Syrian Turkmen (also referred to as Syrian Turkomans, Turkish Syrians, or simply Syrian Turks or Turks of Syria) (, or ), are Syrian citizens of Turkish origin who mainly trace their roots to Anatolia (i.e. modern Turkey). The majority of Syrian Turkmen are the descendants of migrants who arrived in Syria during Ottoman rule (1516–1918); however, there are also many Syrian Turkmen who are the descendants of earlier Turkish settlers that arrived during the Seljuk (1037–1194) and Mamluk (1250–1517) periods. Today, Turkish-speaking Syrian Turkmen make up the third largest ethnic group in the country, after the Arabs and Kurds respectively. Some estimates indicate that if Arabized Turkmen (i.e. those who no longer speak their mother tongue) are taken into account, then they form the second largest group in the country. The majority of Syrian Turkmen are Sunni Muslims.