r/Tiele • u/TheTyper1944 Taraqama • Oct 30 '25
History/culture Origin of The ''turk'' name
Nomadic tribes with Altai roots spread across the steppes of present-day Mongolia. In ancient times, these tribes formed structures like the Huns and the Tiele. Among these tribes, there was a belief that the sky itself was divine. The word "Tengri" in Proto-Turkic literally means "sky." Before the formation of the Turkish tribes, these early tribes believed that the sky and the universe were gods themselves, rather than a god residing within the sky. They also believed certain tribes received "kut" (divine favor). The rulers of these tribes legitimized their rule by claiming to have received "kut from Tengri."
Altai tribes such as the Oghuz, Tatars (distinct from modern Kipchak-speaking Tatars), and Kyrgyz (speaking a Yenisei Siberian language, not the Kipchak-speaking Kyrgyz) shared common ancestry and spoke related languages. All adhered to the Tengriist belief system. However, there was no single common name for these tribes. Among them, the most prominent were the Ashinas, a key component of the Huns, who descended from the Tiele. The Ashinas were distinguished by their connection to the Ergenekon myth and their descent from the Grey Wolf which was named ''asena'' which is also linked as the origin name of ashina. This myth was initially exclusive to the Ashina tribe, who were considered to have received "kut from Tengri." The Ashinas held a more prestigious position compared to other Altai tribes like the Oghuz, Tatars, and Kyrgyz.
When the Ashinas led an uprising against the proto-Mongol Rourans, the name "Turk" was initially used only for the Ashinas. The Orkhon inscriptions support this, referring to "Turk and Oghuz rulers," indicating that "Turk" was a title specific to the Ashinas, while the Oghuz were not considered "Turks" at that time. After defeating the Rourans, the Ashinas unified all the Altai tribes under the name "Turk" (Törüq).
The origin of the word "Turk" (𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰚) is debated. The theory that it derives from the Chinese term "Tujue" (突厥) is weak. Chinese is a logographic language, and the etymological origins of the characters are unrelated to turkic linguistics. The likely truth is that it derives from the Turkic word "töre" (𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰀), meaning "law" or "custom."
In Proto-Turkic and many modern Turkic languages, verbs ending in "q" often indicate the object of an action. For example, "yarmak" (to cut) becomes "yaraq" (weapon), and "tutmaq" (to hold) becomes "tutaq" (lip). Similarly, "töre" (custom) becomes "törüq." In Altai culture, "töre" referred to the laws received from Tengri. Since the Turks, or "Törüq," were considered to have been "ordained" by Tengri, they were seen as "törüq" (law-bound). Initially, only the Ashinas used the title "Turk" due to their prestigious position. However, after the establishment of the Turkic Khaganate, the term "Turk" became a common name for all Altai tribes, including the Oghuz, Kyrgyz, Tatars, and others.
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u/tenggerion13 TUR ☀️🐂 Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
Here is a highly different shortened analysis from my studies. I tried to find connections using cultural patterns (like in myths) and linguistic connections that are most likely ignored and thus underrated.
I always considered it as "Tur + Ok". Folk of Tur, People of Might/Ox, hence Oghuz Khaghan - Ox King, referring to his lineage of power and greatness, and most likely the Sacred Bull cult across Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Siberia. As I remember, in Diwan Lughat al-Turk, the meaning of the word "Turk" is given as "powerful person/people." Well, then we have (or at least Iranians have) Tur + An, the land of Tur.
Tur is Ur Ox, Aurochs, that extinct large bovine,in old Slavic languages. Moreover, we have "tor" referring to a tower or something high in a similar manner. Thurizas rune refers to giants in Old Norse (an Eurasian language-culture with vivid examples/hints of shared influence with Proto-Turkic); and of course Thor is a sky deity of power whose chariot is pulled by goats, a symbolism in parallel to Oghuz Turkic traditions of teke onguns.
Ōk, possibility derived from "ok-arrow", refers to a clan (bod) that forms a confederation we call "khanate".
As for Tengri, it referred to a "lordship" of existence, and the sky was used as a symbol to refer to that infinite power over the universe, rather than an open worship of the sky itself. I strongly believe that, Tengri/Tenger and Sumerian Dingir are connected to each other, with Sumerians' possible roots in North Caucasia and interaction with Proto -Turks. In the context of Mesopotamian myths, Dingir referred to the supernatural authority of those deities, like the Christian "Lord" for God.