NameCensus.

UK surname

Turek

A surname of Polish origin meaning "aurochs," a large, extinct wild ox that once inhabited Europe.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, East Lindsey and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Turek is 321 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

2015

321 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Turek surname distribution map

The map shows where the Turek surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Turek surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Turek over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1891 historical 10 #33,355
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 157 #21,322
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 211 #18,377
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 312 #14,430
2015 modern 321 #14,062
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Tureks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, East Lindsey, Arun, Harrow and Crieff South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 017 Medway
2 East Lindsey 014 East Lindsey
3 Arun 004 Arun
4 Harrow 027 Harrow
5 Crieff South Perth and Kinross

Forenames

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First names often paired with Turek

These lists show first names that appear often with the Turek surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Turek

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Turek, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Turek surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Turek household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Turek is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Turek is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Turek falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Turek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Turek, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Turek

The surname Turek originated in Poland, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Polish word "turek," which means "a person from Turkey" or "a Turk." The name likely arose as a nickname or an occupational name given to someone who had traveled to or traded with Turkey, or perhaps had physical features resembling those of Turkish descent.

In the 14th century, the name Turek appeared in historical records, such as the Akta grodzkie i ziemskie, a collection of court documents from various Polish regions. These documents mention individuals with the surname Turek, indicating its presence during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Turek is Jan Turek, a Polish nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 15th century. He fought alongside King Jan Olbracht in the Polish-Ottoman War and was celebrated for his bravery and leadership.

Another notable figure with the surname Turek was Piotr Turek, a Polish writer and poet born in 1566. He is best known for his work "Księga o gospodarstwie," a treatise on agriculture and rural life in Renaissance Poland.

In the 18th century, the name Turek was associated with the town of Turek, located in the Wielkopolska region of Poland. This town likely derived its name from the surname, indicating the presence of families with this name in the area.

Marianna Turek, born in 1813, was a Polish painter and one of the first female artists to gain recognition in her country. Her works, often depicting scenes of everyday life and landscapes, are held in several Polish museums.

Józef Turek, born in 1888, was a Polish musician and composer known for his contributions to the development of Polish folk music. He recorded and preserved numerous traditional songs and dances from various regions of Poland.

Throughout history, the surname Turek has been found across Poland, with various spellings and variations such as Turekz, Tureck, and Turecky. It has also been adopted by families in other Slavic countries, reflecting the cultural and linguistic connections within the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Turek surname: questions and answers

How common is the Turek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Turek a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Turek surname mean?

A surname of Polish origin meaning "aurochs," a large, extinct wild ox that once inhabited Europe.

What does the Turek map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Turek bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.