non-Turks with surname "Turk"!

[Onur]

I wanted to post this message because of Arch Hades`s question in another thread;

"Turkmen"?

What's up with all these Turks have 'Turk' in their last name?

NBA star Hedo Turkoglu

I am also curious about this issue but not with the people in Turkey. I am curious about the non-Turkish people who has this surname all over the world. Some families in Europe has "Turk" surname for nearly 1000 years. Check this out;

Last name: Turk
This name, recorded as Turch and Turcus in the Domesday Book of 1086, may be either an abbreviated form of the Olde Norse given name Thurkill from 'Thor', a divine name referring to the God of Thunder, plus 'ketill', a cauldron, or a nickname from the Olde French 'Turc', meaning 'Turk' and originally given to someone who had taken part in the crusades against the Turks. The Turks were renowned for their bravery, ferocity and fighting prowess and consequently the nickname would have been regarded as a complimentary one. A Ricardus filius (son of) Turk appears in the 1205 'Charter Rolls of Kent' and a William Turc in the 1193 'Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire'. In 1296 one, Robert Turk was recorded in the 'Subsidy Rolls of Sussex'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Eadwin le Turch, which was dated circa 1140 'Early London Personal Names' by E. Ekwall, during the reign of King Stephen, Count of Blois, 1135 - 1154. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Turk#ixzz1pfplC29I

Actually, this kinda explains the situation. Maybe the surname/nickname Turk became popular after first crusades and people may started to be called as such for a compliment.


Here is something interesting;

FamilyTreeDNA Turk Surname Project
Background
This project includes 480 variant spellings of the TURK surname. The genealogical data for over 60,000 individuals within this study are maintained at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-...1.x=25&I11.y=3

Surnames
Al Turk, D' Turck, Dark, Darke, Darkes, De Tuerck, De Tuercks, De Turck, De Türck, De Türcks, De Turk, De Turquot, Del Turco, Deorc, Deracke, Derc, Derck, Derichsen, Derick, Derix, Derk, Derrick, Derx, Dierck, Dierke, Dirck, Dircker, Dirk, Dirkens, Dirker, Dirking, Dirks, Dirruck, Doerge, Doerich, Dörckens, Dörge, Dörich, Dork, Dörken, Duehrke, Duerck, Duercke, Duerckh, Duerckin, Duerge, Duerk, Duerks, Dührke, Dürck, Dürcke, Durckh, Dürckh, Dürckin, Dureczek, Durg, Durge, Dürge, Durgee, Durges, Durgi, Dürich, Durk, Dürk, Dürks, Durrege, Durrige, Duruk, Duruken, Dyerck, Dyerckens, Dyercks, Dyercksen, Dyercksz, Dyerckszoon, Dyerckx, Dyercx, Dyerkx, Ertürk, Götürkler, Le Turc, Le Turch, Le Turcq, Le Turk, Le Turque, M' Turk, MacToirc, MacTorc, MacTuirc, MacTurc, MacTurck, MacTurcke, MacTurk, MakTurck, McTurck, McTurk, Ozgenturk, Ozturk, Öztürk, Storck, Storic, Storich, Stork, Targ, Tark, Tarka, Tarket, Tatarka, Taureck, Taurk, Tearcot, Tearks, Teirk, Tek, Terck, Tercus, Terk, Terkel, Terkes, Terrke, Teyrke, Thierke, Thirkill, Thor, Thorell, Thorich, Þorkell, Thuericke, Thuerk, Thuerke, Thurch, Thürch, Thürck, Thurcke, Thüricke, Thurk, Thürk, Thurke, Thürke, Thursk, Tirek, Tirk, Tirke, Tjierks, Toerge, Torcat, Torchhe, Torck, Törge, Toric, Tork, Torka, Torke, Torketil, Torok, Török, Torquat, Torquate, Torquatte, Torquet, Torquete, Torquette, Tourcat, Tourcate, Tourcatt, Tourcatte, Tourky, Trk, Tuerch, Tuerck, Tuercke, Tuercken, Tuerckens, Tuerckh, Tuerckheim, Tuercki, Tuerckin, Tuercks, Tuerge, Tuerger, Tuerh, Tuerich, Tuerk, Tuerkau, Tuerkch, Tuerke, Tuerkels, Tuerken, Tuerkes, Tuerkesin, Tuerkh, Tuerkheimer, Tuerkhen, Tuerkhin, Tuerkin, Tuerking, Tuerkis, Tuerkius, Tuerkk, Tuerkon, Tuerks, Tuerksen, Tuerksheim, Tuerpe, Tuirc, Tük, Tunçtürk, Turacek, Turack, Turak, Turatschek, Turc, Turca, Turcaes, Turcaeus, Turcaij, Turcal, Turcan, Turcas, Turcat, Turcate, Turcato, Turcatt, Turcatte, Turcaud, Turcault, Turcaus, Turcco, Turcens, Turch, Türch, Turche, Turchek, Turchelli, Turcheschi, Turchetti, Turchetto, Turchi, Turchin, Turchini, Turchio, Turchyn, Turci, Turcic, Turcin, Turcinovic, Turcio, Turcios, Turck, Türck, Turcke, Türcke, Turcken, Türcken, Türckens, Türckh, Turckheim, Türckheim, Turcki, Türckin, Turcks, Türcks, Turcksin, Turckx, Turco, Turcol, Turcot, Turcott, Turcotte, Turcq, Turcqs, Turcs, Turcsany, Turcu, Turcul, Turcus, Turcx, Turcxkens, Turczak, Turczyk, Turczyn, Turczynowicz, Turczynski, Turec, Turecek, Tureck, Turecky, Turecsek, Turek, Tureka, Turetsky, Turetzky, Türge, Turgel, Türger, Türging, Türh, Türich, Turick, Turincks, Turk, Türk, Turka, Turkaev, Turkal, Turkalak, Turkale, Turkaleiva, Turkali, Turkalj, Turkall, Turkalo, Turkaly, Turkan, Türkan, Turkane, Turkanin, Turkanis, Turkanovic, Turkas, Turkatil, Türkau, Turkawaka, Turkawka, Turkcer, Türkch, Turke, Türke, Turkel, Turke'li, Türkeli, Türkels, Turkelson, Turkeltaub, Turkeltov, Turken, Türken, Turkenburg, Turkenich, Turkenitz, Turkeniz, Turkenkopf, Turkenstein, Turker, Türker, Turkeri, Turkertaub, Turkes, Türkes, Türkesin, Turkesse, Turket, Turketil, Turkett, Turkevich, Türkewitz, Turkey, Turkeyy, Turkfeld, Türkgenç, Turkh, Türkh, Turkhaus, Turkheim, Türkheim, Türkheimer, Türkhen, Turkhin, Türkhin, Turki, Türki, Turkieltaub, Turkienbaum, Turkienicz, Turkientaub, Turkiewicz, Türkig, Turkill, Turkin, Türkin, Türking, Turkington, Turkis, Türkis, Turkisch, Turkish, Turkisher, Turkiss, Turkit, Türkius, Türkk, Turkkan, Türkkan, Turkki, Turkkis, Turkle, Türklitz, Türkmann, Turkmany, Turkmen, Türkmen, Turkner, Turknett, Turko, Turkoc, Türkoðlu, Turkoff, Turkoglu, Türkoglu, Turkoiz, Türkon, Turkos, Turkosz, Turkot, Türkot, Turkov, Turkova, Turkovic, Turkovich, Turkovitch, Turkow, Turkowicz, Türkowicz, Turkowitch, Turkowna, Turkowska, Turkowski, Turkowsky, Turkozonka, Turks, Türks, Türksen, Türksheim, Turkstra, Turku, Turkula, Turkus, Turkussztejn, Turkvan, Turkwane, Turkwood, Türkyan, Turkyilmaz, Turkyn, Turkys, Türkyýlmaz, Turock, Turok, Türpe, Turq, Turqua, Turquand, Turquat, Turquate, Turquatt, Turquatte, Turque, Turquet, Turquin, Turquosta, Turrek, Turrich, Turriska, Turska, Turski, Tursko, Tursky, Turuk, Turuken, Tuyrchin, Twrk, Tyrcke, Von Tuerckheim, Von Tuerke, Von Tuerkheim, Von Türckheim, Von Turk, Von Türke, Von Turkenstein, Von Türkheim, Ýt, Yurttürk

This database includes the complete extractions of the following eight variations: TERK, TIRK, TUERK, TURCK, TUREK, TURK, TURKE & TURKS from US censuses (1790-1930), UK censuses (1841-1901), Canadian censuses, and from the US Social Security Death Index. Records also derive from various archives, published genealogies, and online records, such as: Ancestral File, GenForum, International Genealogical Index and Rootsweb, as well as records from many individuals.

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/turk-guild/

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/...?section=goals

The Turk Surname Society
Annual Report of the TURK Surname Society
5/13/08
Over 60,000 individuals with this surname or one of its identified variant spellings have been extracted worldwide. Look-ups will be done in the TURK Surname Society database for all who are interested. Improvements of this database are solicited. The TURK Surname Society database is online. The TURK Surname Society database includes the complete extractions of the following eight variations from US censuses (1790-1930), UK censuses (1841-1901), Canadian censuses, and from the US Social Security Death Index: TERK, TIRK, TUERK, TURCK, TUREK, TURK, TURKE, TURKS. DE TURCK, DE TURK, MacTURK and McTURK have also generally been included in the US and UK extractions.

Extractions have also been done in the records of various archives, published genealogies, and online records, such as: Ancestral File, GenForum, International Genealogical Index and Rootsweb. Finally, the database has been the recipient of the records of many individual genealogists.

The TURK Surname Y-DNA Project is affiliated with the genealogical efforts of the TURK Surname Society. Through this affiliation an attempt is being made to align science with the more traditional approaches to understanding heritage. Both efforts focus on all persons with TURK as a root part of a surname, or that have a phonetic or translation equivalent. Within this definition 480 variant spellings of the surname have been identified. Eighteen independent Y-DNA origins have been identified.

Y-DNA Surname Projects are managed through Family Tree DNA. Those wishing to join the TURK Y-DNA Project may do so here.

The TURK Surname Society (GOONS) collects all genealogical references for all individuals within one degree of relationship to the targeted surname and its variant spellings, i.e. includes spouses and children of the targeted surname.

Extraction Focus - While all variants are of interest, the primary focus is on fourteen variations.

GOONS variations: DeTURK, MacTURK, TURCK, TUREK, TURK, TURKE

Additional extraction variations: DeTURCK, MacTURCK, McTURCK, McTURK, TERK, TIRK, TUERK, TURKS.

Records Extractions - The rounded numbers of extracted records have come from the following sources:

Ancestral File - 1,000
Cemetery - 1,000
Census - 45,000
IGI - 15,000
Publications - 13,000
Researchers - 20,500
SSDI - 6,500
Vital Records - 5,000
Websites - 4,000

TOTAL - 111,000

When comparing the integrated TURK Guild database with other surname non-integrated databases the comparable figure is 111,000. However, considering the greater complexity of integrating a database, the value of such a database to the individual researcher is significantly greater than the simple aggregation of records.

TURK Surname Y-DNA Project - This effort attempts to align the genealogical record with the scientific record. The goal is to be able to direct a Y-DNA participant without a genealogical record to his placement within such records. Currently Y-DNA results have clustered into eleven different haplogroups/haplotypes. A by-product of the Guild and the Y-DNA efforts has been the clarification of the multiple, independent origins of the surname.

Surname Frequency Distribution

· Eastern European 4140

· Germany 11,299

· United Kingdom 6358

· United States 30,513

· Other 4640

· Unspecified 3270
TOTAL 60220 (13 May 2008)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – E3b This lineage is believed to have evolved in the Middle East. It expanded into the Mediterranean during the Pleistocene Neolithic expansion. It is currently distributed around the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and in north and east Africa.

Surnames:

· DEL TURCO (Italy)

· TURKEL (Ukraine)

· TURCHI (Italy)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – G This lineage may have originated in India or Pakistan, and has dispersed into central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Surname:

· TUREK (Poland)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – G2 This lineage (containing the P15 mutation) is found most often in Europe and the Middle East. Moorish Spain is a possible origin.
Surname:

· TURCO (Sicily)

· TURK (Netherlands)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – I This lineage dates to 23,000 years ago or longer - found distributed at low frequency throughout Europe.
Viking Lineages
Surnames:

· TURK (England)

Y-DNA Haplogroup – I1 This lineage likely has its roots in northern France. Today it is found most frequently within Viking / Scandinavian populations in Northwest Europe and extends at low frequencies into Central and Eastern Europe.
Surname:

· TURK – (Croatia)

· TURKUS (Russia)

· TURQUE (France)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – J2 This lineage originated in the northern portion of the Fertile Crescent where it later spread throughout central Asia, the Mediterranean, and south into India. As with other populations with Mediterranean ancestry this lineage is found within Jewish populations. It also suggests a tie between the Picts and Semitic lineages.

Surnames:

· TÖRÖK (Hungary)

· TURK/MacTURK (Northern Ireland/Scotland)

· TURK (Poland)

· TURKANIS (Ukraine)

· TURKELTOP (Poland)

Y-DNA Haplogroup – K2 This specific line is found at low frequency in southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East.

Surname:

· ÖZTÜRK (Bulgaria)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – R1 The undifferentiated R1 lineage is quite rare. It is found only at very low frequencies in Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia. This lineage possibly originated in Europe and then migrated east into Asia.
Surname:

· TURKOGLU (Turkey)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – R1a1 This lineage is believed to have originated in the Eurasian Steppes north of the Black & Caspian Seas. It is thought to descend from a population of the Kurgan culture, known for the domestication of the horse (circa 3000 B.C.E.). These people were also believed to be the first speakers of the Indo-European language group. It is found in central & western Asia, India, and in Slavic populations of Europe.

Surname:

· TURK/TÜRK/TÜRCK/TÜRCK (Prussia/Poland)

Y-DNA Hapgroup – R1b1 This lineage is the most common in European populations. It is believed to have expanded throughout Europe as humans re-colonized after the last glacial maximum 10-12 thousand years ago. This lineage is also the haplogroup containing the Atlantic Modal Haplotype.
Surnames:

· DERRICK (Germany)

· TURCK (Germany)

· TURCOTTE/TURQ/TURK (France)

· TUREK (Czech Republic)

· TURK (England; Serbia)

· TURK/MacGREGOR (Northern Ireland/Scotland)

Y-DNA Haplogroup – R2 This lineage originated in South Asia and is generally found in Central Asia, Turkey, Pakistan, and India.

Surname:

· TERK (Ukraine)

Toni Richard Turk trturk@frontiernet.net
Emeritus AG (Southern States); Ed.D. (BYU)

http://www.the-turkfamily-of-blandin...tId=57&level=2

And earlier, i saw this man too;
Current President of Slovenia, Danilo Türk;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danilo_T%C3%BCrk


I really have no idea to explain this interesting phenomenon. What are your thoughts?

[Hurrem sultana]

the name Turcinovic(turcin-turk) exists both among bosniaks and serbs

[Midori]

I've never heard of a Macedonian with such surname.

[Hurrem sultana]

but then we also have names like Hrvat,and croats name Bosnjak

[Midori]

but then we also have names like Hrvat,and croats name Bosnjak

We have surnames like Srbinovski (Serb), but Turk? No way.

[Hurrem sultana]

the last name Turcinovic is more common among serbs

[Methmatician]

I've seen Bosniaks with surname "Turkovic". Does that mean they fought in crusades, or they have Turkish ancestor?

[Onur]

I've seen Bosniaks with surname "Turkovic". Does that mean they fought in crusades, or they have Turkish ancestor?

It cant be crusades because Bosnians was bogomil christians at that time and crusaders was brutally massacring them like burning them on giant crosses because they were considered as heretics. It`s been said that while crusaders was passing from balkans in 1200s, they massacred 1/3rd of Bogomils in today`s Bosnia to Macedonia.

So, people with the surname as Turkovic are most likely have some Turkish ancestors. We have millions of people here in Turkey with Bosnian ancestors and ofc you should have same too but for the Serbians with the name Turcinovic? Ehmmm, wow! I cant think something besides these Serbs had Bosnian ancestors with the surname Turci. As you know, the relations between Serbs and Bosnians was quite good during the Ottoman era.


This is so interesting tough, just like i can never understand the reason of the phenomenon that Serbian language having the most Turkish word loans up to 9000, even more than Bosnians, Greeks, Bulgarians or Albanians.

Btw, is it possible to live in Serbia today with a name like Turcin without getting humiliated?

[Methmatician]

It cant be crusades because Bosnians was bogomil christians at that time and crusaders was brutally massacring them like burning them on giant crosses because they were considered as heretics. It`s been said that while crusaders was passing from balkans in 1200s, they massacred 1/3rd of Bogomils in today`s Bosnia to Macedonia.

So, people with the surname as Turkovic are most likely have some Turkish ancestors. We have millions of people here in Turkey with Bosnian ancestors and ofc you should have same too but for the Serbians with the name Turcinovic? Ehmmm, wow! I cant think something besides these Serbs had Bosnian ancestors with the surname Turci. As you know, the relations between Serbs and Bosnians was quite good during the Ottoman era.

Oh ok. Thanks for clearing that up.

This is so interesting tough, just like i can never understand the reason of the phenomenon that Serbian language having the most Turkish word loans up to 9000, even more than Bosnians, Greeks, Bulgarians or Albanians.

Btw, is it possible to live in Serbia today with a name like Turcin without getting humiliated?

I don't know anyone who lives in Serbia, so I don't know. I would assume you would be made fun of; the Balkans is an irrational place.

[Methmatician]

Also, I think Macedonian has the most words of Turkish origin in the Balkans.