Surname Özkara - Meaning and Origin

Özkara: What does the surname Özkara mean?

The last name Özkara is an old Turkish name that has been around for centuries. Its literal meaning is “fifty” or “fifty hardcore” which could refer to a group of fifty people who were particularly strong or determined, or a group of fifty men who were determined to fight for their cause. The Özkara surname is commonly associated with Turks who live in Eastern Europe.

In contemporary times, the Özkara name may be used as a status symbol rather than a sign of strength or courage. The name can signify wealth or social standing in some circles. It can also carry historical or cultural significance since Turks constitute a large portion of the population in many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The most important thing to remember about the name Özkara is that its meaning and symbolism has changed over the years, and the people carrying the name today may have different interpretations of it. To some, it is a sign of pride for their Turkic heritage, to others it may simply represent a prestigious lineage of a particular family.

Regardless of what the name means to different people, its history is a reminder of its resilience and represents the strength of the Turks throughout the years.

Özkara: Where does the name Özkara come from?

The last name Özkara is a common name in Turkey, Azerbaijani, and locations that have been settled or influenced by Turkish culture. This is likely because the name is of Turkish (Turkic) origin. In Turkish, the word ‘öz’ means self or a part of oneself, and the word ‘kara’ means black. Therefore, Özkara is thought to roughly translate to “part of the self that is black” or to represent the black color of a person’s hair.

The prevalence of the last name is greatest in Turkey, where an estimated 215,000 people bear the name. The Özkara name is common in the city of Istanbul and the surrounding region, though it can be found throughout the country. In Azerbaijan, Özkara is a relatively common name, with an estimated 5,000 people bearing the last name there. In neighboring countries such as Armenia, Georgia, and Iran, the name is not as common.

With Turkish presence in Europe and around the world, the name Özkara is increasingly becoming more common in far flung places, such as the United States, England, Denmark, and Canada. As the Turkish diaspora continues to disseminate around the world, more people are taking the Özkara name with them. Perhaps, in the future, the name Özkara will become an even more common surname around the world.

Variations of the surname Özkara

The surname Özkara is of Turkish origin and is generally found as Özkara or Özkök in Turkey. It is also found spellings such as Özkaa, Ozkaa or Oskara in different countries. It is possible that immigrant families with this surname have adopted new spelling(s) of their family name due to literal mispronunciation or cultural assimilation.

Other variants and surnames of the same origin include Ozkök, Ozkok, Özkökk, Öskara, Oskok, Oskka, Oskara, or özkaraca. All of these variants are derived from the same original form of the surname: Ozkara.

The Özkara family name is often found in other countries including Bulgaria, Greece, and the United States. Variations of the surname are also found in Scotland, England, Germany, and France, depending upon where early members of the family settled or immigrated to.

The means to trace the other variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Özkara is to research the country and region of origin for the family, and then to conduct deeper research in various records including immigration documents, church records, and military records that feature the name. Through tracing the various documents associated with the family name, one can trace the different variations of the name. Additionally, internet research and family history organizations could further help in tracing these other spellings as well as their associated family trees, providing clues to the origins of Özkara family lineages.

Famous people with the name Özkara

• Olcay Sağlam Özkara: Turkish folk singer.
• Çetin Özkara: former expatriate footballer, who played in Turkey during the 1990s and late 2000s.
• Hasan Özkara: first professional Turkish basketball player in the United States, having a brief tenure with the Dallas Mavericks in 1996.
• Erol Özkara: athletics coach and sports commentator for the Turkish National Athletic Federation.
• Miray Özkara: Turkish anthropologist and activist.
• İsmail Gürkan Özkara: Turkish sport journalist and sports commentator.
• Abdülkadir Özkara: Turkish composer and keyboard player.
• Ali Özkara: Turkish Communist politician and deputy of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey.
• Yusuf Özkara: Turkish wood sculptor and painter.
• Cemal Özkara: Turkish footballer, who played for Fenerbahçe in the 1990s.

Other surnames

Özkartal