Surname Turkus - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Turkus: What does the surname Turkus mean?
The surname Turkus does not have a specific meaning attached to either a profession, a characteristic, or a geographical location, which are common origins of last names. It's likely that Turkus is of Eastern European origin due its phonetic style and structure, possibly from countries such as Lithuania, Poland, or Ukraine. Some sources suggest that it could be derived from the word or name 'Turk', indicating Turkish roots or connections. This, however, is pure speculation and would need genealogical research to verify. Individual family histories and migratory patterns can cause significant variations and transformations in surnames, making it difficult to pinpoint a definitive meaning without detailed ancestral records. It's also notable to mention that Burton Turkus, a New York lawyer and prosecutor, made the name well-known in the mid-20th century.
Order DNA origin analysisTurkus: Where does the name Turkus come from?
The last name Turkus is common predominantly in Eastern Europe. It is a Jewish surname, typically found amongst Jews in the countries of Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus. It began to spread during the 16th century as Ashkenazi Jews began to travel throughout these regions.
Today, the most common region for this surname is Ukraine. In fact, it is the ninth most common name in the country, with 1.5% of the population having the last name Turkus. The cities of Chernivtsi and Transcarpathia have a particularly high concentration of Turkus families.
In the United States, the surname is much less common. According to the United States Census Bureau, only 4,120 people in the entire country had the name Turkus in the year 2020. This is a drastic change from the thousands of Turkus family members who immigrated to the US at the turn of the 20th century.
In the beginning of the 20th century, many Ashkenazi Jews were fleeing their home countries in search of a better life. The US was an attractive destination for them due to its more tolerant religious and cultural environment. As a result, there are many multigenerational families in the US with the last name Turkus.
Overall, the last name Turkus is most common in Ukraine and in parts of Eastern Europe, though there are also smaller pockets of Turkus families located throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Turkus
The surname Turkus has its origins in the Russian language and has several spelling variants and alternative surnames. Some of the variants of this surname include Turing, Turchin, Turkin, Turgel, Turgis, Turgay, Turgenev and Turgayev.
Turing is a variation of Turkus that is sometimes seen in Russia, Poland and Lithuania. In Russia, Turchin is also a variation of Turkus. Similarly, Turkin is sometimes seen in Russia, Ukraine, and Latvia. Turgel is an alternative spelling that can sometimes be found in Russia.
Turgis is another variation of this surname, and has been used in Russia and Turkey. Turgay is a Turkish variation of the surname, while Turgenev is a variant that has been used in Russia. Finally, Turgayev is yet another variant of Turkus, and can be found in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
These various spellings and surnames all derive from the same root surname, Turkus. Despite the minor differences in spelling, the meaning behind the surname is the same and the various variants and languages used to write them are all related.
Famous people with the name Turkus
- Domenick Turkus: American attorney who co-authored the book, Murder at the Bar.
- Steve Turkus: American actor who has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including Supernatural and Hawaii Five-O.
- Trina Turkus: Professional basketball player currently playing for the University of Nevada, Reno.
- Hardy Turkus: American author who wrote books such as A Tiger in the Court and The Color of Justice.
- Stefanie Turkus: Former Miss America semifinalist from Arizona.
- Steven Turkus: Emmy-nominated TV writer and producer.
- Michael Turkus: American collegiate football coach.
- Toby Turkus: British singer and performer who has released several albums.
- Richard Turkus: Associate Professor of Education at Bard College.
- Francis Turkus: American actor and voice-over artist best known for his work on video games.