Surname Topkaya - Meaning and Origin
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Topkaya: What does the surname Topkaya mean?
The last name Topkaya is derived from the Turkish language and is most commonly found amongst families originating from Turkey. It is thought to be derived from the Turkish word "top" which can mean cannon, as well as a generic term for a round object or projectile, potentially in reference to an ancestor who was a military artilleryman. Topkaya is also the name of a hill located in the province of Yozgat in Central Anatolia in Turkey.
The Topkaya Hill, which is over 1,800 meters tall, is one of the highest and most important hills in the area, making it a wise place to guard and inhabit, and thus likely a source of some of the origins of the Topkaya family. Topkaya Hill has also produced some of the richest natural resources in the area, including tufa stone that has been used to construct many buildings over the centuries.
The meaning of the Topkaya last name therefore implies a relationship with the Topkaya Hill and the province of Yozgat, suggesting that the Topkaya family has its origins either as residents of the area or loyal soldiers who were stationed there to protect the resources of the region.
Order DNA origin analysisTopkaya: Where does the name Topkaya come from?
The last name Topkaya is most commonly found in Turkey today. The Topkaya name originated as a Turkish toponymic surname, making it highly concentrated in the region they originally called home. According to data collected from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) in 2019, over 30,000 people with the last name Topkaya live in Turkey.
The last name Topkaya is most commonly found among members of the Alevi religion. Alevism is a branch of Shia Islam native to Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. According to studies, approximately 20-25% of Turkish citizens subscribe to Alevism. Thus, it’s likely that a large majority of those carrying the Topkaya name belong to the Alevi faith.
The Topkaya last name is also found among many Turkish diaspora populations throughout Europe, North America, and Australia, which may have migrated there during the turbulent 20th century.
Although the name Topkaya originated in Turkey, it is now found in many other countries around the world where there is a large Turkish population. It has been said that the name Topkaya is a very special one, as it is connected to both a person’s homeland and culture.
Overall, the last name Topkaya is most commonly found today in Turkey among the Alevi faith and the diaspora populations around the world.
Variations of the surname Topkaya
The surname Topkaya has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the country of origin, the spelling of the name can vary greatly. In some cases, the last name may even be seen spelled differently within the same country.
In the Turkish language, Topkaya is most commonly seen as Topka or Topkalı. In Turkish, the ending "-ka" and "-kalı" stress a familial origin. "Top" means "soil", making the true meaning of the surname "descendants of the soil". In some cases, the word may even be written as Topkalıoğlu, meaning "the descendants of the soil people".
The Armenian spelling of the family name is Topkanc. This variant is indicative of Turkish influence, as a similar Armenian phrase (Topkanj) carries the same meaning.
In English and some other languages, the surname Topkaya is often written as Topcaya. This is likely due to the influence of the Turkic language, as in Turkish, the letter "K" is often pronounced as a "CH". In other languages, this may have been misheard and written as an "C".
The Hungarian surname Topkai is a transliteration of the Turkish surname, as the letter K is pronounced similarly in both languages.
In some cases, the name may have been modified to some degree. For example, Topkaya has also become Toplay and Topkoy, both of which include the base of the word "top" with some other suffixes.
Overall, despite the multiple variants of the surname Topkaya, all of them share the same origin. From the Turkish "Topka" and the English "Topcaya" to the Hungarian "Topkai"; all of these spellings point to the same meaning – the descendants of the soil.
Famous people with the name Topkaya
- Ahmet Topkaya: Ahmet Topkaya is a Turkish doctor who specialized in ... heart and blood vessel diseases. He is also known for his philanthropic work, providing grants to students in need of financial support for their studies.
- Arda Topkaya: Arda Topkaya is a Turkish entrepreneur and technology investor. He is the founder of the venture capital firm 500Turks. He has been successful in his investments in technology and biotechnology companies.
- Hatice Topkaya: Hatice Topkaya is a Turkish actress. She has been featured in several films and TV series such as Nutmak istiyan, Mavi ten, Gurbet Yolu, and Kirkceste.
- Ece Topkaya: Ece Topkaya is a Turkish actress. She has acted in various television series such as Seven Ne Yapmaz, Balik Avi, and Sefiribiz.
- Kerem Topkaya: Kerem Topkaya is a Turkish football player. He plays for the Turkish club Galatasaray S.K.. He has also played for the Turkish International Team and for the Turkish National U-17 team.
- Metin Topkaya: Metin Topkaya is a Turkish professional basketball player. He has currently plays for the Turkish team Istanbulspor. He has also played for various other Turkish teams such as Acibadem Universitesi, Ataşehir Belediyespor, and Akhisar Belediyesi G.S..
- Saban Topkaya: Saban Topkaya is a Turkish musician and recording artist. He is best known for his use of synthesizers and for creating complex and immersive soundscapes. He has released albums as a solo artist and also performed as part of the band Power Park.
- Halit Topkaya: Halit Topkaya is a Turkish film, television, and stage actor. He has appeared in many films and television series such as Insancilik, Senin Hikayen, and Ozgurluk Howlu.