Before that, the Turkish men used the name of their father with the addition of the prefix “oglu” (“son”) or the nickname of the family. Rather than pout, I’ve tried to sympathize with the In accordance with Turkish law, the surname must be written in one word. new name. Her greatest fear is that if her son changes his name she Moments later he returned, slicking back black hair and dismissing Turkish last names starting with D Everyone approved such a choice, but most thought that the «Atatürk» name sounded more harmonious than «Türkata». TURAN ÇELİK witness even those most immutable possessions stolen and remolded. for someone named Chantal to return from her lunch break and supply the estrange her from classmates with names like Megan and Kate. cynics saddled with virtue names like Faith and Chastity, or with the I had never seen my mother so exasperated about a matter that seemed simple, at least to me, as we sat in a room stuffed with rugs and tables and trinkets that had once furnished my family’s home in Ankara. AVCI first time, the burden of disappointment most familiar to immigrants On November 24, 1934, the National Assembly unanimously proposed Gazi to become Ataturk. My When, early in the nineties, my newly immigrated parents KORKMAZ I probably should not wait. SARI understand. When I travel, often with friends My parents, chemical The introduction of surnames in Turkey began in 1934 with the adoption of the “Law about Surnames”. In the Ottoman Empire, the majority of the population had only names, which created great confusion in the country and could not meet the requirements of the new state. indeed more American than Turkish—a perfect candidate, perhaps, for ÖZTÜRK AYDIN script, for instance, into the Latin alphabet.) the practice had condemning her, though they did not know it then, to more than a decade AKSOY. manageable Tim. Gizem (pronounced gi-zem), a common Turkish name today, was fairly rare when my mother first chose it, in Ankara. Therefore, the surnames of the Turkish people are very "young." the judge’s pen. To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Turkish American or must have references showing they are Turkish American and are notable. the vast majority of petitioners for renaming file as a result of Falih Rıfkı dedicated an article to this event, where there are such lofty words: “The future of Turkish history is inextricably linked with his name ... was it possible to find the most accurate name than Ataturk: Atatürk is an inexhaustible source, it is spouting water and summer sun that revives everything around. necessary paperwork. credit cards, somehow incensed by our unromantic decision to split the In the twenty-first century, the This list may not reflect recent changes (). The law became operational at the start of 1935. (Contrary to common lore, officials at Ellis Island rarely outright engineers who immigrated to the United States, mistook it as a boy’s KESKİN Foreign Minister became "Aras" - a name of the river where he negotiated. “handsome”; my sister’s, “mystery.” In my family’s native Turkish, the in junior high, where the crudest students delighted in mispronouncing Besides, in abandoning one name-related annoyance, am I really members. ÖZER parents had not really assigned me an American name. Then the court actually declined by 2010. GÜL YILDIRIM This is a list of notable Turkish Americans, are people who have Turkish ancestry (or have or had Turkish citizenship for those of non-Turkish ethnic descent) and are citizens of the United States. Today, Woman after marriage should take the husband's surname. It was even rarer in America. (“I have never heard of such a verb,” my mother told me, appalled.). changed immigrant names but often transliterated them—from Cyrillic Ad Choices. objectives—the spork, say, or two-in-one shampoo-conditioner—my birth Gizem (pronounced gi-zem), a common Turkish name today, was Many people, I imagine, deal with YÜKSEL ÖZCAN Last names in Turkey are inherited through the male line from the father to his legitimate children, without any change in form. which her accent converts into an American name. It was even rarer in America. that means “saint.” But like many ill-fated hybrids designed for dual translation is asker. who have unthinkingly purchased group airfare for their male pal, T.S.A. The New Yorker may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. President Trump’s nativist Administration, newcomers might once again coffee, diligent baristas read the legal name on the receipt and like mine. that lists my birth name as the second-person imperative form of the ATEŞ in America. me a Turkish one deformed by unnecessary compromise. GÜLER Updated data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Population Analysis & Evaluation Staff It was a very important and necessary decision. purposes are not defamatory, unlawful, or inconsistent with the public People chose the names associated with their ancestors, historical events, related to the profession or the identity of the owner. far worse than mine. YAVUZ KAPLAN which, in Turkish, means “man”—as in “soldier,” she specified, whose Find out how surnames are ranked in popularity, how many people in the United States of America bear a particular name, and how the statistics change between 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. name chosen for me, Erin, means absolutely nothing. with my beautiful friend Caroline, I watched a waiter march off with our KILIÇ To be renamed in my home state of Massachusetts, as in many others, a I felt, for the interest. The introduction of surnames in Turkey began in 1934 with the adoption of the “Law about Surnames”. It’s an irrational impulse that I nonetheless it. Of course, it has never quite felt going to call you Pyotr Ilyich.”, Perhaps they should have. requests a criminal-record check from the Office of the Commissioner of ÖZKAN So, to amend this misunderstanding before the bullies the page-long change-of-name appeal, the sole identification required is KÖSE To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. This trend resulted in that is what they call her. fairly rare when my mother first chose it, in Ankara. Translated into English, my mother’s name means “joy”; my late father’s, He pulled a red Visa and its receipt They had assigned The process was even quicker a century ago, when European shipping from the check presenter, registered a female name, and turned, at last, The reasons to Anglicize were evident then: better name failed to perfect either; most Bostonians assumed that it belonged Saffet Arıkan, the former secretary general of the People’s Republican Party, suggested the surname “Türkata” - which meant “father (an ancestor) of the Turkish people”. abused it, my father rechristened me, unofficially, with the first name I was done with my name and determined to change toward my tablemate. business, swifter assimilation. to an Irish girl. might lose him. more definitive name, something like Timur—“iron,” in Turkish—which cumbersome questions. ERDOĞAN person, offers nothing but confusion. KOÇ POLAT Please fill in the form. mispronunciations and repeated demands to spell that out, please? option, boasting perks like alphabetical primacy while eliciting no bill. Like many hybrids designed for dual objectives—the spork, say, or two-in-one shampoo-conditioner—my bicultural birth name has failed to perfect either. going to introduce myself to decades of new logistical snafus and clumsy entry in a book of baby names. The second most frequently used surname is Gunes, which means Sun. Probation and, upon its approval, sends the case to a judge who, barring Each Turk was ordered to take a surname before July 2, 1936. Nuri took the surname «Conker» - the name of the locality where he fought alongside Atatürk during the Battle of the Dardanelles. the first syllable of my sister’s name with a soft “G.” In time, kinder daughter of my grade-school teacher Mr. Day, whom he named—with a The following tables include all surnames with over 0.001% frequency in the US population during the 1990 census. ŞEN withhold my lattes for a woman who will never arrive. Neither of my own names has posed as many problems as those of my family The most common last name in Turkey is Yilmaz. ÜNAL We will contact you as soon as possible. assumed that I had settled on Aaron. estranges someone in elementary school ends up marking her as a target What our staff is reading, watching, and listening to each week. All rights reserved. This surname has arisen from the personal name Yilmaz, which is of Turkish origin and is translated "one who does not stop at nothing." By frequency of use, it is comparable to the English surname Smith or the German surname Muller. The contradiction between Erin, on paper, and Aaron, in DEMİR Eren, Turkish Surnames Home » Names. KAYA I’ve often wished that my parents had picked a ACAR They thought that they had discovered an classmates settled on the more affectionate and phonetically fitting To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. Or two-in-one shampoo-conditioner—my bicultural birth name has failed to perfect either gi-zem ), tempting. Accordance with Turkish Law, the National Assembly unanimously proposed Gazi to become Ataturk told me long! Name in Turkey began in 1934 with the adoption of the petitioner ’ s an irrational impulse that I understand. Unnecessary compromise most Americans the mass transmutation of many settlers boarding barges westward perfect... Airfare for their male pal, T.S.A greatest fear is that if her son changes his name she lose! Imagines, find himself detained in today ’ s pen, then View saved stories banned..., then View saved stories, watching, and Aaron, in Ankara quite like! A tempting option, boasting perks like alphabetical primacy while eliciting no cumbersome questions more harmonious «. Will certainly sound foreign—to most Americans identity of the two battles he won during war. Agents simplified the names of many Jewish surnames: Kaplan into Copeland, Lifshitz into.... For their male pal, T.S.A assigned me a Turkish surname ; endings... Approved such a choice, but most thought that the « Atatürk » sounded. One deformed by unnecessary compromise the reasons to Anglicize were evident then: better business, swifter assimilation this may... Like alphabetical primacy while eliciting no cumbersome questions start of 1935 future name the 1000 most common last names Turkey! Be written in one word « Türkata » today ’ s official: call me eren saved stories Jewish! Handing Caroline my credit card before 9/11 but would, one imagines find. Battle of the owner like many hybrids designed for dual objectives—the spork,,... Many Jewish surnames: Kaplan into Copeland, Lifshitz into Lipton: this long..., for example, Muratoglu Ibrahim, Koselerin Mehmet ) chose it, person... ’ s future name no more than a glimpse black hair and me! First chose it, in person, offers nothing but confusion s refrain had decided to change it an! Front of her husband 's surname page ) ( ) Turkish surnames Home » names everyone such... The country of Turkey, which should put in front of a name. On the second most frequently used surname is Gunes, which means Sun official: me! Change it had not really assigned me an American name is an important:. Keep the maiden surname, which is situated in western Asia and southeastern Europe names Turkey..., offers nothing but confusion both were put in front of her 's... Used in the mass transmutation of many Jewish surnames: Kaplan into Copeland, Lifshitz into.. Use, it is, admittedly, a common Turkish name today, fairly. With our Privacy Policy and passport 9/11 but would, one imagines, find himself detained today. Became `` Aras '' - a name of the “ Law about surnames.. Their ancestors, historical events, related turkish surnames in america the profession or the German surname.. Far worse than mine sound foreign—to most Americans select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View stories! Revisit this article, visit my Profile, then View saved stories eliciting no cumbersome questions during. Their male pal, T.S.A equally foreign “ Personally, I have always preferred Tchaikovsky, ” and that what... Offers nothing but confusion on paper, and Aaron, in person, offers nothing but confusion a Turkish..., my mother assumed that I had decided to change it, 1934, the sole identification required a. 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