Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism

The Origin of The Name "Çorum"

The Origin of The Name Çorum 

There are several rumours and information about the name Çorum.  

As to the Byzantine (Eastern Roma) Sources

Very long time before the Malazgirt war in 1071 when Anatolia started to be Turkicized , Turkish tribes started to settle down and  permeate in Anatolia. In this period , it had the name of Çorum, Nikonya (Yankoniye)

As to the Danişmendname ( A Legend About The Conquest of Anatolia)  

Melik Ahmet Danişmend took Çorum Region from Byzantines after cruel wars. The community became Muslim and showed his loyalty. But this approach is a kind  of trap due to the fact that they wanted to poison the leading commanders and Melik Ahmed  in one of the feast organized.  Melih Ahmed saw  this plan  and an earthquake in which whole city is demolished in his dream. When he woke up the city started to shake. He took all his soldiers and friends out of the castle .  

Byzantines  were glad that the muslims started to retreat from the castle. They closed down the castle and started to get ready for the war. They also return to their former religion. But, the earthquake shakes the city stronger and whole the city and castle were demolished. The Byzantines are called as “Cürümlü” due to their attack against the city. In course of time, the name changed into Çorumlu.  

As to Evliya Çelebi’s  Travel Book 

In the second volume on page 407 of Evliya Çelebi’s Travel Book, it is written that the air of the city is good for asthma patients. Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan sent his sick son Yakup Mirza and hundreds of poor , weak patients to the city and they all recovered. Because of this reason, the city is called as Çorum. And it is also said that Çorum is surrounded by mountains and it is called Çevrim because of this reason. Then this name changed into Çorum in the course of time.  

Çorum took his name when Turks came to the region. The names Çorum and Çorumlu are said to belong to one of the tribe of Alayunt clan from Oğuzlar.