Surname Kocabey - Meaning and Origin

Kocabey: What does the surname Kocabey mean?

The surname Kocabey is a Turkish name, derived from the Turkish word koca (meaning “big”) and bey (meaning “lord” or “ruler”). The combination of these words suggests a sense of nobility, power, and stature.

Throughout the centuries, the Kocabey family name has been associated with influential people, or at least those who have fulfilled important roles within their community. The name carries a strong reputation among the Turkish-speaking world for its leadership, excellence, and privilege.

The Kocabey family is particularly connected to the aristocratic family of Ottoman Empire, whose members assumed leading political and military roles. During the period of Sultan Selim III (1789-1807), one of his vali (governors) was Feyzullah Kocabaşı (1746–1808), a man held in high regard not only among the elites of Istanbul, but also by ordinary people around the country.

The surname Kocabey has also made its mark in the literary field, with a tradition of success in the Ottoman Turkish language. One of the more famous people associated with the surname is Necmi Kocabey (1865-1939), a writer and poet who had a great influence on the culture of Turkey and the wider Middle East at the time.

Ultimately, the Kocabey surname places the family in an ideal position to honor past achievements and overcome any obstacle that may come their way with dignity, strength, and courage.

Kocabey: Where does the name Kocabey come from?

The last name Kocabey is most common in Turkey, where it is among the country's 250 most common surnames. Most people who share this surname are ethnic Turks, and it is highly likely to trace back to the Ottoman Empire, when many families settled along the coast of Turkey. The first recorded use of the surname in Turkish records is from around the 15th century.

Beyond Turkey, the name is found scattered around the world, mostly in places where Turkish immigrants and their descendants have settled. It is fairly easy to find families bearing this name in many parts of Europe, as well as in the United States. However, it is not considered a very common name by global standards - for example, data from Ancestry.com shows that in the United States, fewer than 500 people currently carry the name.

The name itself likely stems from the Turkish words "koca" (meaning close friend) and "bey" (a title meaning "lord" that was historically used in the Ottoman Empire). It is possible that it was once a given name as well as a surname, and was later used as a patronymic when the name became widespread.

Variations of the surname Kocabey

The surname Kocabey has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants, including Kocaba, Kocabas, Kocabe, Kocacaba, Kocabai, Kocaboglu, and Kocabiyik, are popular throughout Turkey and other regions where those of Turkish origin reside.

Variants of the surname can often occur in different spellings due to phonetic and orthographic differences throughout Turkey, as well as similarity to other surnames. As such, similar surnames that are related to Kocabey include Kocabaş, Kocabeyoğlu, and Kocabay. However, none of these spellings are exact matches for the original surname.

On a similar note, other surnames of Turkish origin that may have a similar origin to Kocabey include Kokaber, Kokca, Kokkas, Kocak, and Kocaoglu. Each of these surnames is thought to derive from the Turkish word for ‘black’, which is ‘kara’ in Turkish. However, it is unclear to what extent these surnames share true origin with Kocabey.

Kocabey is also a surname that is commonly seen in the Middle East and Europe, with large populations residing in the countries of Romania, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. As such, it is difficult to speculate on what other surnames may share a common origin with Kocabey. Ultimately, more research is needed to accurately identify other surnames of similar origin.

Famous people with the name Kocabey

• Mert Kocabey: Turkish professional footballer and coach who played mostly for Fenerbahce and MKE Ankaragucu.
• Hande Kocabey: Turkish actress who mainly starred in Turkish television series such as Kuzey Guney and Medcezir.
• Onur Kocabey: Turkish footballer who played for clubs such as Besiktas, Fenerbahce, and Ankaragucu.
• Ahmet Kocabey: Turkish former professional swimmer who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Emin Kocabey: Turkish former footballer who played for Konyaspor and Gaziantepspor as well as the Turkish national team.
• Sanem Kocabey: Turkish television actress who appeared in TV series such as Manolya and Hayat Müzikleri.
• Ece Kocabey: Turkish former footballer who played for Kayserispor and Chairmanspor.
• Yelda Kocabey: Turkish tennis player who competed at the 2001 Mediterranean Games.
• Ali Kocabey: Turkish former football player who played for Galatasaray and Konyaspor.
• Tolga Kocabey: Turkish photographer based in Istanbul who works mainly with fashion and portrait photography.

Other surnames

Kocabay