Surname Law (Turkey)

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The Surname Law (Turkish: Soyadı Kanunu) of the Republic of Turkey is a law adopted on 21 June 1934,^[1] requiring all citizens of Turkey to adopt the use of fixed, hereditary surnames. Prior to 1934, Turkish families in the major urban centres had names by which they were known locally (often ending with the suffixes -zade, -oğlu or -gil), and were used in similar manner to a surname. The Surname Law of 1934 enforced 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 Until it was repealed in 2013, the eldest male was the head of household and Turkish law appointed him to choose the surname.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.^[2]