Surname Kurnaz - Meaning and Origin
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Kurnaz: What does the surname Kurnaz mean?
The last name Kurnaz is of Turkish origin and is derived from a Persian word meaning 'short-tempered'. It's believed to have originated from a 15th-century Turkish chief named Kurnaz Bey. Historically, the surname has been associated with leadership qualities; the 'Kurnaz' is said to be a leader who is respected and admired for their strength of character and steadfastness.
The Kurnaz are known for their strong personalities and have long served as leaders of their communities. Their strict sense of justice and fairness, as well as their strong work ethic have been integral parts of the success of the Kurnaz family. Historically, they used to be owners of great estates or governing bodies of various areas, which gave them powers of taxation, executive powers and community-building abilities.
Today, the Kurnaz are still a respected family in the Turkish community, and many still display the same strict sense of justice and fairness that their ancestors had. They are highly sought-after members of the business community, and many are successful entrepreneurs. In some cases, the last name has been changed to various other spellings (such as Kurnazoglu, Kurnaztepe, or Kurnazogluoglu).
In essence, the last name Kurnaz speaks of a long family history of strength and leadership, which believe it or not, is still very much alive today.
Order DNA origin analysisKurnaz: Where does the name Kurnaz come from?
The last name Kurnaz is most commonly found in Turkey and Germany. It is derived from the Turkish word ‘kurban’, meaning ‘sacrifice’. In Turkey, the surname is widespread in many cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Diyarbakir. In Germany, it is most commonly associated with the Turkish-German Meliz Kurnaz-Köse, who became an international icon of personal endurance after being detained against his will for five years in the Guantanamo prison camp.
The Kurnaz surname is also present in the Netherlands, where the Kurnaz family originated in the 1950s. Wiz Kurnaz, an award-winning recording artist and multi-instrumentalist, is from this Dutch branch of the family. Outside of Europe, the surnames are scattered throughout the United States and Australia.
Notably, the last name Kurnaz can also be found among Jewish communities, since the name originates from the Hebrew/Yiddish words ‘kurnaznik’ or ‘karenes’ which mean ‘strong, determined’ or ‘brave’. The Kurnaz surname is widely dispersed across the world, with the largest populations living in Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and Australia.
Variations of the surname Kurnaz
The surname Kurnaz is derived from the Turkish name for ‘humble’ or ‘lowly’. It is also spelt as Kurnaz, Kurnazu, Kurnazoglu, Kurnazoglu, Kurenozlu, Kurnozlu, and Kurenozoglu.
It is a Turkish word that is spelled as Kurnaz. It has a variety of spelling variants, including Kuranozlu, Kurenozlu, Kurnozlu, and Kurenozoglu. The variants of Kurnaz also have associated surnames such as Kurnazoglu, Kurenozlu, Kurnozlu, and Kurenozoglu.
Kurnaz is an ancient Turkish name mainly associated with the Turkish aristocrats. It is even spelled differently depending on the region of the origin. In some cases, it is spelt as Kurnazoglu. In others, it is Kurnazlu, Kurnozlu, and Kurenozoglu. It was mainly used by aristocrats who lived in the Ottoman Empire centuries ago.
Today, the surname Kurnaz continues to be used in Turkey and other countries with a Turkish diaspora, such as the United States. There is also a significant population of Kurnaz people living in Germany and other European countries.
Kurnaz is also a last name among some Islamic countries. It is commonly found among Iranians and Arabs, due to their influential interaction with the Ottoman Empire.
In short, the surname Kurnaz has its roots in Turkish, and it is spelt in various forms, including Kuranozlu, Kurenozlu, Kurnozlu, Kurenozoglu, Kurnazoglu, Kurnozlu, and Kurenozoglu. It is a popular surname among both Turkish and Islamic communities in various parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Kurnaz
- Murat Kurnaz: Murat Kurnaz was born in 1978 in Germany to Turkish parents. He was detained in 2001 upon arriving in his birthplace, Pakistan, and accused of trafficking in false documents and connections to terrorist activities. He spent five and half years in Guantanamo before being released in 2006.
- Tarık Kurnaz: Tarik Kurnaz is a Turk who was detained in Singapore in 2002 due to connections to alleged terrorist activities. A German court later ruled that there was no proof for any such connections, though his detainment in Guantanamo Bay lasted from 2002-2006.
- Ali Kurnaz: Ali Kurnaz is a Turkish journalist who has been jailed multiple times for his political commentary and print journalism that criticizes the government in Turkey.
- Vedat Kurnaz: Vedat Kurnaz is a Turkish writer and academic. He's best known for his book "Dünya İçin Ne Kaldı?", which chronicles his experience of growing up in Turkey's minority Alevi culture.
- Ahmet Kurnaz: Ahmet Kurnaz is a Turkish movie and television producer, best known for the movies "Veda" and "Cüzdan".
- Cem Kurnaz: Cem Kurnaz is a Turkish world champion freediver, known for taking on extreme dives in challenging environments. Some of his most renowned accomplishments include a world-record dive to a depth of 105 meters in 2005, and a descent to 90 meters in 2005.
- İlhan Kurnaz: İlhan Kurnaz is a Turkish artistic gymnast who has won individual and team medals on multiple occasions, including silver medals at the 2001 and 2002 World Championships.
- Yiğit Kurnaz: Yiğit Kurnaz is a Turkish chess grandmaster whose accomplishments include coming third in the Turkish Championship in April 2018 and tying for first in the Open Swiss Tournament at the Schaffhausen Chess Classic in 2013.