Etymology Map
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Tamga

3 stages from Old Turkic to English.

Today it means a clan emblem or seal of the Turkic and Mongol peoples

Where does the word "tamga" come from? It comes from Old Turkic tamğa, passing through Russian before entering English (1800s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tamğa
Old Turkic · medieval
"brand, seal"
a clan brand marked on livestock, coins and stone monuments
2
Stage 2 of 3
tamga
Russian · 1200s-1400s
"customs duty"
under the Golden Horde the tamga was also a trade tax, which gave Russian 'tamozhnya', customs house
3
Stage 3 of 3
tamga
English · 1800s
"a Turkic clan emblem"
used by historians and archaeologists for clan marks found on steppe coins and stones
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Read the full story

Tamga’s story begins in Old Turkic: tamğa meant “brand, seal.” A clan brand marked on livestock, coins and stone monuments. By 1200s-1400s, the word had taken hold in Russian as tamga. Under the Golden Horde the tamga was also a trade tax, which gave Russian 'tamozhnya', customs house. It reached English by 1800s as tamga. Used by historians and archaeologists for clan marks found on steppe coins and stones. Today, tamga means a clan emblem or seal of the Turkic and Mongol peoples.