Surname Karakasoglu - Meaning and Origin
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Karakasoglu: What does the surname Karakasoglu mean?
The last name Karakasoglu is an occupational surname with an interesting backstory that dates back to the Ottoman Empire. The name itself is a combination of two Turkish words – 'karakas' and 'oglu' – which have fairly literal translations. 'Karakas' is a Turkish word meaning 'innkeeper' or 'publican' and was used to describe a person in charge of a hotel, restaurant, tavern, or inn in a particular area. Meanwhile, 'oglu' means 'son of', and it’s often added to names to trace an individual's family lineage and profession.
Taking this combination together, the name Karakasoglu can roughly be translated to mean 'the son of the innkeeper'. It is not uncommon to see these sorts of occupational surnames among Anatolian Turks, as traditional professions were often encoded in surname titles, and in this case, it was likely passed down through the generations as a form of hereditary surname.
Today, Karakasoglu is still a fairly common last name in parts of Turkey, with more than 200 people registered as having it as their last name. The name reflects an interesting part of Turkey’s history and its cultural history, and can serve as a reminder of the professions that have remained important in the region over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisKarakasoglu: Where does the name Karakasoglu come from?
The last name Karakasoglu is most commonly found in Turkey and the Turkish diaspora. It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of people who have this surname, with many found throughout the world from Germany to the United States and Australia. The origin of the name is thought to have come from the Turkish words for "black head".
In terms of Turkey, Karakasoglu is found particularly in the Eastern and South-Eastern corners of the country, especially in the Erzurum and Aksaray provinces. In addition, due to a large number of Turks emigrating abroad during the middle of the 20th century, significant numbers of the surname can now be found in many major centres of the diaspora, such as Istanbul and Izmir.
In Europe, the most concentrated population of Karakasoglu is found in Germany. Many moved to the country as guest workers during the economic boom of the 1960s and 70s, and this was made easier with the Treaty of Rome in 1957 which allowed for free movement of labour between member countries of the European Economic Community. Today, many can be found in the larger cities such as Cologne and Berlin.
In the United States, Karakasoglu can be found mainly in the east coast. In major cities such as New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago, as well as smaller municipalities and towns, there are a number of Karakasoglu.
Finally, the last name can also be found in other locations, such as Australia and Romania, thanks to emigration from Turkey in the 1950s and 1960s.
Variations of the surname Karakasoglu
The Karakasoglu surname originates from Turkey and may be spelled in several ways, including Karakasoglu, Karakasogullari, Karakasogluoğlu, and Karakasoğlu. Karakasoglu is the most commonly used spelling, but the 'oglu' or the 'oğlu' which are the possessive suffixes of sonship, both appear in some versions of the name. This high number of variants is due to persistent changes in the way surnames were transcribed over time.
Karakasoglu is a habitational Turkish name, derived from the area of Kahramanmaras, Turkish province of southeastern Anatolia.The family likely descended from the noble Turkish father as well as clannish violence relations. The family was encapsulated by the traditional clan system, recording their pedigree and married into other clans. As many of the Turkish people migrated out of the region, the name spread to other parts of the world, most notably the United States.
The Karkasoglu and its variants are also found in the United States, most notably Northwestern Connecticut. Variants such as Karakasogullari, Karakasogluoğlu and Karakasoğlu have yet to be officially found in the United States.
As with many surnames, there are alternative spellings for Karakasoglu such as Karacasoglu, Karakacoğlu, Karakasoglu, Karakaşoğlu, Karakaşoğluoglu, Karakesoğlu, Karakısoglu, Karakocoglu, Karakoçoğlu, Karakösoğluoglu, Karakösoğluoğlu, Karakoşoğluoğlu, and Karakösoğluoglu. Regardless of the spelling variant, these surnames all trace back to the same Turkish roots.
Famous people with the name Karakasoglu
- Ahmet Karakasoglu: Turkish film and television actor best known for his role in "Loveland".
- Ahmet Melih Karakasoglu: Turkish entrepreneur and founder of the multi-dimensional media company CMB Media Group.
- Erhan Karakasoglu: Turkish novelist, poet and painter.
- Nasuhi Karakasoglu: Turkish university professor, writer and former government minister.
- Oktay Karakasoglu: Turkish professional footballer currently playing for Akhisarspor.
- Serdar Karakasoglu: Turkish actor known for his role in the television series "Gece Gündüz".
- Volkan Karakasoglu: Turkish cinematographer known for projects like "The Fraudster" and "In the Name of the Wild".
- Yilmaz Karakasoglu: Turkish professional footballer currently playing for Altinordu Futbol Kulübü.