Surname Demirkaya - Meaning and Origin
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Demirkaya: What does the surname Demirkaya mean?
The last name Demirkaya is one that can be found in Turkey. It is an Arabic name derived from the Arabic words “Deemir” and “Kaya”, meaning iron and rock respectively. As a result, the literal translation of Demirkaya is "rock of iron".
Demirkaya is a common surname in Turkeys Konya and Ankara provinces. It is a widely distributed one found all throughout the country. It has been thought to originate from an ancient Ottoman family clan of the same name.
The name itself conveys a sense of strength, resilience and courage as iron and rock are known for their durability. It has thus become a popular name choice for parents hoping to convey a message of strength and tenacity. It is even seen as a sign of protecting one’s family and home.
This is no surprise that the last name Demarkaya would have a significant presence in Turkey and with its Turkish culture. Turks pride themselves on their strength and Demarkaya is a perfect way to express that. It is a reminder to stay strong and resilient, no matter the situation.
Order DNA origin analysisDemirkaya: Where does the name Demirkaya come from?
Demirkaya is a relatively uncommon surname today. It is largely found among Turcophone peoples, which include people of Turkish, Laz and Azerbaijani heritage. Current World Banks data estimate that approximately 136 million people speak Turkish as their first language, a language closely associated with the Demirkaya surname.
The Turcophone countries are mostly located in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, although its speakers may be found in other regions. The biggest concentration of Demirkaya population outside of these countries is in the United States, in cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.
Demirkaya is particularly common in Turkey, where records suggest that at least 11,000 people within the country share this surname. It is estimated that about 4,000 people of Turkish descent with the Demirkaya surname now live in Germany, most having migrated from Turkey between 1960 and 2000.
Demirkaya is also very common in Lazland, an area located in Northwestern Turkey and Western Georgia which is home to a population speaking a Turkic language. In Lazland the Demirkaya surname has been used for hundreds of years and approximately 2,500 people of Laz descent currently bear the name.
Due to the migrations of buraqe (circular migrants) from Anatolia and the Ottoman Empire to the Balkans, the Demirkaya surname is also present in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Romania, especially among the diaspora from these areas which have settled in Western Europe.
Variations of the surname Demirkaya
Demirkaya is a Turkish surname that translates into ‘iron mine’. Variants of the surname include Demirkan, Demirçan, and Demirçen.
In some cases, the spelling of Demirkaya can be different depending on the region and dialect of Turkish spoken. Depending on the region, the surname can be spelled as Demirkay, Demrkay or Demirkai.
The Demirkaya surname may also be spelled with the Turkish letter Ç rather than the letter C. In this case, the surname would be written as Demirçaya or Demirçay.
This surname is often found in north western Turkey, particularly in Istanbul. However, it is also found in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Syria, and Romania.
Variant spellings of Demirkaya are also found in other parts of the world, including Demirky, Dimirka, Demirga, Demircoi, Demirga, and Demirkol.
Finally, surnames with similar roots include Demirkolu, Demirbas, Demircan, and Demirsen.
Famous people with the name Demirkaya
- Sebnem Demirkaya: Sebnem Demirkaya is a Turkish actress and model who has featured in several Turkish television series, movies, and theatre performances. She is best known for her leading roles in the series Asi, Güneşin Kızları, Savaşçı, Avlu, and Siyah İnci.
- Şevket Demirkaya: Şevket Demirkaya is a former football player who played for Blackburn Rovers in the 1980s. He also made nine appearances for the Turkey national team during his career.
- Faruk Demirkaya: Faruk Demirkaya is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Gençlerbirliği in the Turkish Basketball Super League.
- Murat Demirkaya: Murat Demirkaya is a professional footballer who currently plays for Bursaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.
- Muammer Demirkaya: Muammer Demirkaya is a Turkish national team handball player who currently plays for THK Kastamonu in the Turkish Handball Super League.
- Emre Demirkaya: Emre Demirkaya is a professional footballer who currently plays for Mersin İdman Yurdu in the TFF First League.
- Müzeyyen Demirkaya: Müzeyyen Demirkaya is a professional basketball player who currently plays for Mersin Büyükşehir Belediye in the Turkish Basketball Super League.
- Şenol Demirkaya: Şenol Demirkaya is a former Turkish footballer who represented the national team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
- Aylin Demirkaya: Aylin Demirkaya is a Turkish-Italian journalist and news anchor who anchors the news programme, Kıbrıs Sorunu at TRT News.