Surname Alper - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Alper: What does the surname Alper mean?
Alper is a Turkish surname that is derived from two Turkish words: "Alp," which means hero, brave, or courageous and "er," which means soldier or man. Thus, the surname Alper essentially translates to 'heroic man' or 'brave soldier.' Alper was also used as a first name in Turkish culture, particularly during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. It is quite popular and well-respected due to its meaning. Furthermore, it is worth noting that surnames in Turkey were not generally used until the early 20th century, after the adoption of the Surname Law in 1934 as part of Ataturk's modernization efforts.
Order DNA origin analysisAlper: Where does the name Alper come from?
The last name Alper is of Turkish origin, derived from the Turkish name "Alp" which means "brave or heroic" and the suffix "er" which means "someone who is". Thus, Alper translates to "someone who is brave or heroic". The use of the surname started in the Ottoman Empire era, and it was typically given to warriors to honor their bravery in battle.
Today, the surname Alper is most commonly found in Turkey. The country's use of surnames did not start until 1934, and the shift from traditional naming conventions to the globally recognized first name-surname structure contributes to Alper's commonality. The name is also prevalent in countries where there is a significant Turkish diaspora, such as some European countries (specifically Germany) and the United States. Apart from those with direct Turkish heritage, some Jews also bear the surname Alper. This could be because they migrated from the Ottoman Empire regions to the different parts of the world, particularly Israel and America, gradually spreading the surname.
Variations of the surname Alper
The surname Alper is of Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin and is mostly employed by Jews living in the Russian and Polish territories. However, it is interesting to see Alper as a common first name primarily seen in Turkey.
Alper is relatively unique and there are not many variations of it, although it is closely related to the surname Alpern. Alperovich, a derivative of Alper, is also linked to this root.
In terms of spelling variations due to transliteration from different writing systems (e.g., Cyrillic), it could potentially be spelled as Алпер in Russian.
It's important to remember though that surnames can evolve over time due to human error (especially when recorded in census documents, or written by non-native speakers), cultural shifts, immigration or anglicization. So while there may not be many known variations of Alper, it is possible that more exist in less commonly-known forms based on its historical use in different communities and countries.
It's always recommended to conduct thorough ancestral or genealogical studies using a wide array of resources to determine all possible variations and related surnames for a more comprehensive family history research.
Famous people with the name Alper
- Leslie Alper: American businesswoman and active philanthropist
- Nevzat Alper: Turkish business magnate and the current chairman of the Devrimci Yol-Der guerrilla organization
- Sam Alper: English engineer and founder of the Bristol Aeroplane Company
- Josh Alper: American lawyer and current writer for Pro Football Talk
- Stuart Alper: American music executive and co-founder of Impact Music Group
- Efraim Alper: Israeli artist and sculptor
- Avi Alper: Canadian software engineer and co-founder of Kiite Inc.
- Olga Alper: Chilean classical musician and professor of piano
- Gina Alper: Argentinian documentary filmmaker, professor, and media producer
- Jack Alper: American puppeteer, writer and director of puppet theater