Surname Yildiz - Meaning and Origin
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Understanding the Yildiz Surname through iGENEA: A Deep-Dive into My Genetic Heritage
Recently, I undertook a DNA test at iGENEA, seeking to understand the deep-rooted heritage of my surname, Yildiz. The comprehensive process and precise results provided an insightful journey towards my self-discovery, as I learnt about my ancestral lineage, migration patterns, and distant relatives.
P. Yildiz
read moreYildiz: What does the surname Yildiz mean?
The last name Yildiz is a common Turkish surname derived from Old Turkic yıldız, meaning 'star'. It can be found in multiple regions of Turkey and in countries populated by Turkish people such as Cyprus, Serbia, Macedonia, and Romania.
The name Yıldız is often used as a first name in Turkey owing to its positive connotations. It is seen as a symbol of light, hope, and truth in its ancient cultural heritage, a reference to the starry night sky. The phrase Güneşin Yıldızı (Star of the Sun) is a popular name in Turkey used for newborns.
While still used as a first name, Yıldız has also been used as a surname by various Turkic-speaking people for centuries. It stands for qualities associated with leadership, excellence, and success. As such, the name isn’t limited to Turkish people but can be found among multiple ethnicities including Ottoman Turkish, Turkmen, Tatar, Turcoman and Azeri.
Yıldız is also a popular last name in Honoris Causa ceremonies in Turkey. The name is often chosen to represent the high position or quality of a particular individual, used as a sign of respect. It is a constant reminder of the achievements made by the individual, and the values associated with them.
Order DNA origin analysisYildiz: Where does the name Yildiz come from?
The last name Yildiz is common in Turkey and the surrounding regions, including the Balkans and parts of Central Asia. This surname derives from the Turkish word for star, “yıldız”, and may originally have come from the name of Genghis Khan’s celestial banner. In modern-day Turkey, Yildiz is still a common surname with 35,984 people bearing it according to a 2018 report. It is also found in parts of the Balkans, such as Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia where 3,194 people carried the name in 2016.
Yildiz is also present across Central Asia and further into western Asia. For instance, in Uzbekistan it was the 15th most common name in 2012 according to a report by the United Nations. There is also a strong presence in Iraq of 2,815 people (in 2016 according to the same report), which is likely due to the strong influence of the Ottoman Empire. Other countries such as Syria (24,082) Tunisia (365), Yemen (2661) and Saudi Arabia (602) are among those that have reported having people with the last name Yildiz.
In conclusion, the last name Yildiz is definitely present in many countries surrounding Turkey and also further into western Asia. This would suggest that its origins could be traced back to Genghis Khan’s celestial banner, however, further research into its origins needs to be made. What is certain is that, even today, the name is still relatively common in many of the Turkish-influenced countries and is likely to remain so for some time.
Variations of the surname Yildiz
The surname Yildiz has many variations, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common alternative is Yıldız which is a Turkish spelling of the same surname.
Other variant spellings of Yildiz include Yildizh, Yıldır, Yıldısh, Yıldızlar, and Yıltız. Common surnames which share a similar origin and meaning include Ildiz, Yıldırım, Eldiz, Yıldıran, Yıldıroğlu, and Yıldızlıoğlu.
Yildiz is a common surname originating from the Turkish language, meaning ‘star’. Many Yildiz families can trace their ancestry back to the Ottoman and Turkish Empire, however, it is also common in the Caucasus region – particularly amongst Azerbaijan Turks.
The surname Yildiz is very popular in Turkey, where it is the 60th most commonly found surname. It is also relatively common in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia, moderately common in Iraq where it ranked 17th in births, and also found in Bulgaria and Croatia.
In the United States, Yildiz is a relatively uncommon surname, ranking 8,075 in 2020. Over half of the Yildiz families who live in the US can trace their roots back to Turkey.
Overall, the surname Yildiz has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Given the common Turkish root word ‘yıldız’ - meaning ‘star’ - many of the spellings and surnames of the same origin share the meaning of the surname Yildiz.
Famous people with the name Yildiz
- Tolga Yıldız is a Turkish professional basketball player who currently plays for Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.
- Nihat Yıldız is a Turkish footballer who plays as a striker for Keciörengücü in the TFF First League.
- Merve Yıldız is a Turkish actress who gained recognition following her lead roles in the television series Death of Roses and The Squad.
- Ezgi Yıldız is a Turkish actress, best known for her portrayal of Özlem Tarhan in the series Life Goes On.
- Nazlı Yıldız is a Turkish singer and songwriter who rose to fame with her single "Seni severdim".
- Faruk Yıldız is a former professional Turkish basketball player who played for clubs such as Turk Telekom and Fenerbahçe.
- Selen Yıldız is a Turkish theater actress.
- Enis Yıldız is a Turkish professional footballer who currently plays for Galatasaray SK.
- Aysel Yıldız is a Greek-Turkish actress, best known for her leading role in the series Young Black Skirts.
- Mert Yıldız is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Istanbul Basaksehir in the Super Lig.