Seyit

Seyit is a Turkish masculine given name derived from the Arabic Sayyid, meaning "lord," "master," or "descendant of Muhammad." In Turkish usage, the name is common and may be spelled Seyit, Seyyit, or Seyid, reflecting transliteration variations from Arabic and Persian. It has historical roots in the Ottoman era and remains in use among Turkish-speaking communities in Turkey and abroad.

Notable people with the name include Seyit Onbaşı, often referred to as Seyit Ali, a celebrated Ottoman artilleryman from World War I. He is associated with the Gallipoli Campaign, where accounts hold that he loaded and fired a heavy shell on a coastal artillery piece during the defense of the Dardanelles. The story, though sometimes varying in details such as the exact weight of the shell or the gun type, has become a symbol of resilience in Turkish wartime memory, and a statue at the Gallipoli peninsula commemorates him. He is generally regarded as a national hero in Turkey, and his ordeal is taught as part of the country’s modern history. He is believed to have died in 1939.

Beyond this, the name Seyit appears across Turkish culture as a personal name, and its variants are encountered in different Turkic-speaking regions. The usage reflects broader naming traditions that honor lineage, leadership, and historical memory.