Surname Canak - Meaning and Origin
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Canak: What does the surname Canak mean?
The last name Canak is derived from the Turkish word "kanak", which means "container, vessel, or pot". It is believed that this surname was originally assigned to people who were associated with the production or trade of pottery or vessels. In its earliest documented use, with "Canak Kafalioglu" from the 15th century, it was used to refer to an artisan- or craftsman-style family.
The names associated with Canak are often geographically linked to different parts of Turkey. For example, many holders of the Canak surname lived in Marmara, in the north of the coastal Anatolian city. Similarly, variations of the name such as Canaci, Canakci, and Canakcioglu are sometimes associated with other areas such as Diyarbarkir, Istanbul, Antalya, and Ankara.
Today, the Canak surname is still common in Turkey, where it is often associated with the pottery and vessel trade. However, in the 21st century, there is also an increase in the number of people bearing the Canak surname who are not involved in these professions. In addition to modern-day inhabitants of Turkey, people of Turkish descent throughout the world are also known to bear the Canak surname.
Order DNA origin analysisCanak: Where does the name Canak come from?
The last name Canak is most commonly found in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is believed to be derived from the Slavic word "kanat" which means "flower". It is also the family name of one of the most famous Serbian soccer players, Dragan Canak. In the 2011 census, the last name Canak was the 293rd most common name in Serbia with a little over 11,500 people carrying it.
Canak is also a fairly common last name in Croatia, where it ranked 151st in the 2011 census with a little over 4,000 people carrying it. It is also popular in Slovenia, with over 2,500 people having the Canak surname. In Bosnia, it is a fairly common name, especially among Bosnian Croats, where it ranks 172nd in the 2013 census.
Outside of the former Yugoslavia, Canak is still rarely encountered. One notable exception is in Kosovo, where a branch of the Canak family have lived for over a century. Immigrants have spread the surname to other European countries such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It is also found in countries around the world such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Canak
The surname Canak is a Turkish surname originating from the Turkish word “kanak”, meaning “champion”. Generally, the surname is spelled as Canak, however, there are numerous other spellings and variants of this surname, each with its own distinct origin.
Most common variants of the surname Canak include Cenak, Chenak, Janak, Jenak, Kana, Kanak, Kanakos, Kanakise, and Kaneck. These are all variants of the surname derived from the same Turkish root word “kanak,” denoting a “champion”.
The variants with the prefix “Cen” are derived from “Cenan”, Turkish for “leader,” while “Jan” variants originate from “cajan”, Turkish for “glorious” and “Jen” variants meaning “magnitude”.
Surnames deriving from Canak include Dalka, Dehenak, Djenak, Dyenak, Enak, Konak, Kanack, Kanacke, Canack, and Sequank. Dalka, Dehenak, and Djenak are Turkish words originating from the word “Dalkak,” meaning “to strengthen”, while Dyenak is a variant of “Dyonak,” a Turkish phrase meaning “the brave”. Enak is derived from “Eynak,” Turkish for “wise man”. The Kanack, Kanacke, Canack, and Sequank variants are derived from the Turkish Kalak, meaning “to be ready”.
All of these variants of the surname Canak have unique origins and spellings, however, all of them ultimately derive from the same Turkish word “kanak”, meaning “champion”.
Famous people with the name Canak
- Ismail Canak: A Bosnian journalist and politician, he is currently serving as the President of the Savez za promjene party.
- Kemal Canak: A Turkish actor, he is known for his portrayal of Batman in Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and other superhero films.
- Alija Canak: A Bosnian playwright and author, he is best known for his play "Vucićeve noći" (The Nights of Vucić).
- Mediha Canak: A Bosnian singer and actress, she is best known for her single "Dragi Sin" and her appearances in several movies and television shows.
- Kemal Canak: A Turkish footballer, he has played for Fenerbahçe, VfB Stuttgart, and Celtic.
- Berina Canak: A Bosnian 500 meter sprinter, she competed in the 2017 European Championships in Athletics.
- Faruk Canak: A professional Turkish rally driver, he has competed in the European Rally Championship and the Turkish Rally Championship.
- Aleksi Canak: A Slovenian footballer, he currently plays for NK Domžale and has represented the Slovenian U21 team.
- Alina Canak: A Bosnian-born German sprint canoeist, she took part in the 2017 Summer Universiade and the 2018 World Cup.
- Elma Canak: A Bosnian basketball player, she has played for Damjanovic Međugorje, Mostar and Bosna Sarajevo.