Mataracı

Mataracı is a Turkish occupational surname derived from the word matara, meaning "flask" or "water bottle." The suffix -cı denotes a profession in Turkish, so the name originally referred to a person who made or sold water flasks. These containers, traditionally crafted from leather, metal, or glass, were essential for travelers, soldiers, and merchants throughout the Ottoman Empire.

The surname is found primarily in Turkey, with its highest frequency in regions with historical Ottoman presence. Like many Turkish occupational surnames, Mataracı reflects the importance of artisan trades in pre-industrial society. It belongs to a broader category of Ottoman-era surnames ending with -cı (and its variants -ci, -cu, or -çı), which indicated a connection to a craft or trade.

Notable bearers of this surname include Yaşar Mataracı, a Turkish actor and author, highlighting the name's continued use in modern Turkey. Although the occupation itself has diminished with the advent of plastic and stainless steel water containers, the surname preserves a link to the material culture of the Ottoman centuries.

• Meaning: maker or seller of water flasks
• Origin: Turkish (matara + occupational suffix -cı)
• Type: occupational surname
• Usage regions: Turkey, Turkish diaspora