Surname Kiray - Meaning and Origin
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Kiray: What does the surname Kiray mean?
The last name Kiray is a name of Turkish origin, derived from the word “karay” meaning “black”. In its literal translation, the name implies that the person with this last name has dark hair, eyes, or skin. Historically, many of those who have carried this surname were of the Islamic faith. In some cases, those who have a similar name may have descended from Turkey’s nomadic Turkic-speaking people, who lived in the country for about three thousand years and have left behind a rich cultural heritage.
The surname is also found as a variant or derivative of the Turkish word “Karay”, which refers to a type of black cotton fabric. In some cases, it could also be connected to “kiraci”, meaning “renter”, and indicate a person who lived as a tenant or lodger.
The name “Kiray” has many alternate spellings, such as Kircay, Kirey, Kirci and Kireci. The name is also used as a first name in both the Republic of Turkey and other countries. It has become increasingly common over the years and is usually associated with middle to upper-class people, or those of wealth and privilege.
Generally, those who have this last name may be part of a larger family unit who share the same surname and likely a common language, culture, and religion. All in all, it is a unique and interesting surname that has a long and varied history, connecting it to Turkey’s rich cultural heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisKiray: Where does the name Kiray come from?
The last name Kiray is most commonly found in Turkey today. It is believed to be of either Kurdish, Lebanese, or Turkish origin. The surname is derived from the Turkish surname 'Kiraci' meaning 'farmer'. The name is quite common in Turkey, with approximately 24,000 people in Turkey bearing that surname. In Lebanon, the name is also quite common, with over 6,700 people in the country bearing that surname.
In America, the name is not as common as it is in Turkey and Lebanon; as of the 2000 U.S. Census, only 1,104 people in the U.S. had the last name Kiray. Most of those people were either first-generation immigrants with roots in Turkey, Lebanon, or other countries where the name is prevalent, or second- and third-generation descendants of people from those countries.
The surname Kiray is not a hugely common one in America today, but it is still seen with more frequency in certain immigrant-rich areas such as those in New York City and Los Angeles. If you visit one of those places, you may find that there are more people with the last name Kiray than you'd expect.
Variations of the surname Kiray
Kiray is a surname of Irish, German, and Jewish origin. As a surname, alternate spellings or variants of Kiray can include Kray, Krei, Kreie, Krai, Kraie, Krauh, Krauhl, Kraye, Krayl, Kreae, Kreaee, Kreaey, Kree, Kreey, Krei, Kreih, Kreihl, Kreisel, Krey, Kreye, Kreyel, and Kreyl.
The Irish variant of Kiray is typically spelled Kray, though Krei and Kreie are also commonly seen in Ireland. This surname is believed to have come to Ireland with the Normans who invaded in the late 12th century and is most common county is found to be Cork. It is believed to have been an Anglicisation of the Old Gaelic surname O’Croidheagain, meaning "descendant of Croidheagain". In Ireland, the surname Kray may also be an Anglicisation of either O’Riadhain or O’Griallaigh.
The German variant of Kiray is typically spelled Krauh, Krauhl, Krai, Kraie, or Kraye. This surname is believed to be derived from the German word "der krah", which means a raven. It has been suggested that it could also be related to the German word "krauer", which means lawyer.
The Jewish variant of Kiray is typically spelled Kray, Krayl, Kreae, Kreal, or Kreal. This surname is believed to be derived from the German words "kreuz", meaning cross, or "kraut", meaning herb. It could also be derived from the Yiddish word "kreyt", which means crab.
In conclusion, Kiray is a surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Kray, Krei, Kreie, Krai, Kraie, Krauh, Krauhl, Kraye, Krayl, Kreae, Kreaee, Kreaey, Kree, Kreey, Krei, Kreih, Kreihl, Kreisel, Krey, Kreye, Kreyel, and Kreyl for the Irish, German, and Jewish variants respectively.
Famous people with the name Kiray
- Yilmaz Kiray: Turkish composer and actor.
- Gokhan Kiraz: Turkish actor.
- Cem Yilmaz: Turkish comedian, actor, and television producer.
- Kerem Bursin: Turkish actor, producer, screenwriter, and director.
- Raşit Çelikezer: Turkish footballer.
- Yavuz Kiraz: Turkish actor.
- Necati Kiraz: Turkish academic and politician.
- Tekin Kiray: Turkish musician and writer.
- Ufuk Kiray: Turkish musician, best known for playing the bağlama.
- Murat Kiray: Turkish singer and songwriter.