Greek surnames are complicated for most foreigners; not to mention how weird they sound!
The origins of Greek surnames, roots and etymology vary a lot; in fact you can find some very typical Greek last names, or very common ones, while others are funny, bizarre or even insulting.
In Greece every period has its own characteristics in name giving or surname creation.
It is historically known that ancient Greeks did not have official last names, but they did have some patronymic characteristic; i.e. Achilles was Achilles Pileidis (from his father Pileas).
The surnames as we know them today appeared towards the end of the 15th century.
Roots and Origins of the Greek Surnames
The vast majority of Greek surnames are known to be patronymics; this means that Greek surnames usually come from the genitive of the first name of the father of the family. Of course you have to go back a few centuries to find who started the tradition, but that is how it goes. So if someone’s last name is Demetriou, that means that the surname came from a man named Demetrios. This was actually an innovation in Grammar, because in their initial form the surnames for women were just a feminine respective of the original masculine name.
This means that the wife or daughter of a man named Bouboulis would be named Bouboulina. It is interesting that the position of women throughout history has been associated with the use of surnames as well; until a few years ago women were obliged to substitute their surname with the one of their husband- later, they were able to keep both surnames, and today, they are free to choose whether they want to keep their surname or add the one of their husband as well (complete substitution is prohibited).
The origins of Greek surnames vary significantly; you can find the patronymics we mentioned earlier, the matronymic ones referring to those that come from mothers’ name, the national or toponymic ones referring to surnames created by names of towns, prefectures and so on. There are also Greek surnames referring to a profession, or the paronymic ones, referring to different abilities, or even animals.
Suffixes and Prefixes in Greek Surnames
In most cases you can recognize the origin of the name and its bearer from the suffix of the surname. For instance, if you see a Greek surname ending in –akis, the person comes from Crete. Not all Cretans have a surname ending in –akis, and not all people with an –akis in their surname are from Crete, but this is very common characteristic and suffix.
Similarly, surnames ending in –ellis come from the island of Lesbos, -opoulos from the Peloponnese peninsula, -idis from Pontus or Asia minor, -iadis from Messinia or Lakonia, -oudas from Macedonia (North Greece).
Prefixes can also give you some information on the origin of the surname:
A last name starting with Kara- means that it comes from the East, or the Asia minor, as “kara” means black in Turkish. Kondo- means short and was very common in islands, Papa- means that once upon a time there was a priest (papas) in the family.
Of course these are generalizations and today due to the vast mixture of names, origins and generations, you cannot rely on these rules. However, it is good to know them since they are part of the Greek tradition and have a lot to do with the old and original roots of most names today.
Common Surnames in Greece
Some of the most common Greek surnames you can find are: Papadopoulos (don’t even try to count how many men named Giorgos Papadopoulos exist in Greece), Papadakis, Ioannou, Georgiou, Demetriou and more.
Obrigado, You write very well. Good discovery
Rose is Triandafyllo in Greek. The ending could possibly indicate origins on Cyprus. That’s just a semi-educated guess.
I am researching the origins of my surname.
In the English alphabet it is occasionally spelled Triantafyllou also.
All I know that it has something to do with roses!
Any ideas?
i have searched everywhere on the surname Charowhas. if anyone has information on it or a professional that can help me, I so would appreciate it
hi. im Harry from Dominican Republic. i live now in spain and i’ d like to know some think about my father, by now i just wanna know if this surename is correct AFTANASIADIS, if it s not, please write it on the right way, thanks.
Aftanasiadis doesn’t sound correct – the most probable surname could be Athanasiadis, it is a relatively common surname.
My great grandfathers name was Dimitrios Denakolokis, he never told anybody where he was from except that he was from Greece.
My family and I are wondering were our last name could be from
does any body know what Cosmas or lana means?
i left a comment earlier but i forgot to tell you my first name is lana
hey i am also a greek cosmas so if you know what my last name means.
um does anyone know the meaning of “skapetis” or any information like that about the surname? thanks
email me at [email protected]
My grandfather came from Spetsa Greece. His name was Panyiotis Buzabardis. His name was changed to Buzier. I’m trying to see how to find if any of the family is still there.
Dear Alexandra,
the suffix –iotis is used mainly to denote the origin from some place. For example Kaval-iothis (comes from the town Kavala), Thrak-iotis (from area Thraki) Rumel-iotis (from Rumeli) Andr-iotis (from island Andros). All these are also surnames we have in Greece. So I think that Tseriotis means someone how comes prow some place called Tsera or something like this. I searched it the internet and I found that in Cyprus the is a village called Tseri. It is 8 Km south of Lefkosia. (http://www.tseri.org/istoria.shtm). Do you know if someone from your family comes from Tseri?
Dear Erthan,
I’ m interested about explaining surnames in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria. Are you interested too? If not, do you know someone else Turkish? Or Bulgarian?
Hi guys i am greek Cypriot with the surname Tseriotis but before it was changed to that a few generations ago, our family name was Ttoumbas (not a spelling mistake its with 2 t’s) is that name originally from cyprus?
Alexandra hi, I am not sure if the name is originally from Cyprus, probably a Greek Cypriot can answer that, but I am surprised that the name has 2 “t” because Greek words never start with a double consonant! I will look for the name, it’s intriguing!!
looking for information about my surname:
KOUVAROS. does it have any meaning??
Dear E. Frangedakis,
It is interesting but our family name is Seferoglou. the word “Sefer” means migration/movement in turkish or new moon in Arabic, oglou means son of somebody.
I am from East Blacksea, Trabzon. Our district is Suga.
We are Turkish..
I found there are lots of people who has the surname ” Seferoglu”. For me it is interesting to share this family name with Greeks..
Hounardas is a Greek word coming from the Turkish word Hovarda. It means profligate
I Greece we use the word Houvardas for someone who don’ t mind to spend money for his friends. I mean that this word in Greek has a good meaning.
Generally, many Greek surnames mean something (a profession, characteristic, nickname) in Turkish.
I would like to know the origin of my last name “Gavrilis”.My family comes from the island of Kythira .
I have a real stumper for everyone. My family’s Last name is Facatselis (different spelling also Fakatselis). the elis would make one assume the origin comes from Lesbos. However all my family members are from Epirus. There is a small village in the mountains which seems to be the only place in Greece you can find my last name. I visited the village a few summers ago and was told our names have their origins in Naples, Italy. I am not sure how that would work. Any ideas?
I’m trying to trace my Greek roots my fathers surname is Houvardas I think the family was orginally from Lesbos
I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE NAME PARASSAKIS AND CHRISTOSTOMOS OR CHRISOSTOMOU COME FROM THESE ARE THE NAMES OF MY GRANDPARENTS WHO I BELIEVE CAME FROM COS
My brother-in-law’s last name is Stevanus. Is this a Greek surname? I can’t find anything on it.
Thanks
I was trying to track down my Grandfather, and any family I might have still living in Cyprus..
I’m not even sure I have the correct spelling?
Pauloustidious? ..something similar?
Please help…I’ve only hit brick walls in my search?
Hello, I want to know how are the surnames of Byzantine Emperors such as Komnenos, Palaiologos different from modern surnames as you said in the article “The surnames as we know them today appeared towards the end of the 15th century.”
Hi my Mum and i are trying to trace our Greek-Cypriot origins but all we have to go on is a surname.
“Pampoulides”
We know that the family came from Greece to Cyprus then on to the UK to have my mum there where she was put up for adoption… (apparently her birth mother got too close to a Greek diplomat!)
Is this a name you have come across?
Thanks
I was wondering if you know much about the surname Bouboulis, since you use it in your example. It is my mother’s maiden name. My great-grandfather Bouboulis used to tell my mother she was descended from Bouboulina. I don’t know how much of that was fact and how much was family legend. He (my great-grandfather) was from Valteseniko in the Peloponnese.
Bouboulis is a very common surname in the island of Spetses, a small but very historic island, where Bouboulina used to live. Spetses is very close to the shores of the Peloponnese, and many people used to travel back and forth, so it’s hard to know where the name comes from exactly. It is a surname found a lot in this region though.
I am looking for something on the last name Zaffis. My grandfather was from Lesuos or Rhodes, Greece. I can’t seem to find anything on the surname. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
John Zaffis
Hi! I’m part greek from my fathers side, but since he’s dead I can’t really get any information on the last name and the origins. Or even different spellings.
My last name is Marousakis.. and his family is from Agios Nikolaos, Crete (which does not surprise me with the -akis ending).. but I’ve wondered if the roots go somewhere else, or how far back do they go? I can only find that one website with the mention of Maria and Ilia Marousakis.. but thats it. And I’ve been trying to search this for awhile now with any other results..
I’m especially interested with different spellings for Marousakis. Because with that spelling, it doesn’t seem to be too common.
Thanks,
Sonia
Hi Sonia,
if you search in the Greek White Pages of OTE, then you will find hundreds of people with the surname Manoussakis in Crete. It is a very common last name.
http://www.whitepages.gr/en/Default.aspx
I need some help I am really lost and going in circles. My mothers madden name is Tullos, and for years I have always assumed the name was Scottish. Recently my mother obtained a photo of her Father, grand father and great grandfather w/several aunts, wives and cousins.
The photo discovered in her fathers effects after his death. I saw the photo and asked who are these people and she informed me who they were. Mother I said these people are not Scottish! They are either Greek or Sicilian. They had very dark complexions and the women had mustaches.
They lived in Texas amongst a Scottish clan that was named Tullos and had roots back to Scotland through Virginia circa 1675. I don’t know if they adopted their name or was it similar such as Tolis (I have seen this name in Greek records, or Tullo in Italian)
I have done as much investigation as I can. Can anybody help at all.
Thanks so much.
RRS
Also my Yiayias(Grandmothers) maiden surname was Sefarglou/Seferoglou.
My Grandpa’s dad’s mom’s maiden name was Paraska Marris. My Grandpas mother’s moms maiden name was Lemonia Rantou.
If you could give me any information on these people or their name’s meaning, or some historical facts about them that would be great. 🙂 thanks
My Family name on my Father’s side is Frangedakis, though my Great Grandfather spelled it Fragidakis.
Alternative spellings include Frangiadakis, Fraggiadakis, Fragedakis, Fragudakis, Fraghiadakis, Fragcoudakis, Fragiodakis, Fraggadakis, Fragiodakis, Fragioudakis, Frankiadakis, Frankiadakis, Fragaidakis, as well as Fragcoudakis, etc.
Based on this, what can you tell me about the meaning of my surname? I know -akis refers to coming from Crete, but what of the first portion? Thank you.
Would you happen to know the origin of the name Zavaro?
I’m not able to find anything on it.
As well, my Yiayia’s maiden name was Sefarglou. It has alternative spellings such as Seferoglou, sefarglow.
My Great Grandmother (Papou’s side) is Demitroula Jarelianou, and her mother was Lemonia Rantou.
My Papou’s Father’s Mom was Paraska Marris.
If you know, could you please tell me what their last names mean? Such as, where they come from or what their names mean? Sorry to bother you
My family’s name is Frangedakis. It is spelled many different ways: Fragidakis, Fraggiadakis, Frangiadakis, Fragedakis, Frangoudakis, Fragudakis, Fraggadakis, Frankiadakis, Frangiodakis, Fragcoudakis, etc.
Could you tell me the orgins of my name, perhaps? I understand that -akis usually indicates the name comes from Crete, but what of the first portion of the name?
Please add Abromaitis as a greek surname.
Yassou Katia and Yannis,
Could you provide me with any information on the origin and meaning of the surname Panayiotou?
It seems to be popular in Cyprus, but my grandfather came from the island of Skyros.
Efharisto poli!
Hello, I am Hitzebeth Buruyides from Panama , Rep. Panama . My grandfather come from CORFU ISLAND… I am sure my last name are change here in Panama. So I would appreciate if somebody help me to find some family in this Island.
Something else to add to the article here – surnames ending in “atos” are from Kefalonia.
My surname is Giakoumatos, are there any Greeks out there (like, living in Greece) who can tell me what the meaning/origin of this name is?
I have heard that it’s not a very common surname and that most of the Giakoumatos are related to each other.
Looking for history of the last names: Kaltezas, Exintavalones and Ladas. Any help would be appreciated.
Warren
Hey, im currently writing a story, and one of my characters is Greek, but i can’t find a suitable surname and I do not know any. Can anyone help me?
Well it depends where your character is from.. is he from the mainland or a Greek island? In any case there are many common Greek surnames such as the ones we have included in this post. Let us know where your Greek character is from and we will help you more!
I am looking for something on the last name Zambos. My grandfather was from Chryssafa, Greece. I can’t seem to find anything on the surname. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
thanks
Does anyone have any information on the surname Semanderis? I’m trying to find some information on my grandfather, Nick (no surprise!) Semanderis, supposedly born on Crete in 1894.
Thanks
i am trying to find the meaning and background to the name Theofanis
Hello Mike, there is a post for the name Theofanis
Are you looking for a surname or given name?
hi guys im wondering if anyone knows the origins of the surnames Kappas and Bakogiannis…
my parents are from Agrafa Evretania…where they stayed annomous through the entire turkish occupation, so I’m wondering where the names originated from…..
I’m also doing a pedigree or linage chart have gotten back to the late 1700″s…. 6 generations…..
Zito h Ellada
Hi! I am trying to find more info about my familiy name, Santorni or Santorini, my family was from Crete but settled in Southern Italy at some time around the early XVIII century. Is this name still common? I happened to find some Santorinis and suchlike in Athens phonebook, but no more info than that…Are people with that uncommon surname related?
dear Marc,
the surname you mention is not common in Greece.
Unfortunately I do not have more information.
Yannis
Hey Katia:
In that case, would the surname Pantelis be from Cyprus? Or does the suffix “ellis” from Lesbos apply?
It is not a rule that all names ending in -is are Cypriot, due to the exchange of population, immigrants and so on. After all, Greeks and Cypriots belong to the same nation, under different flags. A surname like Pantelis could also refer to a man born in the Cyclades or even in Lesbos. However, if you see a man with the surname Mallelis for instance, you know that 99% he is from Lesbos.
I’m looking to find any information on my family’s surname, which is Siaraferas (Saraferas). Both my parents are from Northern Greece, with my dad coming from Kastoria. Any help would be appreciated.
Hello
Are there slightly differently common names and forms for Greek Cypriot surnames?
Thanks
Viv
Hi Vivienne! Cypriot surnames are slightly different than the ones in the Greek mainland and islands. Most Cypriot surnames end in -ou or -is, and sound like the genitive of a first name. For instance, some very common last names in Cyprus are Constantinou, Ioannou,Christou,Christofidou , Agathocleous and so on.
Hi, Im trying to found the origin of my last name Rentas, Im from Puerto Rico and I heard its has greek origins, I would like to know if somebody can tell me.thanks
Hi Cosmas,
I have two things to say. Firstly, there were many spelling errors in olden times so I would expect some if I were you. Second, I would suggest searching free Coat of Arms by surname websites. I tried a few, however, and was unable to find your last name.
Hi guys!
I am trying to find out the origin of my family’s surname, Zaglanikis. All information I have found so far tends to suggest that the origin is from the city of Messina in Sicily, which was known as Zancle around the 4th century BC. The family has a history of settlement on the island of Kythira since around the 15th century AD. However, the surname also has characteristics of Cretan origin, even though most Cretan surnames end in -akis and not -ikis. Most families that settled in Kythira can trace their origins to either Venice, Sicily, or Crete. Any help in finding out my family’s origin would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Cosmas Zaglanikis