In numbers
54 — registered surnames
11 — detail pages
1907 — year of founding
1 — common origin
Karabağlar oymak
Founding Families & Surnames
Mesudiye was founded in autumn 1907 by 94 migrant households of the Karabağlar oymak (tribal clan), who migrated together from the village of Çayır, Hacıoğlu-Pazarcık, Bulgaria. They received their official surnames under the 1934 Surname Law; today 54 surnames are registered in the village. All the families of Mesudiye are part of the same migrant wave.
Complete list of 54 surnames
AkanAlataşAlkanAyAydınBaşBayraktarBulutCanCankaraCanseverCeranCıvataşÇatkınÇayÇelikÇotukDalkıranDemirDemirbaşDemirciErErbaşErdoğduErkunEvginFındıkGeziciGönenGündüzİnceİremetKabaKaçarKaraKayaKulaKurtKüçükÖrsÖzcanÖzçakırÖzdemirÖzşahinesSaraçSaySaydarTezcanTunaTuranUçarUysalYılmazYurdagel
Names in colour have dedicated English detail pages.
Notable families
- Çotuk — descendants of Çotuk Ahmet Efendi, the Karabağlar migrant who went ahead to Durayda and helped settle the 94 households on the Durayda land. Two muhtars from this family (Kadir Çotuk 1962-63, Abdurrahim Çotuk 1968–69).
- Özşahines — Korean War veteran Ömer Özşahines (1929-2003) and the longest-serving muhtar Cengiz Özşahines (1999-2019, 20 years). A Balkan-hybrid name: "Öz" + "Şahin" + Rumelian "-es" patronymic.
- Ay — multiple WWI veterans (Galip Ay British prisoner, 7 years away from home; İbrahim Ay Iraq front).
- Bayraktar — with the Ay family, the family with the most documented veterans (two each): İdris Bayraktar and İsmail Bayraktar, a medical orderly, both in the First World War.
- Cankara — the family with the village's oldest military tradition: Mehmet Cankara (1878–1952), a cavalryman in the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War.
- Akan — Yemen veteran Abdullah Akan, whose 1934 surname commemorates the stream that saved his life when wounded.
54 Surnames, a Single Origin
All the families in Mesudiye village are members of the Karabağlar (Karaballar) oymak who came from the village of Çayır in the Hacıoğlu-Pazarcık (present-day Dobrich) area of Bulgaria. These families, who came to Anatolia with the 1906–1907 migration, received their official surnames with the Surname Law of 1934.
Today there are 54 different registered surnames in the village. Eleven of these families stand out particularly in the village's history — they raised gazis (war veterans), produced muhtars (village heads) and ran the sports club. Below are all the surnames together with the prominent families.
Soldier families
Families That Raised Gazis
From the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War to the Korean War — 9 gazis from 7 families
Özşahines
Korean War gazi Ömer Özşahines (1929–2003) and Cengiz Özşahines, muhtar for 20 years (1999–2019). A family of dual origin, registered in both the İslihisar and the Mesudiye population registers.
Bayraktar
A family of military and civilian leaders that served the village for three generations. İdris Bayraktar (1887–1966) a gazi of the First World War, İsmail Bayraktar (1879–1958) a medical orderly and the village's “Pehlivan Ağa” (wrestler lord), Mustafa Bayraktar muhtar for 7 years (1977–1984) and a Mesudiyespor official.
Ay
With the Bayraktars, the family that raised the most gazis in the village (two each). İbrahim Ay (1879–1942) the Iraq front, Galip Ay (1896–1967) the Yemen/Iraq front, capture by the British and, after 7 years away from home, participation in the War of Independence. Hüseyin Ay was a Mesudiyespor player in the 1980s.
Cankara
The family with the oldest military tradition in the village. Mehmet Cankara (1878–1952) a cavalryman in the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War. İbrahim Cankara (muhtar 1963), Halil Cankara (muhtar 1989–1994) and a Mesudiyespor official.
Akan
Abdullah Akan (1896–1969) a gazi of the Yemen front, who received shrapnel wounds to his forehead and his chest. Registered in both Mesudiye and İslihisar.
A tradition of governance
Families That Produced Muhtars
Since 1939, 19 people have served 22 terms as muhtar; they bear 15 different surnames
Çotuk
Descended from the founder Çotuk Ahmet Efendi. The first settler from the Karabağlar oymak. He played a decisive role in the founding of the village. Kadir Çotuk (muhtar 1962–63) and Abdurrahim Çotuk (muhtar 1968–69) are also from this family.
Özşahines
Korean War gazi Ömer Özşahines (1929–2003) and Cengiz Özşahines, muhtar for 20 years (1999–2019). A family of dual origin, registered in both the İslihisar and the Mesudiye population registers.
Bayraktar
A family of military and civilian leaders that served the village for three generations. İdris Bayraktar (1887–1966) a gazi of the First World War, İsmail Bayraktar (1879–1958) a medical orderly and the village's “Pehlivan Ağa” (wrestler lord), Mustafa Bayraktar muhtar for 7 years (1977–1984) and a Mesudiyespor official.
Cankara
The family with the oldest military tradition in the village. Mehmet Cankara (1878–1952) a cavalryman in the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War. İbrahim Cankara (muhtar 1963), Halil Cankara (muhtar 1989–1994) and a Mesudiyespor official.
Erdoğdu
The village's first muhtar, Mehmet Erdoğdu (1939, 1947), was from this family. Zeki Erdoğdu was the captain of Mesudiyespor in the 1980s.
Say
Kazım Say served as muhtar in three separate terms (1950, 1963, 1971) — the most frequently elected muhtar in the village's history. Nazif Say was Mesudiyespor's goalkeeper in the 1980s.
Gönen
Hilmi Gönen served as muhtar for 7 years (1954–1961), Mehmet Gönen was muhtar (1969–1971). Necdet Gönen (midfield) and Nazım Gönen (defence) were Mesudiyespor players in the 1980s.
Evgin
The muhtar in office, Recep Evgin (2024–), is from this family. Kamil Evgin is a member of the village ihtiyar heyeti (council of elders), Ali Evgin was a Mesudiyespor defender in the 1980s.
Tezcan
Şerif Tezcan muhtar (1973–1977), Ali Beki Tezcan muhtar (2019–2024). With its two terms of office, a family deeply rooted in the village administration.
Sport
Mesudiyespor Families
Families that gave players and officials to the village football team in the 1980s
Bayraktar
Mustafa Bayraktar, a Mesudiyespor official.
Ay
Hüseyin Ay was Mesudiyespor's right winger in the 1980s.
Cankara
A Mesudiyespor official came from this family.
Erdoğdu
Zeki Erdoğdu was the captain of Mesudiyespor in the 1980s.
Say
Nazif Say was Mesudiyespor's goalkeeper in the 1980s.
Gönen
Necdet Gönen (midfield) and Nazım Gönen (defence) were Mesudiyespor players in the 1980s.
Evgin
Ali Evgin was a Mesudiyespor defender in the 1980s.
Related pages
- • Surname Origins
- • Family Tree
- • Notable People
- • Veterans
- • Muhtars