Surname Mentes - Meaning and Origin
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Mentes: What does the surname Mentes mean?
The last name Mentes is a patronymic surname of Greek origin. It is derived from the root word ‘menti’, which means ‘mind’, ‘thought’ or ‘opinion’. Thus, the surname Mentes reflects a family's origin from a person who showed wisdom or intelligence.
Mentes is a very rare surname, with only a handful of people bearing it in the world today. Most Mentes families can be found in Greece, although there are a few scattered families in other countries.
Historically, Mentes families were known to be very smart, and often had a great amount of influence in the community. Family members were often seen as wise individuals, whose opinions were respected and sought after. They were frequently involved in local politics and had considerable influence over local decision-making.
The Mentes surname carries with it a certain sense of poise and grace. It is a reminder of the Mentes family's long lineage and importance to the community. It is also a symbol of wisdom and respect for an ancestry whose opinion was taken seriously.
Order DNA origin analysisMentes: Where does the name Mentes come from?
The Mentes surname is most commonly found in Turkey and surrounding areas. Specifically, the surname has a large presence in Central Anatolia, the Aegean Region, and Thrace. In terms of global presence, the Mentes surname is unique in that it is not found in North and South America, or Australasia. However, there are significant Mentes families in the Balkans, the Middle East, and some European countries such as France and Germany.
The Mentes surname is believed to be of Turkish origin, with the earliest recorded instance being "Ahatchimbe Mentes" over 600 hundred years ago. Since then, the surname has grown in popularity as members of the Mentes family have spread across Europe during the Ottoman Empire, and in modern times have immigrated to other countries such as the UK, US, and Canada.
The family is believed to have its roots in the Anatolian tribe of 'Turkmen'. It is believed that the 'Mentes' lived on the edges of the Empire and may have conquered a number of regions including parts of Kurdistan.
The exact origin of the family name is not known, but it is known to have strong links with the term ‘ment', meaning ‘mind’ or ‘thought’. Its possible that the family name is derived from a similar term, such as 'mentesh' which means 'thoughtful’ in Turkish.
Overall, the Mentes surname is an ancient family name, popularised in the modern context by its members passing on the family name over many generations. It is commonly found in Turkey and the Middle Eastern and Balkan regions, with some Mentes having immigrated to the UK, US, and Canada in more recent times.
Variations of the surname Mentes
The Mentes surname is thought to have French origins and is derived from the word “mention”, meaning “mentioning” or “commemorating”. Variations of this surname include the spellings Manteaux, Mantez, Mantes, Montes, Montez and Monteaux.
Manteaux is the French variant of the name, originating from the Old French word “montez” that means “rising ground”. It is also thought to have been derived from the name of a mountain in the area.
Mentez is another variation usually found in America. It is linked to the Spanish version of the surname, which stems from the Latin word “mentŷs” meaning “mind”.
Mantes and Montes are variations found mainly in France, Spain and Portugal. It is thought to have derived from the Latin name Montanus or Mons Montanus meaning “mountain”.
Montez is a version found mainly in Mexico, the United States and other Latin American countries. It is a variation of the Spanish word “montes”, meaning “mountain”.
Monteaux is a version found mainly in France and it can be linked to the pre-Roman word “montovax”, meaning “mountain”.
Overall, all the variants found for the Mentes surname are derived from the Latin word “mentio”, meaning “mention” or “commemorating”. It is also likely to have been derived from the Latin words “mons montanus” and “montovax”, both meaning “mountain”, and can also be linked to the Old French word “montez”, meaning “rising ground”.
Famous people with the name Mentes
- Cemçi Mentes: former Olympian Turkish fencer
- Ekrem Mentes: Turkish professional football player
- Melih Mentes: Turkish professional basketball player
- Nebahat Çehre Mentes: Turkish actress
- Zuhal Mentes: Turkish actress
- Wellingdon Mentes: Brazilian professional volleyball player
- Hüseyin Mentes: former Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism
- Nuray Mentes: Turkish Olympic swimmer
- Kürşat Mentes: Turkish professional soccer player
- Ali Mentes: Turkish Olympic diver