Surname Turcu - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Turcu: What does the surname Turcu mean?
The surname Turcu is common in Romania and derives from the word "Turc," which means "Turk" in Romanian. Thus, typically, it suggests of Turkish origin or ancestry. Historically, Romania was part of the Ottoman Empire, which was primarily based in present-day Turkey, resulting in significant Turkish influence and migration. Therefore, someone with the surname Turcu could be descended from these Turkish immigrants or from the Romanians who had relationships with the Turks. This name might also denote a person's geographic location or a nickname based on some characteristics. However, given the variations and possible changes over time, the exact meaning or origin might differ among individuals carrying Turcu as their last name, adding nuances to its general interpretation.
Order DNA origin analysisTurcu: Where does the name Turcu come from?
The last name Turcu is most commonly found today in Romania, though it is also found in other European countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary. This is likely due to the Romani people, who were traditionally a nomadic people, settling in Eastern European countries during medieval times.
The last name Turcu is a patronymic name, derived from the personal name Torocu. Its earliest founding in Eastern Europe can be traced back to the seventeenth century, when records of the name Turcu first appear in Romania. The name rapidly grew in popularity, becoming a widely used family name.
Today, the last name Turcu is most likely to be found among the Romani population of Romania, though it may also be encountered in other countries of the region such as Bulgaria and Hungary. In Romania, it is a very common surname, with a 2018 survey showing that there were over 10,000 individuals with the last name Turcu living in Romania.
Due to its patronsimic origin, the name Turcu has also spread to other countries as individuals have traveled and emigrated over the centuries. Today, the last name Turcu can also be found in Turkey, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Turcu
The surname Turcu is a Romanian surname that is found more commonly in Transylvania and the south-eastern parts of Romania, as well as some parts of Moldova and Bulgaria. It is a fairly common surname in Romania, with many variations and spellings. Some of the most popular variant spellings are:
Turchi, Turc, Turchu, Turchue, Turci, Turce, Turchiu, Tura, Tur, Turaş, Turea, Turuş, Turchiş, Turchişi, Turcea, Turcuș, Tureac, Tuta, Turcescu, and Tolcea.
Other surnames of similar origins include Turcitu, Turcă, Turcuceanu, Turcin, Turcuță, Turcio, Tulceanu, Tursa, Turcinu, Tuca, Tucu, Tut, Tutu, Tuică, Tuicu, Turza, Turces, Turcaş, Turceaş, Turceag, Tursan, Tursanu, Tursă, Tureanu, Tulu, Tureasca, Tureaşi, Tureac, and Turlea.
Surnames with origins in Turcu are typically derived from the old Turkic word turg, meaning “tribe”, or from the Old Romanian term turcuta, meaning “small village”. Alternatively, some of these surnames may also be related to the Romanian word turcus, which means “Turk”.
In conclusion, the surname Turcu has many variants and spellings, each of which is derived from one of a few possible origins, with the most common of these being related to the old Turkic tradition.
Famous people with the name Turcu
- Geta Turcu: professional rugby player, playing for the Romania men's national rugby union team.
- Gabriela Turcu: international football referee.
- Alina Turcu: long-distance runner who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in the marathon event.
- Nicolae Turcu: professional polo player who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Valentin Turcu: professional football player who plays for the Romanian national team.
- Mihai Turcu: former professional football player and current manager of the Romanian U20 national team.
- Florin Turcu: professional boxer who has appeared in four world championship bouts.
- Bogdan Turcu: professional basketball player currently playing for the Romanian national team.
- LIVE Turcu: music artist and member of the Romanian Eurodance group. 10.Alexandru Turcu: chess Grandmaster who won the Romanian National Championship in 2004.