Surname Öz - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'O'
Öz: What does the surname Öz mean?
The last name Öz is derived from the Turkish word for "get" or "come," which is "özmek." The name is found throughout Turkey, Central Asia, and parts of Europe and is most common during the late Ottoman period. It may have been adopted by people seeking to indicate their loyalty to the Ottoman Empire, or by those simply hoping to stand out in a crowd.
Due to its origin in Turkey, Öz is most prevalent in areas with large populations of people of Turkish descent. This includes Turkey itself, as well as Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, and many other countries. In fact, various forms of the name have spread throughout the world, including to the United States, Australia, and Canada.
The meaning of the name generally reflects the origin in the Turkish language and is associated with the idea of movement and arriving. In many of these countries where people with this name settled, Öz can carry with it a sense of the exotic or distant, often reinforcing the idea of coming from, or being connected to, somewhere far away.
Though Öz can be used as both a given name and a surname, the latter emerged only relatively recently. In the last few decades, more and more families have adopted it as their last name to express their cultural identity or their loyalty to the Ottoman and Turkish empires. It can be found in households around the world and is a great example of the way that names can signify much more than just an individual's or family's identity.
Order DNA origin analysisÖz: Where does the name Öz come from?
The last name Öz is common in a variety of countries and regions around the world, primarily throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia. In Turkey, it is the 12th most common surname, accounting for around 1.6 million people. In Iraq, it is also a fairly popular surname, ranked 10th and totaling over 604,000 people. Furthermore, the name Öz has a strong presence in neighboring Iran, ranking 19th with over 555,000 people.
In addition to the Middle East, Öz is also an established surname in parts of Central and South Asia, including Kazakhstan, where it is the 23rd most common last name. In Afghanistan, Öz ranks 59th with over 61,000 people, just in front of Tajikistan, where it is the 66th most common name with over 32,000 people. Lastly, in Pakistan, the name is relatively common, ranked 109th with over 10,000 people.
Notably, the last name Öz has also spread to the wider world, where it has been adopted and adapted in numerous countries. In the United States, for example, the spelling “Oz” is much more common, with over 7,500 people sharing the name. Similarly, in France, Oz ranks 34th with over 5,600 people, while in the United Kingdom, “Oz” is the 4,870th most common last name.
Overall, due to its diverse and far-reaching worldwide presence, the last name Öz is now a well-established name in various countries, regions, and cultures across the globe.
Variations of the surname Öz
The surname Öz is an Ottoman Turkish name, derived from the Arabic word 'uzz', meaning 'strength' or 'power'. It is also found spelt in various ways, including Oz, Os, Uuz, Uz and Us. Some of the variants of the surname Öz may be used as stand-alone names, while others are used as combined surnames with other elements relating to ancestry or patriarch.
In many parts of Turkey, Öz is one of the more common surnames. However, many non-Turkish speakers are unaware of the variant spellings that the surname may take. For example, in the north-eastern province of Erzurum, the surname is commonly spelt as Oz. In addition, in the neighbouring province of Kars, the surname is often spelt as Us.
The surname Öz is also spelt as Uuz or Uz, particularly in the provinces of Urfa and Siirt. There is also a variant in the Central Anatolia province of Yozgat, which is spelt Os.
In the Kurdistan region of Turkey, some families living in provinces such as Van, Mus and Bitlis spell the surname Öz as Osoz or Ozir. These forms of the surname are generally seen as part of combined surnames and are made up of word elements that are different from the Ottoman Turkish surname Öz.
Other derivatives of the surname Öz are found in some parts of the Middle East including Azerbaijan, Syria and Iraq. In these countries, the surname is generally spelt as Usoz, Osoz or Usoz.
The surname Öz is also found in some parts of the Balkans, such as Albania, Serbia and Bulgaria, although in these countries the surname is usually spelt as Uskov, Uskok or Uskovic.
Some people of Jewish origin also take the surname Öz, but they usually spell it as Ouz, or Uz as a reference to the Jewish patriarch Uz.
The surname Öz is also used by some North African communities, particularly in the Arabian peninsula. The variant spellings found in these countries include Uza, Uzil and Uzhil. Some Arab populations also spell the name as Uzzil.
Famous people with the name Öz
- Turan Özdemir: Turkish entrepreneur, Turkish-Arab Businessman of the Year
- Ali Öz: Turkish singer, songwriter, actor and designer
- Berat Özdemir: Turkish volleyball player
- Ali Özgen: Turkish professional footballer
- Asli Özköse: Turkish former professional volleyball player
- Çetin Özdemir: Turkish professional football player
- Kürşat Özsoy: Turkish politician from the Republican People's Party
- Mustafa Öz: Turkish writer
- Deniz Öz: Turkish singer
- Ömer Öz: Turkish professional boxer