Surname Türkewitz - Meaning and Origin
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Türkewitz: What does the surname Türkewitz mean?
The surname Türkewitz is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and it likely has a geographic or locational significance. Though exact meanings of Jewish surnames can be tricky to pin down due to variations in spelling, language, and oftentimes change upon immigration to different countries, it's plausible that this name relates to a town or area in Europe. The ending "-witz" is a common one in many Ashkenazi Jewish surnames, typically suggesting a place of origin in German-speaking or Slavic countries. It's important to note that the exact meaning might not be traceable due to these factors. In general, Türkewitz suggests a lineage tied to the Ashkenazi Jewish population and possibly a locational link to German or Slavic regions. However, the precise meaning and origin would have to be accurately traced with the help of genealogical research or family records.
Order DNA origin analysisTürkewitz: Where does the name Türkewitz come from?
The last name Türkewitz is not easily traceable to its exact origins, but is believed to have Germanic roots. Today, it is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in Germany and Poland.
In Germany, Türkewitz appears as Turkewitz, which predominantly appears in eastern states, especially in Thuringia and Saxony. Within Thuringia, the name is especially common in the Thuringian Forest and in its three main regions of the Harz, Eichsfeld, and Werra-Meissner. Geographically, the name is most concentrated in the region of Ostniedersachsen, a region in the central part of the country that covers Lower Saxony.
In Poland, Türkewitz appears as Turek-Wiczycki or Trzeci-Wiczycki. It is noticeably more commonly found in the provinces of Masovia and Pomerania. It is also found in Lithuania and the Czech Republic. In recent decades, due to migration from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Türkewitz surname has spread across the world and can now be found in North America, South America, Oceania, and various countries in Europe.
Given that the name is relatively rare in contemporary times, there are no exact statistics available to indicate its specific distribution among different countries. However, it is reasonable to deduce that it is most commonly associated with Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Türkewitz
The surname Türkewitz is a derivative of the Middle German word ‘Turkenwiz’, which was the name of a type of kite used in the Middle Ages. This surname has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the more common variants include Turkewitz, Türkewit, Türkewitz, Turkowitz, Turkowit, Turkwitz, Turchowitz and Dürkewitz. In some cases, the v and w have been dropped, leaving the surname as ‘Turkewiz’.
The surname has spread beyond Germany and can be found in other countries. In the United States, the surname is usually spelled as ‘Turkowit’. In the Netherlands, the surname is usually spelled as ‘Turkwijs’. In Britain, it is often spelled as ‘Turkwitz’. In France, it is sometimes spelled as ‘Turlwitz’ and in other countries, such as Russia and Poland, it is occasionally spelled as ‘Tirkewitz’.
Over time, some individuals have also adopted slightly different surnames that are related to Türkewitz. Examples of these include Turkenwitz, Turckwitz and Turkwitsky. Additionally, some people with a German heritage might use the shortened version, ‘Turk’, as their surname.
In short, Türkewitz is a surname that has multiple spelling variations and related surnames. Its modern variants can be found in Germany, the United States, the Netherlands, Britain, France, Russia and Poland, among other countries, and it also has some shortened versions and related surnames.
Famous people with the name Türkewitz
- Regine Türkewitz, German track and field athlete, weightlifter, and bodybuilder
- Karl Türkewitz, German football (soccer) player
- Ivo Türkewitz, East German footballer
- Holger Türkewitz, German footballer
- Siegfried Türkewitz, East German Olympic swimmer
- Thomas Türkewitz, German rower
- Steffen Türkewitz, German footballer
- Robert Türkewitz, German Handball player
- Engelbert Türkewitz, Austrian acrobat and high wire artist
- Anna Türkewitz, German-Swiss actress