Surname Etymology

With Surname Law no. 2525, adopted on 21 June 1934, the citizens of the Republic of Turkey were obliged to choose an official family name that would be inherited by themselves and by the generations to come. The members of the Karabağlar oymağı (tribal branch) of Mesudiye village, who had come from the Bulgarian village of Çayır, also took under this law the 54 different surnames they bear today.

The great majority of Turkish surnames carry clear and transparent meanings: occupations, character traits, physical appearance, elements of nature, animals and verb roots are the most common sources. Mesudiye's surnames too conform to this universal Turkish surname pattern — yet some of them (especially Özşahines) carry hybrid forms that openly betray the family's Balkan origin.

This page presents the village's 54 surnames divided into seven thematic groups according to their linguistic origins. The exact origin of some surnames is uncertain; in those cases the most widely accepted etymological explanation is given.

Surnames derived from Turkish root words associated with valour and endurance. 13 surnames.

Alkan — from the compound "al" (red, noble) + "kan" (blood). In the sense of "one who comes of noble blood" — in the Turkish surname tradition it symbolises heroism and nobility.

Baş — from the Turkish word "baş" (front, leader, chief). It means the foremost person, the leader of a community.

Çelik — steel, an alloy harder and more durable than iron. Figuratively it expresses a strong, unshakeable, resilient personality.

Er — Old Turkic "er" (brave man, soldier, upright man). It is one of the most widespread root words of the Turkish surname tradition.

Erbaş — from the compound "er" (brave man) + "baş" (leader). In the sense of "leader of the brave, military commander."

Erkun — from the compound "er" (brave man) + "kun/kün" (Old Turkic: people, tribe). In the sense of "brave people" or "of the lineage of the er."

Demirbaş — "demir" (iron) + "baş" (head) — "iron-headed, persevering." At the same time it means "permanent, lasting"; it is also known as the nickname given in the Ottoman period to Charles XII, King of Sweden.

Demir — Turkish "demir" (iron), the metal that symbolises hardness and durability. It is one of the most widespread root words of the Turkish surname tradition.

Kaba — Turkish "kaba" (large-built, sturdy, imposing). It is an epithet given to physically strong and large people.

Yılmaz — from the verb "yılmamak" (not to flinch) — "one who does not give up, who does not flinch, fearless." In the Turkish surname tradition it is the symbol of courage and determination.

Uysal — Turkish "uysal" (mild-mannered, easy-going, accommodating person). As a character trait it was made directly into a surname.

İnce — Turkish "ince" (slender, graceful, refined). It expresses both physical build and a refined character.

Küçük — Turkish "küçük" (small); it turned from a nickname given to physically small-built people into a surname.

Surnames inspired by celestial bodies, plants and geographical features. 10 surnames.

Ay — the moon, a celestial body. In Turkish it symbolises both beauty and brightness. It is a word held sacred in the old Turkic faith and has been the root of many surnames.

Aydın — Turkish "aydın" (luminous, bright, learned). It expresses both brightness and the educated, well-read person.

Bulut — the cloud in the sky. It is among the widespread Turkish surnames derived from elements of nature; it symbolises abundance and rain.

Çay — Turkish "çay" (small watercourse, stream). It is also directly related to the families who came from the Bulgarian village of Çayır, Mesudiye's region of origin.

Fındık — the hazelnut, the hard-shelled fruit that is the symbol of the Black Sea region. It is one of the widespread Turkish surnames derived from plant names.

Gündüz — Turkish "gündüz" (daytime, the bright hours of the day). It was also used as a personal name among the old Turks and symbolises brightness and clarity.

Kara — Turkish "kara" (black). In the old Turkic tradition it also carries the meanings "strong, great, mighty" (as in the examples of the Karahanlılar and the Karakoyunlular).

Kaya — Turkish "kaya" (rock, a hard mass of stone). It symbolises solidity, durability and steadfastness. It is among the most widespread root words of the Turkish surname tradition.

Kula — Turkish "kula" (light brown, yellowish colour). It is an adjective used especially to describe the coats of horses; it may also be associated with skin or hair colour.

Tuna — from the river Tuna (the Danube), the second longest river of Europe. It is a surname frequently chosen by muhacir (émigré) families of Balkan origin in order to preserve their identity; it accords with the village's Bulgarian migrant identity.

Surnames derived from animals that symbolise courage, speed and freedom. 3 surnames.

Ceran — the vernacular pronunciation of the word "ceylan" (gazelle). The gazelle, a slender, swift and graceful animal, is the symbol of beauty.

Kurt — the wolf, the most sacred animal of Turkic mythology; it is connected with the Bozkurt (grey wolf) tradition. It symbolises courage, leadership and freedom.

Özşahines — in three parts: "Öz" (true, genuine) + "Şahin" (falcon, a bird of prey) + "-es" (a patronymic suffix in the Turkish dialects of Rumeli). In the sense of "sons of the true falcon" — it is the village's most distinct Balkan hybrid surname.

Surnames coming from the occupational branches of the village economy in the Ottoman and republican periods. 7 surnames.

Bayraktar — in the sense of "one who carries the flag." A title given in the Ottoman army to the soldier charged with carrying the standard; later it became widespread as a surname. In the village, the family that raised a gazi (war veteran) of the First World War bears this name.

Demirci — in the sense of "one who works iron." It comes from smithing, one of the fundamental crafts of the village economy in the Ottoman and republican periods.

Saraç — of Arabic origin; a craftsman who makes saddles, harness and leather goods. In Anatolia, where horse culture was widespread, it was an important branch of craft.

Cıvataş — "cıvata" (bolt, a metal fastening element) + the suffix "-aş". It probably reflects an occupation or a nickname connected with ironworking or metal craft.

Örs — the anvil, the hard mass of iron on which the smith does his forging. It is one of the symbols of the smith's trade; it carries the meanings of solidity and resistance.

Saydar — derived from the verb "saymak" (to count) — "one who counts, who reckons, an accountant." Or it may be a shortened form of the word "saygıdar" in the sense of "one who is respected."

Say — from the Turkish verb "saymak" — "respect, esteem." In Old Turkic it means "a person who is esteemed, who is held in regard." In the village, the family of Kazım Say, who served three terms as muhtar (village headman), bears this name.

Surnames expressing water, soil and attachment to the homeland. 6 surnames.

Akan — derived from the verb "akmak" (to flow). It is the surname that Abdullah Akan, a gazi (war veteran) of the Yemen front in Mesudiye, is said to have chosen in memory of an episode connected with his war wound, or in tribute to flowing water.

Cankara — from the compound "can" (soul, life) + "kara" (black). In the sense of "a dark-complexioned living being" or "a stout-hearted, strong soul" — here "kara" may have been used with its Old Turkic meaning of "strong, mighty."

Dalkıran — from the compound "dal" (branch of a tree) + "kıran" (one who breaks). "One who breaks branches" — it expresses a physically strong person and, figuratively, one who overcomes obstacles.

Yurdagel — "come to the homeland," a call in the imperative. It is a patriotic surname frequently chosen in the first years of the Republic, especially by muhacir (émigré) families; it symbolises the call to return to the motherland.

Gönen — from the Turkish verb "gönenmek" (to be happy, to attain prosperity). It is at the same time the name of a district of Balıkesir. It is a wish-surname in the sense of "be happy, be prosperous."

Turan — the name given in old Iranian texts to the region inhabited by the Turks; it is one of the fundamental concepts of Turkish nationalism. It is an ideological surname in the sense of "the homeland of all Turks."

Surnames derived from verb roots, expressing movement and vitality. 8 surnames.

Can — of Persian origin, "can" — soul, life, living. It is also used as an expression of affection and closeness; it is among the most widespread root words of the Turkish surname tradition.

Cansever — from the compound "can" (soul, life) + "sever" (one who loves). In the sense of "one who loves the soul, who loves life" — it expresses attachment to life and love of humankind.

Erdoğdu — from the compound "er" (brave, upright) + "doğdu" (was born). In the sense of "an upright one was born, a brave one was born" — it comes from the joyful name given at the birth of a son. Mehmet Erdoğdu, the village's first muhtar (village headman), was of this family.

Evgin — Turkish "ivgin/evgin" (hasty, swift, nimble). It is derived from the Old Turkic verb "ev-" (to hurry).

Gezici — from the verb "gezmek" (to travel about) — "one who travels much, a wayfarer." It is a meaningful surname for families carrying a migrant identity; it may also evoke the journey made from Bulgaria to Anatolia.

Kaçar — from the verb "kaçmak" (to flee) — "swift, nimble." It is at the same time the name of the Turkic Kaçar (Qajar) dynasty that ruled in Iran; it is also known as the name of a tribe of Turkmen origin.

Tezcan — from the compound "tez" (quick, rapid) + "can" (soul). In the sense of "a hasty, impatient, lively person."

Uçar — from the verb "uçmak" (to fly) — "swift, nimble, like a bird." It symbolises both physical speed and a free spirit.

Surnames whose origin is complex or local, or comes from the family's own particular story. 7 surnames.

Alataş — from the compound "ala" (mottled, many-coloured) + "taş" (stone). It may denote a kind of mottled stone found in nature, or a place name of origin.

Çatkın — it may be derived from the word "çatık" (with knitted brows, sullen-faced). It is likely to have turned from a nickname expressing a character trait into a surname.

Çotuk — Turkish "çotuk" (the cut stump of a tree, a piece of root). The lineage of Çotuk Ahmet Efendi, the founding family of the village, bears this name; its meaning of "deep-rooted, sound" is striking.

İremet — its exact origin is uncertain. It is probably a vernacular form of the word "imaret" (a charitable institution in the Ottoman period that distributed food to the poor).

Özcan — from the compound "öz" (true, genuine) + "can" (soul). In the sense of "a true soul, a sincere friend" — it is among the widespread surnames beginning with the prefix "Öz."

Özçakır — from the compound "öz" (true) + "çakır" (a bluish-grey eye colour, or a kind of bird of prey). In the sense of "a true çakır, blue-eyed" or "a true çakır bird."

Özdemir — from the compound "öz" (true) + "demir" (iron). In the sense of "true iron, of solid character" — it is among the most widespread surnames of the Turkish surname tradition beginning with "Öz-."

The etymological explanations on this page rest on general Turkish dictionary knowledge, vernacular usages, and the naming patterns widely adopted in the period of the 1934 Surname Law. Some surnames may have a local or family-specific story — in such cases the oral history of the family elders is the most reliable source.

Özşahines is the linguistically most interesting surname of the village: as the combination of the Turkish prefix "Öz," the word "Şahin" of Persian origin and the patronymic suffix "-es" peculiar to the Turkish dialects of Rumeli, it is a hybrid form that directly reflects the village's Balkan migrant identity.

Although the great majority of the surnames are of Turkish root, surnames such as Saraç (Arabic), Can (Persian) and Cansever reflect the linguistic interactions inherited from the Ottoman period.