Is cerkez (cherkez) turkish?

Question

hi, jus wondering if cerkez as in (cherkez) is turkish? what is it exactly? im half cerkez half turk

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherkes

Answer 2

Çerkez is the name of a collection of clans that were forced by the Russian to migrate from their homeland in Caucasian Mountains. They were dispersed widely, but the main body seems to have come to the Ottoman lands, mostly Anatolia.

Different clans have distinctive languages (as is true for the peoples of all mountainous areas due to lack of communication), but the main culture is the same.

Today, more Çerkez people live in Turkey than their homeland.

Answer 3

Hey, I'm cerkez descent too :)  Cerkez are people who lived in Russia (specifically near the Russian/Georgia border).  I guess you can say we're like our own heritage.  Most of the cerkez people left though and many came to Turkey.  If you are or ever get the chance to go to Turkey, you can find a good many of cerkez descents living there.