Surname Yigit - Meaning and Origin
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Yigit: What does the surname Yigit mean?
The last name Yigit is an interesting one due to its varied nationalities and meanings. In Turkey, Yigit is a masculine given name derived from the Turkish word yiğit, meaning brave and courageous. In Central Asia and parts of Turkey, Yigit is also a title given to a respected leader or nobleman.
Yigit is also a popular family name in Turkic countries such as Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kygyzstan, Hungary, and Romania. It is derived from the Persian word yekiti meaning party, or its variant yekgram meaning chief of a village. The Hungarian variation, Ígyet, is also related to the name’s original meaning.
In Germany and Austria, Yigit was taken from a Baltic dialect derived from the word Jegergott, meaning young god. This is linked to Scandinavian mythology, which believed in heroic figures such as Thor and Odin, who are gods of strength, honour and courage.
The last name Yigit is still used today and often symbolizes a strong, courageous family. It is an especially good name for a baby boy, as it is believed to represent a strong and positive future.
Order DNA origin analysisYigit: Where does the name Yigit come from?
The last name Yigit is most common in Turkey. According to sorgulama.com, Yigit is the 17th most common last name in the country, with nearly one hundred thousand people registered with it. It is thought to have originated from the Arabic name Yaqut, which means "precious stone". It is also found in other countries in the Middle East, such as Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Palestine. While the surname may not be as well-known in other parts of the world, it has a long history in Turkey.
The Yigit family is believed to have descended from the Seljuk Turks, a Turkic tribe that emerged in the 11th century and established the Sultanate of Rum. This was the first and longest lasting Turkic-speaking state in Anatolia, and the Yigit family were among the many families who migrated from Central Asia to Anatolia with the Seljuk Turks. The Yigit family thus evolved as one of the most prominent old families of Anatolia, although their number and influence has declined in modern-day Turkey.
Aside from Turkey, the surname can also be found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe, where emigrants of Turkish descent have settled. As Turkey continues to be well-connected with other countries by air, sea, and land, more and more Turkish people have settled abroad, sometimes bringing their family names with them. Therefore, the surname Yigit is becoming more and more common outside of its homeland throughout the world, although it remains most prominent in Turkey.
Variations of the surname Yigit
The surname Yigit is derived from the Turkish word for “hero or brave.” There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Yigit. Common variants include Yigith, Yigeth, Yigitglu, Yigitek, and Yigitoglu. Another spelling is Yığıt, which is very common in Eastern Turkey. Other surnames with similar origins include Yigitbasi and Yigitcan.
Yigit is also commonly used in place of the surnames Yay, Bayindir, and Yöruk, which all share the same meaning of “hero” or “brave.” In some parts of Turkey, the surname Yigitan is also used as a variant of Yigit.
In the former Ottoman Empire, Yigit was also used in place of the both the surnames Kılıç and Kırkın, which translate respectively to “sword” and “forty.” Similarly, Yigit is sometimes used in place of several other surnames such as Kaya, Yılmaz, and Toprak, which all share the meaning of “rock”, “fertile”, and “soil”, respectively.
The surname Yigit is also often replaced with similar Turkish surnames such as Gündoğdu, Doğu, and Güden, which respectively mean “Sun”, “East”, and “Land.” However, the most popular variant of Yigit is still the original Yigit, which was one of the most popular surnames in the former Ottoman Empire and continues to be one of the most common surnames in Turkey today.
Famous people with the name Yigit
- Serkan Yigit: Serkan Yigit is a Turkish actor best known for playing Yamaç in the TV series Çukur (The Pit).
- Didem Yigit: Didem Yigit is a Turkish actress, best known for playing Kızılay, a character in the show Kara Sevda (Endless Love).
- Mahir Yigit: Mahir Yigit is a Turkish actor, scriptwriter and director, best remembered for working on the series Medcezir (Tide) and Meryem.
- Selim Yigit: Selim Yigit is a Turkish actor who appeared in the movie Sozumuz Olmasa (If We Didn't Have A Word).
- Hasan Yigit: Hasan Yigit is a Turkish popular culture figure, best known for presenting the Talent Show Master of The Universe, produced by Atv.
- Uzay Yigit: Uzay Yigit is a Turkish actor who starred in the movie Delibal (Lovebird).
- Pelin Yigit: Pelin Yigit is a Turkish actress who appeared in the movie Anadolu Kartallari (Eagles of Anatolia).
- Seher Yigit: Seher Yigit is a Turkish actress appearing in the shows Vatanim Sensin (You Are My Patriot), Son Yaz Balkanlar (The Last Summer in the Balkans), and Tamam Miyiz (Are We OK?).
- Baris Yigit: Baris Yigit is a Turkish voice actor and dubbing director who has worked on various animation projects.
- Su Yigit: Su Yigit is a Turkish actor well-known for appearing in the series Bizim Hikaye (Story of Us) and Olgun.