*Assist.Professor,  University of Sinop, Sinop, Turkey

According to the 1831 population revenue book, there were seventeen Muslim and six non-Muslim districts in Sinop. The number of youth, old and elders of Muslim districts is presented in the book. The male Muslim population was around 1,354 according to the book. However, this was not the total number of Muslims who resided in the city, as the female population was not included in this census. According to the 1882-1893 census, which included the female population, and the 1892 Kastamonu County Yearbook, the ratio of the female population to the total was 48.5%. When this ratio is implemented into the 1830 revenue book, the female population is estimated 1,275 [1]. In that case, there were approximately 2629 Muslims in the city. However, this population does not include the numbers of soldiers, public servants and handicapped. The total population is approximately 2,939 when the numbers of 248 soldiers and public servants, who were recorded in the 1844-1845 ledgers, and the 62 handicapped, who were recorded in the 1831 census, are included [2].

Another source which included the Sinop population in the 19th century was the book which was prepared by Kilisevizâde Mehmed Said Efendi in 1830-31 and presented the first ever census of the Ottoman Empire. 2,529 people who were tax payers and eligible for military service were recorded in the book. And the people who weren’t tax payers and who were ineligible for military service are excluded [3]. In some parts of this 1831 book, age difference is considered while recording the Muslim population. Thus, a total of 7,137 people were recorded in the book. This population suggests that most of Sinop’s population was consisted of male [4].

Table 1. Population of Sinop According to the 1831 Population Census

Source: Selim Özcan, “Tanzimat Döneminde Sinop’un Sosyal Ekonomik Durumu”, (Phd Thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, I Section, Samsun 2007), s.51.

Considering the non-Muslim population in the city, it is assumed that the number was approximately 1,670, according to the census ledgers. Therefore, with reference to the 1830 census, the total number of Muslims and non-Muslims in the city was approximately 4,609. Thus the ratio of the Muslims to the total population is 64%, and of non-Muslims is 36% [5].

Another source which can be used to review Sinop’s population in the 19th century is the 1844-1845 ledgers of the city center. It is unable to know the exact population numbers as the male tax payer population was presented as household heads in these ledgers.

Table 2. Houses and Population of Muslim Districts According to the Ledgers

Table 3. Houses and Population of Non-Muslim Districts According to the Ledgers

Sources: Selim Özcan, “Tanzimat Döneminde Sinop’un Sosyal Ekonomik Durumu”, (Phd Thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, I Section, Samsun 2007), s.53.

The most populated district is Cami-i Kebir and the least populated district is Arasta, according to the ledgers. The order of the most densely populated districts are Arap, Meryemana, Kalafat, Ayanikola, Ayaklı and Balatip, according to the house counts in the ledgers. It is in the same order as it was in the 1830 population revenue book. The ratio of the Muslim population to the total is 62% and of non-Muslims is 38% according to the house count in the ledgers [6]. Consequently, it is understood that the total Muslim and non-Muslim population ratio in Sinop didn’t change very drastically in the city center [7].

After the 1877-78 Russo-Turkish Wars, Russians gave weight on the invasion of Caucasia and increased the pressure on the Muslim people in the region. Therefore, many Muslims, who were residing in Caucasia, fled from the Russian pressure and went to settle in the area around Sinop. And that caused a population activity in Sinop. The newly arrived settlers in Sinop, colored up the cultural structure with their own customs and traditions.

[1] Selim Özcan, “Tanzimat Döneminde Sinop’un Sosyal Ekonomik Durumu”, (Phd Thesis, Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, I Section, Samsun 2007), s.47.

[2] Ibid Selim Özcan, s.48.

[3] Ibid Selim Özcan, s.50.

[4]Ibid Selim Özcan, XIX. Yüzyılın Ortalarında Sinop’taki Gayrimüslimlerin Sosyal ve Ekonomik Yapısı, OTAM, 30/Güz, 2011, s.153.

[5] Ibid Selim Özcan, Tanzimat Döneminde Sinop’un Sosyal Ekonomik Durumu, pp.50-51.

[6] Ibid Selim Özcan, s.54.

[7] Ibid Selim Özcan, s.55.