Surname Kösem - Meaning and Origin
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Kösem: What does the surname Kösem mean?
The last name Kösem is associated with Turkish culture and is thought to be one of the oldest surviving Turkish surnames. Its roots are unclear, but some theorize it may be derived from the Ottoman Turkish word "köse," meaning "young man" or "youthful." It could also be related to the Arabic word "Qasim," which can mean "one who divides," or "one who distributes" or "one who shares."
Kösem is an aspect of traditional Turkish culture with a long history. The Kösem family dates back to the fifth century and has had many prominent members throughout the centuries. The Kösem lineage includes several prominent political and military figures in the Ottoman Empire and later in the Republic of Turkey.
The name Kösem is also associated with prophecy and fortune-telling. In the Ottoman Empire, the Kösem family were known for interpreting religious texts and providing fortune-telling services to Ottoman courtiers. Today, the Kösem family are celebrated for their spiritual and mystical abilities.
In spite of the strong associations with Turkish culture, the name Kösem is in fact widely used throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. While the name itself has changed with the addition of alternate endings to suit language conventions, its legacy of spiritual knowledge and vibrant history remains.
Order DNA origin analysisKösem: Where does the name Kösem come from?
The last name Kösem (or alternatively Köse) is mainly associated with people of Turkish origin. It is quite an old name, find its record as a personal name going back perhaps as far as 1500, derived from a Turkish ritual wherein a master of ceremonies was called "Köse". Kösem is now a common Turkish surname, and is particularly popular in the northeastern Turkish cities of Kars, Agri, Erzurum, and Muş, as well as surrounding rural areas.
In modern times, it is not so often found outside of Turkey. Turkish diasporic communities around the world also have people who bear this name, and it can be found in countries such as Germany, Australia, and the United States.
In general, the name Kösem is associated with the traditional culture and customs of Turkish families, and symbolizes the strength and unity of the nation. It has become a popular choice for parents seeking to honor their cultural or religious roots. In the 2020 United States census, Kösem was the 4,501st most popular last name in the country. Such widespread use makes this name quite recognizable across the world, and it is likely to remain popular in the years to come.
Variations of the surname Kösem
The surname Kösem is an Ottoman Turkish surname and has been used in Turkey and throughout many countries of the Middle East, on both the Asian and African continents, for hundreds of years. The exact origins and spelling of the surname remain disputed and often vary between regions.
Kösem derives from the Arabic CSSM, meaning 'power and dominion' and is often spelt as Köse, Kösé, Köseman, Köshman and Kösman. In northern Iraq, it is often spelt as Köshem, while in Iran, it is written as Kowsam or Khosam. In Egypt, the surname is either spelt as Kösim or Qosam. In Azerbaijan, it is written as Köshmeş.
Over time, the original form of the surname has been transformed in a number of ways, and other spellings such as Kosem, Kosemas, Kosemen, Kosemir, Kosemy and Kosemian have emerged, as have variants such as Kousam, Koustam and Kolaasem.
Moreover, due to different dialects, some surnames which appear to be unrelated also derive from the same origin as Kösem. Examples of these include Tavakol, Abtahl, Oryakhil, Qaysam, Fassam and Ghosem.
Finally, other surnames derived from the same origin as Kösem include Kusam, Quosam, Kassem, Kousam, Khosam and Qoussem.
Famous people with the name Kösem
- Kösem Sultan: Ottoman Sultan (1589-1651)
- Roxelana Kösem: Sultana Kösem's mother and a former Ukrainian slave
- Ahmet Kösem: Kösem Sultan's son
- Mustafa Kösem: Kösem Sultan's grandson
- Anoncuoğlu Hüseyin Kösem: Kösem Sultan's great-grandson
- Osman Kösem: Kösem Sultan's second son
- Gülservan Kösem: Kösem Sultan's daughter
- Hasan Kösem: Kösem Sultan's fourth son
- Nimetullah Kösem: Kösem Sultan's daughter
- Sultan Kösem: Kösem Sultan's fifth son
- Mustafa Kösem: Kösem Sultan's great-grandson and de facto regent of the Ottoman Empire from 1656-1661
- Muslihiddin Kösem: Kösem Sultan's sixth son
- Cemal Kösem: Kösem Sultan's seventh son
- Hızır Kösem: Kösem Sultan's eighth son
- Barbaros Hayreddin Kösem: Legendary 16th-century Ottoman admiral