Surname Kocakaya - Meaning and Origin
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Kocakaya: What does the surname Kocakaya mean?
The last name Kocakaya is a Turkish surname that is derived from two words.“Koca” means “big” and “kaya” means “rock” -together they make the word Kocakaya which literally translates to “big rock”. It is thought that the name likely originated centuries ago as a way of identifying someone whose physical characteristics or personality was based around the idea of being like a large rock or unbendable force.
It is thought that the name was first given to families who came from mountainous regions of Turkey, or were from a clan or tribe of warriors who were known to have a great strength and courage in battle. In some cases, the ancestors of these families were particularly powerful warriors or rulers who took on the name to express the power or impact that they had on their communities.
Today, the name is a respected one and people bearing it are often looked upon favourably in Turkish culture. It is associated with traits such as being strong, resilient, reliable and dependable. The name Kocakaya is a reminder of the power and strength of one’s ancestors, and their courage and tenacity in the face of adversity.
Order DNA origin analysisKocakaya: Where does the name Kocakaya come from?
The last name Kocakaya is most commonly found in Turkey. A surname search on genealogy websites (such as Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com) reveals that Kocakaya is a very popular last name found in both large and small cities of Turkey.
In fact, Turkish surnames are among the most widespread in the world, with nearly 30 million people bearing them. That’s because Turks are one of the largest ethnic groups in the world, comprising almost 20 percent of the global population – and Kocakaya is one of the most common surnames among them.
The name originates from the Turkish word “Koca” (“big”) and Turkish-Arabic word “Kaya” (“rock”), and means “large rock” or “big rock”. It was adopted as a surname sometime in the 16th century, and the name is now spread throughout Turkey – as well as countries like Georgia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo, France and the United States.
The Kocakaya surname is well-represented in many parts of the world, but Turkey – with its large population of Kocakayas – is arguably the last place one would expect to find the name. In Turkish society, the last name carries great value, as it is a sign of something grand and powerful: a large rock, sending the message that its owners are unshakeable.
Variations of the surname Kocakaya
Kocakaya is an uncommon Turkish surname, deriving from the Turkish word “kocak”, meaning “dark-haired”. It is not an old surname, likely emerging in the early 20th century. Variants of spelling of this surname include “Kocakaya”, “Kocakayo”, “Koca Kaya”, “Kocakay”, “Kocak Semin” as well as “Kocakia” and “Kochakia”. The surnames “Koca” and “Kaya” both suggest the dark hair, originating from the initial surname.
Some surnames of similar origin include “Kochak” and “Kockak”, which both share the same meaning of dark-haired in Turkish. Other surnames of similar origins include “Kokcak”, with the same meaning of a dark-haired individual. The Turkish surname “Köçer” also has similarities, with the root being the word “köç”, meaning “run”, with the additional meaning of “running with dark hair”.
Some surnames of similar sound and orientation include “Kirkci”, “Kirkcik”, “Kurtci”, and “Kurtcik”, all originating from the word “kurt” meaning “wolf” in Turkish. Finally, other variants of sufferings include “Köçük”, which means “small” in Turkish, “Korkut”, meaning “brave” and “Korkutluk”, meaning “braveness” in Turkish.
Famous people with the name Kocakaya
- Sera Kocakaya-Actress
- Cetin Kocakaya-Turkish Politician
- Hüseyin Kocakaya-Singer
- İsmet Kocakaya-Actor
- Mesut Kocakaya-Former Member of the Turkish Parliament
- Muhammed Kocakaya-Screenwriter and Director
- Naci Kocakaya-Composer
- Necmi Kocakaya-Turkish Wrestler
- Ali Kocakaya-Politician
- Emin Kocakaya-Author
- Ercan Kocakaya-Rapper
- Hasan Kocakaya-Painter
- Orhan Kocakaya-Former Turkish Football Player and Coach
- Ahmet Kocakaya-Former Member of the Turkish Parliament
- Muzaffer Kocakaya-Formula One racing driver