Surname Kalkan - Meaning and Origin
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Kalkan: What does the surname Kalkan mean?
The last name Kalkan is an interesting one with origins that span various regions and cultures. While the name may have its roots in pre-modern Islamic culture, it is also a name with origins in Jewish, Indian, and possibly Aboriginal cultures.
The Islamic origins of Kalkan refer to a merchant or shopkeeper. It is derived from the term 'kalakaan', which is an Arabic word meaning "place to buy and sell". It is often found among Middle Eastern families such as Turks, Arabs and Persians. Some people believe that Kalkan has roots in the name Caliphate, which is an Islamic political system.
Kalkan is also a Jewish surname. It is a variant of the Yiddish word "Kalman", often used as a given name in the Jewish community, also referring to a merchant or trader.
The Indian origin is less certain but may have been used as a surname by people from the former Rajputana state of India. It is believed to have been derived from 'kalkar', a Sanskrit term for pectin, a gum-like substance found in trees.
The last name Kalkan may also have Aboriginal origins. It is a variant of the name 'Kalka', which is likely of Wiradjuri or Arawrab language origin and was possibly used as a name given to protectors of the people.
Thus, the last name Kalkan could mean quite a few different things. It could mean a 'place to buy and sell', a 'merchant' or 'trader', 'pectin' or 'gum substance', and even a 'protector of the people'. It is a name with a rich history that speaks of diverse cultures and regions.
Order DNA origin analysisKalkan: Where does the name Kalkan come from?
The last name Kalkan is of Turkish origin, and is most commonly found in Turkey and other parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia. There are currently over 54,000 people with the name Kalkan living in Turkey, according to the country's General Directorate of Population and Citizenships.
The surname has also extended into other parts of the world, including the United States and many European countries. In the US, Kalkan is most common in New York, California, Texas, Indiana, and Illinois. In the UK, people with the last name Kalkan mainly reside in London and England.
In Europe, the greatest concentration of Kalkan is among Turkish immigrants living in Germany. Other countries with high rates of Kalkan include Austria, France, and Sweden.
Although Kalkan is mainly associated with Turkic countries such as Turkey, it has become increasingly common in other parts of the world as people of Turkishorigin move abroad. The global spread of the name is a testament to the ever-growing diversity and connectivity of the world today.
Variations of the surname Kalkan
The surname Kalkan is an ancient and noble family name derived from a Middle Age Turkic and/or Germanic origin. A variant of the name is derived from the word "kalk" which means "cauldron." Kalkan is spelled in various ways, including Kalke, Kalki, Kalkea, Kalkez, and Kalkex, and is also found as a surname in many countries and cultures.
In Turkey, the family name "Kalkan" is thought to have originated from the Greek Mussae, which is an ancient Greek tribe living in Pontus, the area now known as northeast Turkey. The region's Turkic and Hellenic roots are reflected in various spellings of the name in different parts of the world.
In Germany, the surname Kalkan may have derived from Allemanic, an ancient Germanic tribe in southern Germany. It is possible that the Allemanic dialect was adopted by Turkish people, resulting in the spelling and pronunciation of the name Kalkan.
In the United States, the Kalkan family has become more diverse, and numerous spellings and surnames can be found, including Colkan, Kalek, Kalkay, Kalec, Kallke, Klake, Kalko, Kalkovsky, and Kalikin. In France, the most popular variant is Kalkez, while in Spain the families tend to use the spelling Kalki. In Russia, the surname is found as Kalko and Kalgin.
Kalkan is found in many cultures and countries, and with so many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, it is not hard to imagine the ancient past of this noble and unique family name.
Famous people with the name Kalkan
- John Kalkan: award-winning American film and television composer known for his work on films such as It's Kind of a Funny Story, The Harrad Experiment, and All the Real Girls.
- Emre Kalkan: Turkish international footballer currently playing as a defender for Istanbul Basaksehir F.K. of the Turkish Super Lig.
- Tuğba Kalkan: Turkish rhythmic gymnast and the 2016 Individual All-Around World Cup champion.
- Erhan Kalkan: Turkish concert violinist and one of the founders of the Istanbul Modern ensemble.
- Asim Kalkan: Turkish actor and director best known for his role as Mehmet in the 2016 Turkish television series Utangaç.
- Ahmet Kalkan: Turkish-born American physicist and professor at the University of Michigan.
- Aziz Kalkan: Turkish-born Dutch actor known for his work in television series such as Penoza and Onderweg Naar Morgen.
- Ercüment Kalkan: Turkish business executive, former chairman of the board of directors at Türkiye Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü and current advisor to the Chairman of The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey.
- Ibrahim Kalkan: Turkish political figure and the former mayor of Gaziantep Province in Turkey.
- Nihan Kalkan: Turkish-Dutch author, journalist, and writer, best known for her 2010 novel Kiyamet Senfonisi.