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Name statistics

Most common surnames in Türkiye

Surnames became compulsory with the 1934 Surname Law. These are the most common today, and where they are most common.

Surnames
#NameCountChange
1 Yılmaz 1,177,896 –
2 Kaya 899,722 –
3 Demir 876,934 –
4 Çelik 717,655 –
5 Yıldız 697,080 –
6 Şahin 688,214 –
7 Yıldırım 666,723 –
8 Öztürk 586,831 –
9 Aydın 581,387 –
10 Özdemir 556,378 –
11 Arslan 521,149 –
12 Doğan 485,906 –
13 Kılıç 450,572 –
14 Aslan 409,459 –
15 Çetin 345,329 –
16 Kara 290,024 –
17 Kurt 289,723 –
18 Koç 286,207 –
19 Polat 273,871 –
20 Şimşek 253,543 –
21 Korkmaz 250,142 –
22 Özkan 245,254 –
23 Yavuz 236,317 ▲ 2
24 Çakır 235,286 ▼ 1
25 Özcan 233,820 ▼ 1
26 Erdoğan 233,535 –
27 Can 230,085 –
28 Acar 228,386 –
29 Güneş 227,203 –
30 Aktaş 222,711 –

Other surnames in province lists

Source: TurkStat (TÜİK), Address-Based Population Registration System. Changes are against the 2018 list.

Guide

Understanding surname frequency in Türkiye

The most common Turkish surnames are best read as population statistics, with a clear year and geographic scope. Turkish last names also raise questions about spelling, family research and legal history, each of which needs a different kind of evidence.

  1. The leading surname

    According to TÜİK’s 2025 Türkiye-level surname figures, Yılmaz ranked first with 1,177,896 people. The count refers to people recorded with the surname, not separate families.

  2. Other widely recorded surnames

    According to TÜİK’s 2025 Türkiye-level figures, Kaya had 899,722 bearers and Demir had 876,934. Çelik and Yıldız followed in the supplied ranking.

  3. A legal reference point

    The relevant historical legislation is the Surname Law no. 2525 of 21 June 1934. Confirm questions about current registration or surname changes with a civil registry office or a lawyer.

What the national surname list measures

A surname count tells you how many people are recorded under that surname within the stated statistical scope. It does not tell you how many unrelated families share it, how those families are connected, or where any particular bearer’s ancestors lived. According to TÜİK’s 2025 Türkiye-level figures, Yılmaz, Kaya and Demir occupy the leading positions in the supplied list. For a wider explanation of statistical categories, visit name statistics. Consult the methodology before comparing this population-wide surname ranking with annual baby-name lists, which answer a different question about naming.

Compare years without turning counts into family history

According to TÜİK’s Türkiye-level surname figures, Yılmaz was recorded for 1,134,443 people in 2018 and 1,177,896 in 2025. Kaya and Demir also have higher recorded counts in the supplied 2025 figures than in 2018. These observations describe the published totals; they do not establish why those totals changed. Nor does a shared surname prove a family relationship. The province pages provide a way to examine geographic statistics where available, while guides offer a separate starting point for broader naming questions. Keep family-history conclusions tied to evidence about the particular family.

Keep spelling and legal questions separate

Preserve the spelling shown in the list when looking up surnames such as Yılmaz, Çelik, Şahin or Öztürk. Turkish letters matter when matching a written name, and the pronunciation guide can help readers unfamiliar with them. The Surname Law no. 2525 of 21 June 1934 supplies a historical legal reference, but a frequency table cannot resolve an individual registration issue. For a current legal question, confirm the position with a nüfus müdürlüğü, meaning a civil registry office, or a lawyer. Use the guides as background reading rather than an individual legal determination.

Using surname statistics carefully

  • Save the year and Türkiye-level scope with any surname count.
  • Preserve Turkish spelling when comparing records or searching for a surname.
  • Treat surname totals as counts of people, not counts of families.
  • Keep evidence of kinship separate from a match in surname.
  • Confirm individual legal questions with the civil registry office or a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the source of the surname figures?

Source: TÜİK, address-based population register, top-30 lists. The figures discussed here are Türkiye-level surname figures for 2018 and 2025.

Does sharing a Turkish last name mean people are related?

A shared surname alone does not establish kinship. A family connection requires evidence about the people concerned.

Can a surname identify someone’s ethnicity or religion?

No. These statistics provide no basis for assigning an individual an ethnicity, religion, sect or regional identity.

Does this ranking explain surname-change requirements?

No. Ask a civil registry office or a lawyer to confirm the rules and procedure that apply to your circumstances.