Türkiye Soyadları A sourced dictionary of Turkish surnames

SURNAMEEntry 3,292

Yamak

Yamak /jaˈmak/

“helper; Janissary auxiliary”2

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

How do you pronounce Yamak?

Yamak

IPA /jaˈmak/

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

What does the surname Yamak mean?

A yamak is a helper or assistant in a job. In the Ottoman army the word also denoted auxiliaries enrolled as candidates in the Janissary corps and in units such as the artillery and bombardiers. Nişanyan derives it from yama- ‘to attach, add on’.2

Grammar yama- + -k.

Yamak is also an ordinary word in everyday Turkish.

What is Yamak made of?

Yamak breaks into 2 parts: yama- (yamamak: to attach, add) + -k (-(I)k: noun-forming suffix).

Yamak + root yama- yamamak: to attach, add TURKIC yamak “helper, assistant;Janissary auxiliary…” suffix -k -(I)k: noun-formingsuffix Yamak yama- root yamamak: to attach, add yamak TURKIC “helper, assistant; Janissaryauxiliary recruit” -k suffix -(I)k: noun-forming suffix
Yamak: parts and root words
  • yamak Turkic — helper, assistant; Janissary auxiliary recruit2

How was the name Yamak formed?

Yamak belongs to the “suffixed” class of surnames (yama- + -k).

Who are some well-known people named Yamak?

  1. Meryem Yamak association football player 1962–
  2. Kemal Yamak politician 1924–2009
  3. Sibel Yamak researcher

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

Where do these facts come from?

  1. 1 Sevan Nişanyan Nişanyan Sözlük: yamak accessed 8 November 2026
  2. 2 Wikimedia Vikisözlük: yamak 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 T.C. Resmî Gazete / Mevzuat Bilgi Sistemi (mevzuat.gov.tr) Soyadı Nizamnamesi (Bakanlar Kurulu Kararı 2/1759) accessed 8 November 2026

Common questions about Yamak

Q1

What does the surname Yamak mean?

A yamak is a helper or assistant in a job. In the Ottoman army the word also denoted auxiliaries enrolled as candidates in the Janissary corps and in units such as the artillery and bombardiers. Nişanyan derives it from yama- ‘to attach, add on’.
Q2

What is the origin of the surname Yamak?

The root word of Yamak is yamak (Turkic): “helper, assistant; Janissary auxiliary recruit”.
Q3

How do you pronounce Yamak?

Ya·mak, 2 syllables; IPA: /jaˈmak/.