Surname Demirkan - Meaning and Origin
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Demirkan: What does the surname Demirkan mean?
The last name Demirkan is a Turkish surname with a likely meaning of “iron heart” or “iron gate”. The root of it is the Turkish words ‘demir’ (iron) and ‘kapı’ (gate). It implies a strong or sturdy person who is hard to penetrate. It could also signify a person who is unyielding or unbending and takes on challenges with determination and fortitude.
The origin of this surname is likely from a geographic or topographic feature. In the past, surnames were often derived from the local landscape associated with a hamlet or village. It is believed Demirkan first emerged as the name of a household in the Anatolian region of Turkey.
The use of the surname became more widespread with the rise of the Ottoman Empire in the 13th Century, as the military power and its ruling dynasty encouraged its citizens to take on distinct hereditary surnames. It is now used as a part of the patronymic naming system throughout the countries of former Ottoman territories such as Turkey, Greece, and the Balkans.
As a whole, the name Demirkan symbolizes strength and stability and serves as a reminder for its bearers to aim for greatness and to hold their heads up high.
Order DNA origin analysisDemirkan: Where does the name Demirkan come from?
The last name Demirkan is commonly found in Turkey, Jordan, Albania, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Moldova. It is of Turkish origin and is derived from the Turkish words "demir", meaning "iron" and "kan" meaning "blood".
In Turkey, Demirkan is especially popular in Istanbul, but can be found elsewhere in the country as well. Turks from both sides of the Aegean Jewish population may be linked to this surname, although the exact origin of the surname is not known. In Jordan, the surname is derived from Turkish immigrants who moved to the country in the 19th century.
In Albania, the surname appears to have been adopted by Turkish immigrants and refugees from Turkey, Bulgaria, and Macedonia during the 19th century. Albanian speakers of this surname may be of Turkish, Bulgarian, and Greek origin as well. In Montenegro, Demirkan is found among the Muslim population, which is largely of Turkish origin.
In Bulgaria, Demirkan is a relatively recent occurrence, having been adopted by Turkish, Macedonian, and Bulgarian-speaking Romani immigrants during the first half of the 20th century. It is used in the form of Demirdjian or Demirdjiyan.
In Moldova, Demirkan can be found among the Turkic-speaking Gagauz people, who are descendants of Ottoman Turkish settlers and have preserved a large degree of their Turkish identity. Although there is no clear origin of the name, it is believed to be of Turkish origin.
In the United States of America, it is a relatively rare name, though there are small numbers living in California, New York, and Texas.
Variations of the surname Demirkan
Demirkan is a Turkish surname. Variants of the name Demirkan include Demirhan, Demirkhan, Demirken, Demirkin, and Demirkanli.
The meanings of Demirkan include 'iron man', or 'brave man'. In Turkish, the spelling of 'demir' is ‘iron’ and the spelling of 'khan' is 'lord'. Combined together, the surname Demirkan means 'someone who is brave and powerful as iron'.
Due to the large amount of migration from Turkey, many variants of this surname can be found around the world, notably in the Middle East, North Africa, Southern Europe and the Americas.
The spelling and pronunciation of Demirkan may differ depending on the origin of the family. This is mainly due to the addition of extra letters or syllables which are common in certain languages. Common variants include 'Demirjan', 'Dimirkan', 'Demirken', and 'Demirkhan'.
Demirkan is closely related to the surnames 'Demir', 'Demirci' and 'Demircioglu', all of which have the same meaning: 'iron man'.
Surnames which derive from Demirkan include Demirkanli, Demirkaya, Demirdere, Demirin and Demirdoğan.
In most cases, spelling variants of Demirkan share a common origin and have similar meanings. Therefore, the main difference between them is mainly in the spelling.
Famous people with the name Demirkan
- Ali Demirkan: Turkish pop singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- İlhan Demirkan: Retired Turkish judoka
- Hikmet Demirkan: Turkish television presenter
- İsmail Demirkan: Retired Turkish football player
- Tanju Demirkan: Retired Turkish football goalkeeper
- Erkan Demirkan: Retired Turkish football player
- Güray Demirkan: Turkish football player
- Osman Demirkan: Turkish politician and former Minister of Labour and Social Security
- Mustafa Demirkan: Retired Turkish professional basketball player
- Ergün Demirkan: 1988 Olympic judoka from Turkey
- Tuncay Demirkan: Turkish journalist, author, and translator