Surname Esen - Meaning and Origin

Esen: What does the surname Esen mean?

The last name Esen is a Turkish surname. It is believed to be a patronymic name derived from the ancient Turkish word "esen" meaning "wind." The adoption of surnames was not universal throughout Turkey until the Ottoman Empire (1299–1922), and so it is likely this surname is a relatively recent adoption.

The word "esen" has been previously found in the early Turkic languages, and has been used in legend and literature to indicate strong, favorable winds that can be helpful to those who travel by sea. Therefore, the meaning associated with the surname Esen may relate to an ancestor who worked as a merchant, sailor, navigator or fisherman; professions that are greatly reliant on good winds. It is also possible that this is a name that is adopted from either geography or an occupation that has associations with the wind.

In addition, the surname Esen may be a derivative of any of the many Turkish words that feature the root “es”, which may be specifically associated with a range of words related to strength and power, including esit (equal), esnek (flexible) and esir (captive).

As a note, the spelling of Esen is much more common in Turkey, often written as "Esen" or "Esin." This spelling difference is likely due to the phonetic changes that occurred from Turkish to some other Romance languages such as Spanish and Portuguese.

Esen: Where does the name Esen come from?

The last name Esen is most commonly found in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan. This reflects its Turkic-Mongolian heritage, as Kazakhstan is home to many ethnic and linguistic minorities. According to a study conducted by the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England in 2019, Esen is the 12th most common surname in Kazakhstan, with over 18,000 people having it as of that year.

The likely origin of the name Esen is Turkic, from the word meaning ‘brave’ or ‘hero’. It is thought the name was adopted among the nomadic Turkic-Mongolian people living in the area, and over the centuries spread throughout the area and eventually into Kazakhstan.

In addition to Kazakhstan, Esen is also common in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Outside of Central Asia, there are also a small number of people with the Esen surname, mostly found in the Middle East and North Africa.

Despite its widespread presence in the area, there is surprisingly little information known about the origin and history of the name Esen. It is a mystery why the name is so prevalent in Central Asia and the Turkic-Mongolian world. Whatever its origins, Esen remains one of the most common surnames in the region today.

Variations of the surname Esen

Esen is a surname of various origins, and can take many different spelling forms and variants. Primarily, the name is found in countries such as Norway, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Finland, and can be spelled Esen, Essen, Esse, Esso, and Esson. Additionally, some of the variant spellings may incorporate other letters such as an 'h', 'k', 'ä', and 'ö', further expanding the spelling possibilities.

In Norway, the surname is typically spelled Essen, while in Finland, Esen is the more common spelling. In Turkey, it is often spelled Esen, with the possibility of adding an 'h' at the beginning, as in Hezen. In Azerbaijan, the surname may be spelled Esen, or take the longer form Esgerov, depending on the region. In German, the name may be spelled Essen, or take the form Esenhöfer.

The name is also common in the Netherlands, and may take the variant spellings Essen, Essens, or Essenstal, or be combined with other names such as Esen-Peters or Das-Essen. In Jewish culture, the spelling Esenspain is sometimes seen. Finally, in the United States and Canada, the most commonly seen spelling is Essen.

In all of its various forms, Esen is a name that has multiple origins and take many variations in spelling. Despite this, the root of the name is the same throughout various culture and countries, distinguished only by its spelling variation.

Famous people with the name Esen

• Uğur Esen: Turkish theatre, movie and television actor
• Ceyda Esen: Noted Turkish academic, psychologist and female rights advocate
• Dogan Esen: Former Turkish World Heavyweight Kickboxing champion
• Nevzat Esen: Former professional Turkish football player and manager
• Fazıl Mehmet Esen: Turkish statesman, leading member of the early republican era
• Ece Esen: Turkish Paralympic swimmer
• Ezen Köroglu: Turkish folk singer
• Osman Esen: Turkish modern/contemporary painter and sculptor
• Gökhan Esen: Professional Turkish basketball player
• Ahmet Salim Esen: Turkish actor and singer

Other surnames

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