The Surname Law of the Republic of Turkey was adopted on 21 June 1934. The law requires all citizens of Turkey to adopt the use of fixed, hereditary surnames. Much of the population, particularly in the cities as well as Turkey's Christian and Jewish citizens, already had surnames, and all families had names by which they were known locally. The Surname Law of 1934 enforced not only the use of official surnames but also stipulated that citizens choose Turkish names. Until it was repealed in 2013, the eldest male was the head of household and Turkish law appointed him to choose the surname. However in his absence, death, or mental incapacitation the wife would do so.
Origin
The Turkish MP Refik Şefik İnce has suggested that instead of using the term Soyadı , it should be used the term Sanadı as used in Ottoman times. But the Grand National Assembly of Turkey decided to use the term Soyadı because it denoted the meaning of race, breed, family, or relative. This law was modeled after a 1926 Fascist Italianization law "restoring" German, Slovene and Croat surnames to their 'original Italian form'. Muslims in the Ottoman Empire carried titles such as "Pasha", "Hoca", "Bey", "Hanım", "Efendi". These titles either defined their formal profession or their informal status within the society. Ottoman prime ministers, ministers and other high-ranking civil servants also carried the titlePasha. Retired generals/admirals or high-ranking civil servants continued to carry this title in civilian life. A "Pasha" did not become a "Bey" after retiring from active military or political service.
The Surname Law
The articles of the Soy Adı Kanunu stipulated that:
All Turks must bear their surnames in addition to their proper name;
The surname must follow the proper name in signing, speaking and writing;
Names may not relate to military rank and civil officialdom; to tribes, foreign races or ethnicities; nor may they be offensive or ridiculous. The use of "historical names" without the proper genealogical evidence is also forbidden.
The surname law specifically forbade certain surnames that contained connotations of foreign cultures, nations, tribes, and religions. New surnames had to be taken from the Turkish language. The surname could be used with the oğlu ending, and it was forbidden to use Armenian endings such as ian or yan, Slavic endings such as of, vich, ic, Greek endings such as is, dis, pulos, aki, Persian endings such as zade, and Arab endings such as mahdumu, veled, and bin, "referring to other ethnicities or taken from another language." For example, names such as Arnavutoğlu or Kürtoğlu, could not be used. Names of clans or tribes could not be used, or re-used. Additionally, names could not be duplicated in the same district, and, in case of any dispute, the family that registered first got the right to keep the claimed name.
