Surname Karatas - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Karatas: What does the surname Karatas mean?
The surname Karatas is believed to be of Turkish origin, although its exact meaning in the language is unknown. Most interpretations suggest that the name is derived from the Turkish word "kara," meaning "black," but there is also a possibility it could be related to the root word "kara," referring to a wide range of dark hues.
Karatas has often been associated with the title "Kara", given to leaders of Muslim Turkic nomadic tribes. The term is generally used to refer to a superior or powerful individual, and it is thought that individuals bearing the name embraced this empowerment associated with the title. This could suggest a direct relation between the Karatas name and members of the powerful tribal leaders of Turkic Islamic communities.
The given name not only has a rich history in Turkic culture, but it has also spread across the Ottoman and present day Turkish populations. Within the contemporary context, the Karatas name is embraced as a symbol of strength, determination, and leadership, representing traditional cultural values while also embracing the modern diasporic communities.
Order DNA origin analysisKaratas: Where does the name Karatas come from?
The last name Karatas is most common in Turkey and other Turkic-speaking countries. In Turkey, Karatas is the 57th most common last name, with approximately 45,000 people who bear the surname. It is also common in other neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Iraq.
In Europe, Karatas is especially noticeable in Northern Germany, particularly among the Turkish-origin population there. Germany is home to the largest Turkish diaspora community outside of Turkey, and as such Karatas is one of the most frequently-occurring surnames among the Turkish-German population.
Karatas is also found outside of Turkey and other Turkic-speaking countries. It is surprisingly frequent in the United States, where it is the 2,973rd most common last name and estimated to be borne by more than 11,000 people. About 39% of those living in America with that last name live in Ohio.
In Canada, the last name Karatas is the 5,789th most common last name and is estimated to be held by nearly 11,000 people. The majority of those living in Canada with the Karatas last name live in Ontario.
Karatas is thus an internationally-common surname, which can be found in countries around the world, including Turkey, Germany, the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Karatas
The surname Karatas is of Turkish origin and originates from the word ‘Kara’ meaning 'black' and 'tas', meaning 'stone' in Turkish. Over the centuries, different variants have arisen as the surname has been transcribed in various languages.
Some of the variant spellings and surnames of the same origin as Karatas include:
- Karadas: The Greek spelling of the surname with a minor spelling variation.
- Karatasoglu: A Turkish variant of the surname that adds ‘oglu’ to the original spelling; a common Turkish suffix indicating a family or clan identity.
- Karetas: Another minor variation of the surname spelling.
- Karatash: A similar form of the surname that adds an ‘h’ to the original Karatas spelling.
- Keretas: Another minor variation of the original surname.
- Karetashi: A variant of the original Karatas surname, also including the 'h' letter to form the 'sh' sound.
- Karadashli: A variation of the original Karatas surname that adds ‘shli’ to the original spelling; a Turkish suffix of unknown origin.
- Karatassi: A variant of the original Karatas surname, including a 'double s'.
- Karatashalli: A combination of Karatas and the ‘shli’ suffix, resulting in a hybrid variant of the original surname.
- Karetasi: A variation of the original Karatas surname, including only the single 's'.
In conclusion, there are multiple variant spellings and surnames that are the same origin as Karatas, some of the more notable ones being Karadas, Karatasoglu, Karetas, Karatash and Keretas. Some of the minor variations of this surname are also Karetashi, Karadashli, Karatassi, Karatashalli, and Karetasi.
Famous people with the name Karatas
- Kadir Karatas: Turkish professional footballer and political activist.
- Recep Karatas: Former Turkish football player.
- Murat Karatas: Turkish singer and songwriter.
- Selahattin Karatas: Turkish businessman and founder of the Karatas Group.
- Dogukan Karatas: Turkish footballer.
- Omer Karatas: Turkish footballer.
- Omer Faruk Karatas: Turkish entrepreneur and former deputy of the lead platform in Turkey.
- Ali Karatas: Turkish footballer.
- Fatih Karatas: Turkish left-wing politician.
- Akin Karatas: Turkish actor.
- Ratip Karatas: Ottoman calligrapher.
- Hakki Karatas: Turkish professional boxer.
- Mustafa Karatas: Turkish wrestler.
- Gunduz Karatas: Turkish weightlifter.
- Osman Karatas: Turkish-born TV producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the US.