  8. §8Related

How do you pronounce Şehitler?

Şehitler

IPA /ʃehitˈleɾ/

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

What does the surname Şehitler mean?

The plural of şehit, from Arabic šahīd, a person who dies for faith or country. Villages and quarters called Şehitler exist in Bursa, Edirne and Erzurum.1

Grammar şehit + plural -ler.

Şehitler is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Şehitler made of?

Şehitler is Arabic in origin and breaks into 2 parts: şehit (şehit: martyr) + -ler (plural suffix).

Şehitler + root şehit şehit: martyr ARABIC şehit “martyr (Arabic šahīd)” suffix -ler plural suffix Şehitler şehit root şehit: martyr şehit ARABIC “martyr (Arabic šahīd)” -ler suffix plural suffix
Şehitler: parts and root words
  • şehit Arabic — martyr (Arabic šahīd)1

How was the name Şehitler formed?

Şehitler was formed by adding the suffix -ler (“plural suffix”) to şehit (“şehit: martyr”).

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

How is Şehitler written and pronounced abroad?

In foreign records the name often appears as Sehitler: ş is written s or sh.

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Wikimedia Wiktionary: şehit accessed 9 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: Şehitler accessed 9 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 Şehitler

Q1

What does the surname Şehitler mean?

The plural of şehit, from Arabic šahīd, a person who dies for faith or country. Villages and quarters called Şehitler exist in Bursa, Edirne and Erzurum.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Şehitler?

The root word of Şehitler is şehit (Arabic): “martyr (Arabic šahīd)”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Şehitler?

Şe·hit·ler, 3 syllables; IPA: /ʃehitˈleɾ/.