Surname Ozturk - Meaning and Origin

Redefining Ozturk - An Emotional Odyssey with iGENEA DNA Test

Embarking on a quest for my roots, I took the iGENEA DNA test. My life-long belief of being purely Turkish was challenged. Through emotional whirlwinds, I discovered that Ozturk was not just a Turkish surname, but a link to a rainbow of heritage.

K. Ozturk

Ozturk: What does the surname Ozturk mean?

Ozturk is a traditional Turkish surname that originates from two words "Oz" and "Turk." Literally, it translates to "Pure Turk" or "Original Turk." It's a very common last name in Turkey, signifying a strong connection with the ethnic Turkish identity. The surname is believed to date back to the Seljuk Empire or the Ottoman Empire when the Turkish people started moving from a tribal structure towards a united country and began to identify themselves as "Pure Turks." Often, it reflects an individual's pride in their Turkic heritage. As with most surnames, Ozturk can be found throughout the country, carried by people from different walks of life.

Ozturk: Where does the name Ozturk come from?

The last name Ozturk is most commonly found in Turkey and among Turkish diasporic communities around the world. In Turkey, the name is concentrated in the western coastal region near the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. Ozturk is also prevalent in some Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, due to the centuries-long presence of ethnic Turkish people in these countries. This presence is even more pronounced in Germany, with Ozturk being listed among the top 100 last names in the country. Ozturk is also very common in the Netherlands, where more than 20,000 people with this last name can be found. In the United States, Ozturk is especially widespread among migrants from Turkey and former Yugoslavian countries. In Canada, Ozturk is also quite prevalent in cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver as a result of Turkish immigration.

Variations of the surname Ozturk

The surname Ozturk is quite common in Turkey, where it is used as an alternative spelling of an earlier version of the name, Öztürk. The surname can also be found outside Turkey in countries such as Albania, Macedonia, and Serbia, often under various spellings such as Ozdurk, Ozturke, Osturk, Ozturkie, and Ozturcue. Outside Turkey, especially in the Balkans, the surname may also be seen spelled as Çeturk, Çetork, Öztörk, or Özdürk depending on the dialect.

It is also believed by some that certain names with similar sounds, such as Ozturkoglu and Ustark, may actually have the same root as the Ozturk name. Ozturkoglu is found mostly in Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, and is believed to have been derived from the suffix "-oglu," which is an affectionate term referring to the son of the father. Lastly, Ustark is believed to be a dialectical variant of Ozturk originally believed to have been derived from Albania, which is now primarily in use in the United States.

The surname Ozturk is an occupational name derived from a Turkish word "oz or uz," which means "self." Additionally, the root of "turk" is believed to come from "tur," meaning "strength." Although the root meanings of names that contain the suffix "-oglu" and "Ustark" are not indubitably known, the names may still provide clues as to the possible meanings of the Ozturk surname for some people.

Famous people with the name Ozturk

• Bekir Ozturk: Famous Turkish swimmer, won bronze medal and set a record at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 400-meter freestyle.
• Atilla Ozturk: Famous Turkish mountaineer, is the first Turk to be one of the world's leading mountaineers and he climbed Mt. Everest in 2014.
• Begum Ozturk: Famous Turkish TV presenter, star of the show "Yasak Elma" which airs on FOX TV.
• Ulas Ozturk: Famous Turkish actor, best known for his starring role in the 2014 film "Aramizda Kalsin".
• Hakan Ozturk: Famous Turkish rider, multi-time world champion in extreme biking.
• Selim Ozturk: Famous Turkish military officer, served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces from 2015 to 2016.
• Muhammed Ozturk: Famous Turkish scientist, leading researcher in the fields of physics and nanotechnology.
• Zeynel Ozturk: Famous Turkish soccer player, retired player who featured for clubs such as Besiktas and Fenerbahçe.
• Murat Ozturk: Famous Turkish Basketball player, four-time All-Star in the latest TBL season.
• Atakan Ozturk: Famous Turkish singer-songwriter, released two solo albums in the 2000s.

Other surnames

Özturan