A series of articles on the subject of Slovene Surnames

Slovene Surname Turk Issue No 1, 1994 p. 62

Turk is another surname in which readers of Slovenija are interested. There were 3291 persons with this surname in Slovenia in 1991, and the name ranks in thirteenth place among the most frequently occurring Slovene surnames. Within the category of surnames derived from ethnic origin, only Horvat (Croat), the second most frequently found surname in Slovenia, is more widespread (10,456 in 1991). Variation of Turk are considerably rarer: Turek (30 in 1971), Tu..rk (fewer than 10 in 1971), Turkovic' (12 in 1971), and Turko, Turkos, Turkus , and Turcic (fewer than 10 each in 1971). According to the Zacasmi slovar slovenshik priimkov, the surname Turk occurred in the he following former districts: Kamnik, Litija, Kranj, Logatec, Dolnja Lendava, Crnomelj, Krsko, Metlika, Ptuj, Novo mesto, Radovljica, Idrija, Kocevjc, Brezice, Maribor's Right Bank, Slovenj Gradec, the viciity of Ljubljana, Murska Sobota, Dravograd, Celje, Ljutomer, Smarje, the vicinity of Celje, Ljubljana, Gornji Grad, Postojna, Konjice, Maribor, Gorica, Lirska Bistrica, Sezana, Maibor's Left Bank.

The Surname Turk is undoubtedly a reminder of the period many centuries ago when the Turks spread fear across Slovene Territory on their frequent conquering and pillaging expeditions. In addition to many evils, however, they also brought us corn, which along with its common name "koruza" is also called "turscica." The surname Turk does not, of course, denote persons of previous Turkish nationality, but rather a newcomer or a fugitive from territory under Turkish control. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was at that time part of the Turkish Empire, this surname does not occur, just as the surname Horvat is only rarely found in Croatioa; it is very frequent, however, in Slovenia and Hungary. The existence of surnames derived from ethnic origins or from the names of people who lived in certain location such as Korosec, Kranjc, Dolenc, Gorenc and Kocevar reveals interesting historical facts, especially the direction and extend of the numerous migrations which occurred in various periods of our history.

We also find the surname Turk in our oldest documents, for example, in the town records for Prem from 1498: Peter Turkh, a farmer from Gradec, and Peter Turkh, a farmer from Selce. The same holds for Bela krajina, while Martin Turkh of Businja vas appears in the records of the Turjak administration between 1487 and 1501 and Stane Turkh appears in the records of the Pusti Gradec estates between 1690 and 1699.

The surname Turk concludes this article on the origin of Slovene surnames, and I will attempt to cover more of the surnames you have mentioned in your letters in future issues of Slovenija.