Imperial Ottoman given and surnames.
I am writing a short story about a few marooned sailors in the 14th century. One of which is an Imperial sailor from Ottoman. The sailor is recounting his life as his strength is failing him. I made some fictional names of his family, but am not sure how to put the given and surnames together according to pre-modern Turkish law concerning names. I read a few explanations online but still don't feel comfortable putting them together without asking someone more familiar with the Ottoman Empire. The character's given name is Özertan. Surname: Yilmaz Would he then be called Yilmazoğlu Özertan? Since he is a father, would his family be called the Yilmaz or Özertan family? What of his wife, Zehra? What of his unmarried daughter, Göksu? Thank you in advance for your help.
Özertan -Sailor
Zeycan - Wife
Eralp – Son 1
Özgür- Son 2
Uğur – Son 3
Sabriye – Daughter 1
Nilüfer – Daughter 2
Göksu – Daughter 3
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
4
Surname Law adopted in 1934, which required all Turkish citizens to choose a surname for their family.Before 1934, Turks, as well as other ethnicities living in the Ottoman Empire, had no surname. People were addressed with titles like "hacı" (pilgrim), "hoca" (teacher), "ağa" (master), "paşa" (general), "hafız" (someone who has completely memorized the Quran), Others were called with a reference to their hometown.
In the Ottoman period, the term Hatun was used as an honorific for women, roughly equivalent to the English term Lady and a variant spelling of Khatun. Like most Turkish honorifics, it is used after the name. So for your case I suggest you to use "Denizci" as a surname for the sailor which is mean sailor in Turkish ( Denizci Özertan) and for his wife use hatun "Zeycan Hatun"
1
Surnames werent used during Ottoman period. If the father is Yılmaz and the name of the son is Özertan, then he will be called Yılmaz oğlu Özertan. Though it is very uncommon to give that name, Özertan, to a boy. Why not go with Mehmet, Ahmet, Mustafa?
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