Cansever

Cansever is a Turkish surname. It is composed of the Turkish elements can, meaning life or soul, and sever, meaning lover. Together, the name is often interpreted as “life-lover” or “soul-lover.” The adoption of fixed surnames in Turkey, following the Surname Law of 1934, led many families to choose Cansever as a distinctive family name.

Notable people with the surname include Cemal Cansever, a prominent Turkish poet associated with the Second New (İkinci Yeni) poetry movement. His work is recognized for its concise imagery and experimental style, contributing to late 20th-century Turkish poetry.

Geographic distribution of the surname is most concentrated in Turkey, with Turkish communities abroad, particularly in Europe. Migration patterns, especially to Germany and the Netherlands, have led to the presence of Cansever in diaspora populations as well.

In cultural contexts, Cansever may appear in literary and biographical references related to Turkish poetry and modern literature. As a surname, it is one example of the many compound Turkish names formed from meaningful word elements.