Surname Yesilova - Meaning and Origin

Yesilova: What does the surname Yesilova mean?

The last name Yesilova is derived from the Turkish word for “green”, “yesil”. It is an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with green-colored items or products. It is a relatively rare surname and can be found among Turkish, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and Greek people.

Yesil was not the only Turkish word for “green”. Early in the language’s history, the word “cigdem” was also used to describe a color resembling green. Later, “yesil” took over as the primary term for “green” and “cigdem” became obsolete. As a result, the last name Yesilova became the most common form of an occupational surname for people who worked with items like green paints or fabrics.

The use of "ova" as the ending of this last name is also of Turkish origin and is a possessive form of the word meaning “of”. The full term Yesilova is interpreted today to mean “the one of the green”.

Throughout centuries, Yesilova has found its place amongst other Ottoman-origin last names. For some families, it may even be their oldest known surname, bearing witness to a long-passed ancestry. The name continues to be fairly uncommon today, but its significance as a historical Turkish last name remains undeniable.

Yesilova: Where does the name Yesilova come from?

Yesilova is a Turkish surname, most common in Turkey and its surrounding areas. The name is most common among ethnic Turks, including those from southeastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Its prevalence in the Turkish diaspora, in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, also suggests that the last name Yesilova is widespread.

Yesilova translates to “Green” in Turkish and is thought to have originally been a nickname. It is a numerical name derived from a turning point of the Ottoman history and denotes three generations of a family, possibly of military rank.

Today, Yesilova is still a common surname in Turkey, as well as in other countries with large Turkish populations. For example, Yesilova is one of the top ten most common surnames in both Bulgaria and Macedonia, and the name is also found in significant numbers in countries like Romania and Bosnia.

The last name Yesilova is also found in smaller numbers throughout the world. This could be attributed to Turkish diaspora communities, as well as the presence of several Yesilova families in the United States and Canada whose ancestors likely emigrated from Turkey and other countries in the region.

Overall, Yesilova is a common surname in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North America, with a significant presence in many countries. This suggests that the last name is widely dispersed and is likely to remain so in the coming decades.

Variations of the surname Yesilova

Yesilova is an uncommon Turkish surname originating from the word "yesil" which translates to green in English. It is also transliterated to Yedilov in Bulgaria, Yezilov in Poland, Yezilova in Russia and Yezilovai in Hungary.

The more common spelling, Yesilova, is also used for genealogical research in Turkey. It is sometimes assumed that the bearer of the name was connected to the production or sale of green goods. This could be the source of the surname, but is only an assumption.

The suffix "-ova" signifies either belonging to someone of the same last name, or denoting female descent. It is common in Slavic countries in Europe.

The variants of Yesilova include Yezilova, Yedilova, Yedilovai, Yesilove, Yezilove, Yezilovai, Yezilo, Yezil, Yesil, Yezilov, Yedilove, Eslove, and Yeslo.

Some of the common surnames of the same origin include Yezilovich, Yedilov, and Yezilovitch.

It is possible that these variants evolved from the same root, but could have also been formed independently from the same geographic area; although this is speculative as there is no known history associated with the surname.

Given the geographic area in which the surname is most common, it is likely that the family migrated from one geographic region to another and adopted versions of the surname in each new location.

Famous people with the name Yesilova

• Burak Yesilova: Burak Yesilova is a Turkish political science graduate and a marketing executive. He is the founder of a company called “What’s Up Turkey”, an online portal dedicated to Turkish news, opinion and culture.
• Leyla Yesilova: Leyla Yesilova is a Turkish film actress and producer. She is best known for her roles in “The Waterfall”, “My Father’s Garden” and “Esme Musa” as well as her work as a producer with “Introspectives”.
• Turkan Yesilova: Turkan Yesilova is a professional Turkish basketball player. She has played for a number of leading clubs in the Women’s Turkish League and is a regular member of the Turkish national team.
• Ozan Yesilova: Ozan Yesilova is an acclaimed Turkish photographer and visual artist. He has held solo exhibitions and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Istanbul.
• Nebahat Yesilova: Nebahat Yesilova is a Turkish high altitude climber from Adana. She is the holder of many records including the first Turkish woman to climb all seven summits and the first to reach the peak of Telmessos in Fethiye.
• Ekrem Yesilova: Ekrem Yesilova is a Turkish television and radio presenter from Bursa. He has presented for major networks in Turkey including Show TV and CNBC-e.
• Gulumser Yesilova: Gulumser Yesilova is a Turkish film director and actress. She has directed several short films including “Kilit” and “Ağıt”, both critically acclaimed.

Other surnames

Yesilöz