Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 4,466

Tarkan

Tarkan /taɾˈkan/

“old Turkic noble title”1

Probable origin Tarkan: root entries for tarkan · How do we know?

Published: Last updated:

Letters / syllables
6 / 2
Formation
Plain noun
Vowel harmony
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Initial
T
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How do you pronounce Tarkan?

Tarkan

IPA /taɾˈkan/

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

What does the surname Tarkan mean?

Tarkan is a title of nobility found in the old Turkic states and neighbouring cultures; Turkish also has the forms Tarhan and Turhan. Nişanyan’s dictionary of names says its ultimate origin is unclear and may be linked to Mongolian darqat ‘tax-exempt, privileged’. According to the same source the spelling Tarkan became popular through Sezgin Burak’s comic series, published from 1967.1

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

What is Tarkan made of?

Tarkan is a single Turkic root: Tarkan (old Turkic title).

Tarkan root Tarkan old Turkic title TURKIC tarkan “a title of nobility inold Turkic states” Tarkan Tarkan root old Turkic title tarkan TURKIC “a title of nobility in oldTurkic states”
Tarkan: parts and root words
  • tarkan Turkic — a title of nobility in old Turkic states1

How was the name Tarkan formed?

Tarkan is the word Tarkan (“old Turkic title”), taken unchanged as a surname.

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

How else is Tarkan spelled?

Targanspelling
Tarhanspelling

Who are some well-known people named Tarkan?

  1. Doğan Tarkan politician 1948–
  2. Ali Serhan Tarkan researcher
  3. Pınar Tarkan researcher
  4. Özgür Tarkan researcher

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

Is Tarkan also a first name?

Yes. Tarkan is given as a first name too, carrying the same sense: “old Turkic noble title”.

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

Which surnames have a meaning similar to Tarkan?

Targan, İnâler and Kaan share gloss keywords with Tarkan within the same primary category.

  • Targantarkhan, a noble title
  • İnâlerhero bearing the İnal title
  • Kaankhagan, sovereign
  • Saygunthe old Turkic title sagun
  • Tarhanold Turkic title
  • Tiğinprince (Old Turkic title)
  • Atabekguardian of princes, atabeg
  • AtabeySeljuk title: tutor-regent of princes

Which guides add context to Tarkan?

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

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Sevan Nişanyan Nişanyan Adlar: Tarkan accessed 8 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Wiktionary: Tarkan accessed 8 November 2026
  3. 3 Wikimedia Foundation Wikidata: people with this family name 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
  5. 5 turkiyenames.com Türkiye İsimleri (turkiyenames.com) accessed 9 November 2026

Common questions about Tarkan

Q1

What does the surname Tarkan mean?

Tarkan is a title of nobility found in the old Turkic states and neighbouring cultures; Turkish also has the forms Tarhan and Turhan. Nişanyan’s dictionary of names says its ultimate origin is unclear and may be linked to Mongolian darqat ‘tax-exempt, privileged’. According to the same source the spelling Tarkan became popular through Sezgin Burak’s comic series, published from 1967.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Tarkan?

The root word of Tarkan is tarkan (Turkic): “a title of nobility in old Turkic states”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Tarkan?

Tar·kan, 2 syllables; IPA: /taɾˈkan/.