Surname Turkalj - Meaning and Origin
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Turkalj: What does the surname Turkalj mean?
Turkalj is a Croatian surname found predominantly in the country's central and northern regions. Like many surnames, it can offer some insight into the ancestral history of individuals who bear it. The exact origin and meaning of the surname Turkalj are not definitively known. However, it may be derived from the term "Turk," historically denoting an individual from Turkey or associated with the Turkish culture. In the Croatian language, "-alj" is a common suffix for surnames that can indicate a person's origin or profession. Consequently, the last name Turkalj could hypothetically imply a historic connection or association with Turkish people or culture. Please note that this is speculative and it might not be the definitive interpretation. To accurately trace the origin and meaning of the surname, specialized genealogical research is often necessary.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkalj: Where does the name Turkalj come from?
The last name Turkalj is most typically found today in various Central European countries. Most notably, it is commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Turkalj name is most concentrated in the Republika Srpska region. According to the Bosnian census conducted in 2013, the last name was most frequently found in the western town of Sanski Most, located near the border of Croatia. There were 77 citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the name Turkalj. Its popularity in Sanski Most is likely due to its long history—inhabitants of the region typically trace back their ancestry to the medieval Bosnian state, when the population was largely made up of ethnic Slavs and various Muslim populations who had settled in the region centuries before.
In Croatia, the Turkalj surname is found most often in the city of Zagreb, as well as various other inhabited regions of the country like Istria, Primorje-Gorsky, Lika-Senj, Požega-Slavonia, and Šibenika-Knin, though to a lesser extent.
In Slovakia, the Turkalj name is recorded most often in the Kosice region, with 43 people listed in the census. Czech Republic has 36 registered people with the last name, and Serbia registered 77. Slovenia registered the fewest citizens with the surname, with a total of 10 people being recorded.
Overall, it appears that the surname Turkalj is most commonly found throughout Central Europe, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Variations of the surname Turkalj
The Turkalj surname has several different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include:
Turkalj, Turkalji,Turchaly,Turkelly, Turkili, Turkulja, Turčelić, and Turčeli,
The surname Turkalj most likely originated in Croatia, and is a patronymic surname. Patronymic surnames are derived from a person’s father’s or an ancestor’s given name. For example, if someone’s father’s name was Nikola, and his surname was Turkalj, then his full name was Nikola Turkalj.
The Turkalj surname might have been derived from the ancient Croatian given name Torko. Torko was derived from the Old Church Slavic language and was related to the word ‘Tigar’ (Tiger). It is likely that the surname Turkalj was used to signify a fierce or brave member of the community.
The Turkalj surname might also have derived from the Turks. During the 16th century, Croatia was repeatedly invaded and conquered by the Ottoman Empire (known as the Turks). Those of Slavic descent who were enslaved by the Turks and later freed may have been given the surname Turkalj as a sign of their former servitude.
These are the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Turkalj.
Famous people with the name Turkalj
- Bojan Turkalj: Serbian footballer
- Davor Turkalj: Croatian boxer
- Darko Turkalj: Croatian handball player
- Ilija Turkalj: Serbian football manager
- Mladen Turkalj: Croatian footballer
- Pedro Turkalj: Argentine-Italian footballer
- Radomir Turkalj: Serbian music conductor
- Robert Turkalj: Croatian footballer
- Siniša Turkalj: Croatian basketball player
- Zorica Turkalj: Serbian actress