Oğuz (name)

Oğuz is a common masculine Turkish given name. There are various theories on the meaning of "Oğuz". The most prominent explanation is that it is composed of "ok" and "z". In (modern) Turkish and proto Turkish "ok" means "arrow". Only in proto Turkish, "ok" also means "clan", and/or "nation". Again, only in proto Turkish, "z" is the plural suffix. In modern Turkish "z" is not the plural suffix anymore. Actually, it is not a suffix, in general, in modern Turkish. Therefore "okz" means "clans", "nations", and/or "arrows".

Finally, "Oğuz" is used both as given names and as names of some of the Turkish clans. Oğuz Türks are the southwestern branch of Turkish clan system. "Gökoğuz" was a group of Oğuz Türks who migrated to northwest and named as Gagauz in modern times. There are also groups named as Üçoğuz (Three Oğuz), Sekizoğuz (Eight Oğuz), Dokuzoğuz (Nine Oğuz), etc. One of the earliest rulers of the Turkic people is also named az "Oghuz Khan". As a given name "Oğuz" used in memory of and connotes Oghuz Khan.