Which Turkey Came First: The Bird or the Country?

The origin of the name “turkey” is a puzzling story of mistaken identities and global trade connections But is the Thanksgiving centerpiece named after the nation of Turkey? Let’s untangle this etymological mystery

A Case of Mistaken Identity

The country of Turkey, located in western Asia and southeastern Europe, was named after the Turkish people who have inhabited the region since the 11th century. The English word “Turkey” to refer to the land occupied by Turks dates back to the 14th century, with one of the earliest uses appearing in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

The North American bird we call the turkey however, has no ties to the country of Turkey. So how did it end up with the same name?

The mix-up began in the 15th and 16th centuries. English merchants imported a bird called the guinea fowl from continental Africa via Ottoman Turkey. Due to its import route, they nicknamed the guinea fowl the “turkey cock” or “turkey hen.”

When European settlers in the Americas encountered wild turkeys, they noticed their resemblance to guinea fowls. So they mistakenly gave them the same name. But the two birds are completely different species. The North American turkey is indigenous to the New World and was an important food source for Native Americans long before Europeans arrived.

Two Distinct Birds

Let’s look closer at the differences between the guinea fowl and the American turkey:

• Guinea Fowl

  • Originated in Africa
  • Imported to Europe via Turkey
  • Nicknamed “turkey cock” or “turkey hen”

• North American Turkey

  • Native to North and Central America
  • Domesticated by Aztecs and other Indigenous peoples
  • Resembled guinea fowl, so early European settlers called it “turkey” too

Over time, the New World turkey made its way back to Europe via explorers and colonists. By then, people realized the two birds were unrelated. But the name “turkey” stuck for the American variety, while the guinea fowl reassumed its true name.

How “Turkey” Spread

Despite the mistaken moniker, the North American turkey quickly gained popularity in the Old World. The English were feasting on turkey by 1575, and Shakespeare mentioned it in Henry IV.

Charles Dickens cemented the turkey’s standing by featuring it in the classic A Christmas Carol in 1843. When Thanksgiving became a national U.S. holiday in 1863, turkey was already closely associated with Christmas feasts and naturally gained prominence on Thanksgiving as well.

Why Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

While the turkey’s name derives from confusion and inaccurate assumptions, the bird’s significance on Thanksgiving makes more sense. Here’s why turkey fits the bill for traditional Thanksgiving feasts:

• Native to North America and a common food source for Indigenous peoples
• Hearty, large bird capable of feeding a crowd
• Raising turkeys was part of early colonial life
• Already popular fare on Christmas and in English culinary life by the 19th century
• Roasted turkey evoked images of bounty and a successful harvest

Though the origins of its name are perplexing, over the centuries the tasty turkey has certainly earned its status as the iconic Thanksgiving main course.

So in untangling this etymological knot, we find the country of Turkey preceded the name turkey being applied to the American bird. The immediate association between turkey and Thanksgiving may seem obvious today, but it arose over time based on this bird’s history and sweet, succulent taste. When we sit down to our turkey feasts this season, we have curious coincidences and global connections to thank for this delicious tradition.