Surname Karabalci - Meaning and Origin
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Karabalci: What does the surname Karabalci mean?
The last name Karabalci is derived from the Arabic word “Karab” which means “a brave man.” Karabalci, in turn, is believed to originate from the Turkish term “Karabalici” which literally translates to “lionlike”.
This term implies that the bearer of the last name Karabalci was a brave man, likely one who was strong in physical prowess or intellect. This may have been because the last name could have been given to an ancestor who had done something heroic. This could include feats such as protecting the village they called home, or perhaps serving in an army.
More specifically, the last name is a patronymic, meaning it was likely derived from the first name of the person’s father. This suggests that the name was likely passed down through generations as a sign of respect for the ancestors' accomplishments.
The last name Karabalci has become a prominent namesake in today’s society, as it is found in multiple countries around the world, including Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. The name is carried with pride and honour, and the people who bare it are respected for their texts of bravery.
Order DNA origin analysisKarabalci: Where does the name Karabalci come from?
The last name Karabalci is an ethnic Turkish surname. Today, it is most common in Turkey, with some also living in other parts of the Middle East. In Turkey, the population is concentrated mainly in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as in Austria, Germany, and Belgium.
The Karabalci surname is likely of Ottoman origin, meaning that the family are descendants of post-1453 Ottoman peoples. The surname is also Romanized in various ways, including Karabaghi, Karabaci and Karabashi.
Variations of the name can also be found in the United States and Canada, particularly in larger cities in Eastern states like New York, Massachusetts and Michigan. The Karabalci surname in the US and Canada is most commonly found among those with ties to Turkish communities in those countries.
There is a village in Northern Cyprus with the name Karabalci that was settled by people of the same name, who likely emigrated there following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in World War I. It is likely that many of the families from Karabalci moved to other parts of the world over the following decades.
Overall, the Karabalci surname is most common in Turkey, but can also be found in other parts of Europe, the United States, Canada and Northern Cyprus.
Variations of the surname Karabalci
Karabalci is a popular surname of Turkish origin. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Karabalci include Kara-Baldzhi, Kara-Baldjii, Kara-Balduja, Karabaldzhii, Karabaldjii, Karabaljoy, Karabaldo, Karablazic, Karabasic, Karabasojic, Karabasojce, Karabasojevic, Karabalaci, Karabalčić, Karabljić, Karabljic, Karablukić, Karabljevic, Karaboglu, Karabovo, and Karabovce.
The Karabalci surname is derived from the Ottoman Turkish words 'kara' meaning black and 'baldzhi' meaning a type of woolen cloth. Historically, those with the surname Karabalci were cloth merchants or traders.
The variant spellings of Karabalci largely reflect differences in the language from which it was derived. For example, Karabaljoy is the Serbian variant, Karabaldo is the Italian version, Karablazic is the Croatian spelling, and Karabasojevic is derived from Bosnian. Additionally, the endings such as -evic, -ic, -ojic, -o, and – ce are indicative of the owner's family history and origin.
The surname Karabalci is today widespread in countries like Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Italy but is also found to some degree in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Macedonia. Those who have the Karabalci surname today are likely descended from a long-standing cloth mercantile tradition that has been in existence for centuries.
Famous people with the name Karabalci
- Gülizar Karabalci: Turkish former model, host, actress on Stiletto Vendetta, singer and operational director at the publishing house Harlequin.
- Mahmut Karabalci: Turkish football manager who was manager of Torku Konyaspor and Beşiktaş J.K. in 2010.
- Emrah Karabalci: Turkish Professional boxer with 11 professional fights, 7 wins and 3 knockout victories.
- Levon Karabalci: Armenian artist and musician, also known as “the king of tar-based Armenian folk music”.
- Zeki Karabalci: Turkish actor who acted in films like Istanbul Sehir, and television series such as Magnificent Century.
- Ferit Karabalci: Turkish professional boxer, who competed in the lightweight distance for Turkey in international tournaments.
- Sedat Karabalci: Turkish author of historical novels such as İstanbul’un Öte Yanı and Gevrek Taşlarının Sırrı.
- Barış Karabalci: Turkish contemporary journalist, commentator and radio host who regularly appears on TV channel Haber Global.
- Ahmet Karabalci: Turkish Sustainable Development expert, and author of books including Terrorism: The Roots and Solutions.
- Gai Karabalci: Ukrainian television and radio presenter, as well as producer of the popular entertainment show Temptation.