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It is fascinating to know how Greek ancestry can be identified with the last name of an individual. Greek surnames started appearing only in the 15th century. They have different roots and etymology. Most of the surnames are influenced by family names, paternal, and maternal names. Several of these Greek surnames are genitive, i.e., originating from the father’s first name or the family name.
Naming Traditions In Greece
The surnames or last names in Greece are often indicators of the origin of the individual. There are many instances where the last name is modified but yet implies their origin. An example is the last name ‘Demetriou,’ which can be traced back to someone whose surname was originally ‘Demetrios.’
For women, the surnames change to a feminine version of the original masculine surname.
Greek last names also feature distinct suffixes. One can learn the place of origin and probably family history through the suffix alone. For example, ‘–akis’ refers to a person from Crete, ‘–ellis’ means the person likely came from Dodecanese islands, ‘–opoulos’ for a man coming from the Peloponnese peninsula, ‘-idis’ denotes the person is a ‘descendant of’ someone. The ‘-iadis’ suffix belongs to people from Messinia or Lakonia while ‘-oudas’ is for people from North Greece (Macedonia).
Prefixes of a surname could tell you about the origin of the person too while also telling something about a physical attribute or a profession. For instance, a surname beginning with ‘Kara’ implies that it belongs to someone in the East or Asia Minor as ‘kara’ refers to ‘black’ in the Turkish language. The prefix ‘konto’ means ‘short,’ and ‘papa’ means ‘someone who descended from priests.’
Greek surnames are thus interesting to know as they say a lot about Greek ancestry and tradition. In this post, MomJunction brings a list of 100 most widely used Greek surnames or last names.
List Of Common And Ancient Greek Last Names
1. Adamos
In Greek, this surname means ‘the son of Adam.’
2. Aetós
This surname means ’eagle’ in Greek.
3. Agathangelou
This is a patronymic name given to the people who likely descended from the historical figure named Agathangelos.
4. Alexopoulos
It is derived from the personal name Alexios and the patronymic ending poulos.
5. Andino
In Greek, this surname means ‘manly.’
6. Andrianakis
This last name is derived from the name Andreas with a suffix, -akis. It is commonly found in the Australian Greek communities.
7. Angelopoulos
This name is derived from Angelos, shortened from Evangelos with the patronymic ending ‘poulos.’
8. Angelos
This surname is a commonly used one and means ’Angel’ in Greek.
9. Ariti
In Greek, Ariti means someone who is approachable, friendly, or generous.
10. Artino
Artino is a habitational name given to someone who belonged to the city of Arta.
11. Athanasiou
This name is derived from the personal name Athanasios, which means ‘immortal,’ and it has the suffix ‘ou’ from the Cypriot genitive.
12. Bakirtzis
This is a Greek last name derived from a Turkish word, which means ’coppersmith.’
13. Calimeris
This Greek surname originated from the greeting ‘Kalimera,’ which means ‘Good morning.’
14. Chloros
This is another commonly used Greek surname, which refers to the color green.
15. Christodoulopoulos
It means a ‘descendant of Christ’s servant.’
16. Christoforou
A variation of the name Christophoros, which means one who is ’bearing Christ.’
17. Chronis
It is derived from ‘Chronos’ – ‘time’ or ‘year’ in Greek.
18. Christoyannopoulos
This ancient name means the ‘descendant of John and Christ.’
19. Cirillo
This is a Greek surname, from an Italian origin. The name means ’lordly’ or ‘masterful.’
20. Danielopoulos
This Greek surname means ‘son of Daniel.’ Daniel itself means ‘God is my judge.’
21. Diakos
It means ‘deacon’ in Greek. Deacon is a member of the clergy.
22. Diamandis
This Greek name means ‘diamonds’ in Greek.
23. Dougenis
Dougenis is derived from the words ‘doulos’ meaning ‘slave’ or ‘servant’ and ‘genes’ meaning ‘being born.’
24. Doukas
Doukas is a Medieval Greek surname derived from ‘doukas’ meaning ‘duke’ or a ‘lord.’
25. Drakos
This name comes from the Greek word Drakon, which means a ‘dragon’ or an ‘ogre.’
26. Economos
This is an occupational surname given to a steward or anyone who manages a property. The surname is derived from the Greek word ‘oikonomos,’ which means ‘steward.’
27. Filo
This is a Greek form of a personal name Filip, which means ‘friend of the horses.’
28. Frangopoulos
It is means ‘descendant of Frank.’
29. Franopoulos
It is related to the name Frangopoulos means ‘descendant of a Frank’ in Greek.
30. Galanis
This is a Greek surname for someone who has ‘pale blue eyes.’ The surname originates from ‘galanos,’ the Greek word for ‘pale blue’ or ‘azure.’
31. Gataki
Gataki means ‘kitten’ in Greek.
32. Ganas
It is an occupational Greek surname for those who work as coppersmiths.
33. German
This surname is given to people from Germany. Usually given to actual immigrants from Germany or for people who had business connections with German-speaking lands.
34. Giorgaina
It means ‘wife of Georgios.’ In early modern Greece, a married woman’s surname was usually a combination of her husband’s name and the suffix ‘-aina.’
35. Hasapis
It is derived from the Greek word ‘chasapi’ that means ‘butcher.’
36. Hatzi
A Greek annotation of Hajj, which means a ‘person who has completed a pilgrimage.’
37. Hatzis
Hatzis is a modern version of the Khatzi’s, which in Greek means a ’pilgrim to Jerusalem.’ The surname is related to the Greek surname ‘Hatzi.’
38. Iordanou
This name originates from the Jordan River’s name in Hebrew. It means to ‘descend’ or ‘flow down.’
39. Iraklidis
This name refers to the ‘son of Herakles.’ Herakles (also known as Hercules) means ‘glory/pride of the Goddess Hera.’
40. Karras
It means a ‘carter’ or ‘cart driver’ since the Greek root word for the surname is ‘Karo’ (cart). Karras is thus an occupational Greek last name.
41. Kalogeropoulos
This surname in Greek means ‘son of the monk’. It is derived from the Greek term kalogeros, which means ‘monk’ or ‘friar.’
42. Katopodis
In Greek, this word means ‘down’ or ‘below.’ This surname refers to ‘the guy who ran away.’
43. Katsaros
Katsaros is a name given to a person with curly hair in Greek. The word itself means ‘curly.’
44. Kazan
Kazan is a reduced form of Kazandis, which means ‘people who make cauldrons.’ It is an occupational surname given to people who make cauldrons or use a cauldron for the distillation of ouzo or raki – both alcoholic beverages.
45. Kokkinos
The Greek last name means ‘the color red.’
46. Kalogeras
This Greek last name is derived from ‘kalogeros,’ which means monk.
47. Karagiannis
This Greek last name means ‘black John.’
48. Kouris
In Greek, Kouris means ‘someone who lived in a forest.’
49. Kyriaku
It is a Greek surname, meaning ‘of the Lord.’
50. Laskaris
In Greek, Laskaris means ‘a kind of soldier.’
51. Leos
This surname is derived from Leon, which means ‘Lion.’
52. Levidis
This Greek name means ‘son of Levi.’ Levi means ‘joined’ or ‘attached,’ and the word originates from Hebrew.
53. Loukanis
This surname originates from the Greek word ‘loukanika’ meaning sausages. Loukanis is an occupational surname given to a butcher or a sausage maker.
54. Lykaios
This surname comes from the Greek word ‘Lykos,’ which means wolf.
55. Mandrapilias
It means ‘made of stone’ or ‘stonewall.’ This surname is common in the region of Sparta in Greece.
56. Manikas
It is derived from the Greek word ‘maniki’ meaning a ‘handle’ or a ‘sleeve.’ It is an occupational name given to people who make handles.
57. Markopoulos
This Greek surname means ’son of Mark.’ Mark is an ancient name meaning ‘consecrated to the god Mars’ or the ‘god of war.’
58. Masalis
A Greek surname of unknown origin and most common in the country of Cyprus.
59. Matsouka
This means ‘bat’ in Greek.
60. Matthiou
The name refers to the ‘son of Matthias.’ Matthias means the ‘gift of god.’
61. Metaxas
This name is derived from the Greek word, metaxi, which means ‘silk’ or ‘a person who deals in silk.’
62. Moralis
Moralis is a Greek form of the Spanish surname ‘Morales.’ It is likely to be derived from the Spanish word ‘moreras,’ that stands for ‘mulberry trees.’
63. Nephus
Nephus in Greek means ‘a God’s son who will also become a God.’
64. Nikolaou
Nikolaou means the ‘son of Nikolaos.’ Nikolaos means ‘victory of people’ in Greek.
65. Nomikos
In Greek, ‘Nomikos’ means ‘relating to law’ or ‘legal.’
66. Onasis
This Greek surname means ‘lover.’
67. Othonos
It is a Greek surname derived from Otto, meaning ’wealth’ or ‘fortune.’
68. Pachis
Pachis means ‘fat’ or ‘thick’ in Greek.
69. Panagos
It is an ancient Greek surname meaning ‘all holy.’
70. Pantazis
Pantazis is a Greek surname which means ‘always live’ or ‘live forever.’
71. Papachristodoulopoulos
This ancient Greek surname refers to someone who is a ‘descendant of the Priest and Servant of Christ.’
72. Papamichael
Papamichael means the ‘son of a priest named Michael.’
73. Papatonis
This Greek surname means ’a badass man.’
74. Papazoglou
Another common Greek surname meaning ’son of the Priest.’
75. Pappas
Pappas is derived from ‘Papas,’ which means ‘Priest’ in Greek.
76. Pavlides
This Greek surname means ‘son of Pavlos.’ Pavlos is a Greek form of Paul.
77. Persopoulos
This is an ancient Greek surname which means ’descendant of a Persian.’
78. Petrakis
This surname is derived from ‘Petros,’ a Greek version of Peter.
79. Remis
This surname originates from ‘Remigius’ a Greek name prevalent during the medieval period.
80. Rosi
A Greek surname derived from Rosa, which means ‘the flower rose.’
81. Rousopoulos
This Greek surname means and is used for ‘Russian descendants.’
82. Samaras
This Greek surname means a ‘saddler’ or a ‘saddle maker.’
83. Sarris
It means ‘blonde’ or ‘fair-headed.’ This Greek surname has a Turkish origin.
84. Savas
It originates from ‘Sabbas,’ which is the Greek version of the holy ‘Sabbath.’ The word ‘Sabbath’ also refers to the day ‘Saturday.’
85. Scala
This surname in Greek means ‘ladder’ or ‘steps’ or ‘stairway.’
86. Selinofoto
This Greek surname means ‘moonlight.’
87. Servopoulos
This Greek surname means ‘descendant of a Serb.’
88. Sideris
The surname has its origin in the Greek word ‘sidero’ that means ‘iron.’ The surname refers to a wishful phrase ‘may the child grow up to be as strong as iron.’
89. Stefanopoulos
This surname in Greek means ‘son of Stefan.’
90. Thanos
It is the short form of the Greek name ‘Athanasios,’ which means ‘immortal.’
91. Theodoropoulos
This means ‘son of Theodoros.’ Theodoros is the Greek word for the phrase ‘god-given’ or ‘god’s gift.’
92. Tsaoussis
This Greek surname means ‘Peacock.’
93. Tsitak
It means ‘God.’
94. Vasilakis
This surname is derived from ‘Vasilikos’ – the Greek word for ‘Basil.’
95. Voulgaropoulos
In Greek, ‘Voulgaros’ means ‘Bulgarian.’ Voulgaropoulos thus refers to the ‘descendant of a Bulgarian.’
96. Vouvali
In Greek, this surname means ‘buffalo.’
97. Xiphias
It means ‘swordfish.’
98. Yiannopoulos
The Greek surname means ‘son of Yianni.’
99. Zafeiriou
‘Zafeiri’ is the Greek name for the gemstone ’sapphire.’ When used as a surname, it means ‘son of Zafeiris.’
100. Zika
‘Zika’ is derived from the wishful Greek phrase ‘na zissis’ that means ‘to live’ or ‘may he live.’
Each surname has a different origin and a unique meaning associated with Greek ancient history. If you like these names, and you are not a Greek; how about using one of these as your baby’s nickname?
Let us know which Greek surname you like the most, in the comment section below.