The Old Name and Etymology of Çorum

There are several accounts of where Çorum's name comes from. Its Byzantine-era name was Nikonya (Yankoniye), and it took its present name after Turkish settlement in the region.

Byzantine era: Nikonya (Yankoniye)

Long before the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, Turkic peoples had gradually begun settling in Anatolia. In this period Çorum, then under Byzantine rule, bore the name Nikonya (Yankoniye).

According to the Danişmendnâme: "Cürümlü" → "Çorumlu"

According to the Danişmendnâme, Melik Ahmet Danişmend took the region from the Byzantines after hard-fought battles. Following the Byzantines' treachery and an earthquake that destroyed the city, they were called "Cürümlü" (the guilty); over time this became "Çorumlu".

According to Evliya Çelebi: "çorlu" (the sick)

In Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatnâme, because the area's air was good for asthma patients, the Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan sent his ailing son and many "çorlu" (frail, sick) people here; once they recovered, the town came to be called Çorum.

The "Çevrim" view and the Oghuz Alayuntlu tribe

Another view holds that the area — a wide plain ringed by mountains — was called "Çevrim", which turned into Çorum in local speech. The name is also said to belong to a clan of the Oghuz Alayuntlu tribe.

Frequently asked questions

What was Çorum's old name?

During the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) period, Çorum was known as Nikonya (also recorded as Yankoniye). The town took its present name after Turkish settlement in the region.

Where does the name Çorum come from?

There are several accounts. According to the Danişmendnâme, the name derives from 'Cürümlü' (the guilty), later softened into 'Çorumlu'. Evliya Çelebi links it to the sick people ('çorlu') sent by the Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan to recover in the area. Another view derives it from 'Çevrim', describing the wide plain ringed by mountains.

Which Turkic tribe is the name linked to?

The name Çorum (originally Çorumlu) is said to belong to a clan of the Alayuntlu tribe, one of the Oghuz Turkic tribes. The town took the name with Turkish settlement.