135 Greek Last Names or Surnames With Meanings

Everything Greeks do, they do it with perfection. Be it history, food, culture, academics, or folklore, everything has a class. Similar to this are Greek surnames that have traces of rich history, culture, and wisdom. It was not until the 15th century that Greeks started giving importance to a surname. Most ancient Greek surnames are influenced by family names and parents’ names. Most Greek last names are inherited from the paternal side, i.e., the father’s first name or the family name. Their last names can easily identify someone of Greek ancestry. Most unique Greek last names and surnames have exemplary meaning to them, and those surnames can be traced back to time and grandeur origin.

Popular Greek Last Names or Surnames

Greek names are either of Latin, Hebrew or Greek origin. Some names are original Greek words, and some have been modified. The modified ones imply the origin of the name. Popular Greek last names come with suffixes. These suffixes give the history or the origin of the place to where the family belongs. Some Greek surnames have prefixes too. These prefixes reveal the identity of the person or their origin.

Greek surnames are, therefore, interesting as they speak volumes about the tradition and ancestry of the person. A surname beginning with “Kara” reveals that the person is from the East, and in Turkish “kara” means black. “Konto” the prefix means short, and “papa” means a person who is a descendant of priests.

Read on to find a compilation of popular Greek last names or surnames:

1. Andeno

Andeno is a popular Greek last name that means “manly” or “brave.” It reflects qualities of strength and courage.

2. Argyros

The name comes from the first name Argyrios. It also comes from Argyroglou or Argyropoulos and is another patronymic name. The adjective argyros means “silvery”.

3. Bakirtzis

The name traces its origin to the Turkish language and means “coppersmith”.

4. Balaskas

Used by Greeks and Slavic Jews, Balaska is the feminine form. Balaskas is the masculine form of the name.

5. Chloros

The word in Greek means “green” and symbolizes the essence of the country.

6. Condos

Kontos in Greek means “short”. It could also be combined with a personal name to make a longer surname like Kondogiannis, which means “Short John”, or Kondopavlos, which means “Short Paul”.

7. Danielos

Daniels means God is my judgement in the Hebrews. 

8. Drakos

In Greek, the name means “Dragon or ogre”. One of the common Greek last names, it sounds authentic.

9. Drivas

Greek variant of the Slavic word drvo, which means “tree”. It could also mean a Greek variant of Grivas.

10. Eliades

The ‘ides’ surname was revived by the Greeks for descendants from the Black Sea in the early 19th and 20th centuries. The name is also a patronymic derivative of the biblical name Elais.

11. Elias

A Greek form of Hebrew, it is derived from Eliyahu. It means “Jehovah of God” or “Lord of God”.

12. Georgiou

The name is Greek and means “wife or kin” of Georgios.

13. Halkias

The name is a classic Greek name derived from khalkeus. It is another occupational name and means “coppersmith”.

14. Hasapi

Spelt with an “H” it is derived from the Greek word “chasapi”. The word means “butcher “ and is often used by people of the same profession.

15. Hatzis

Khatzis means pilgrim to Jerusalem, and the name is also used as a prefix to relate to the ancestry of Hatzimarkou, who performed the pilgrimage.

16. Kappas

Kappas is the shortened version of the surname that begins with the prefix ‘Kapa’, which in Turkish means “large”.

17. Konstantinopolites

A popular place in Greece, people originating from Constantinople usually bear this surname.

18. Leventis

Of Italian origin, Leventis is derived from Levantine which means “people from the East”. It refers to armed sailors or pirates from the Middle Ages. In Greek, the name has a positive connotation and means “fearless and gallantry”.

19. Marsalis

A form of Marcellus, which means ‘little soldier’ or ‘warlike.’

20. Mikos

A surname which is the equivalent of Nicholas in Greek. It is also considered to be an altered or short form of Demetrios.

21. Nicolaides

Another variant of the name Nicholas, the name is patronymic and originates from Nikolaos.

22. Nicoli

This surname is a variant of Nikolis, a pet form of Nicholas in Greek.

23. Pagonis

A beautiful surname, it is derived from “pagoni”, which means “peacock”. It is also a nickname for “vain or showy man”.

24. Papachristodoulopoulos

A really long one, this one is ancient and unique. It means “someone who is a descendant of the Priest and a Servant of the Lord Christ”.

25. Mallas

The surname is an occupational one and comes from “mallas”, which means a “trowel”. The surname is an occupational name for a bricklayer.

26. Pavlis

A derivative of the personal name of Paul and its Greek equivalent Pavlos.

27. Regas

The name is a variant of Riga and refers to a habitation. It refers to the numerous places called Reags, which means “an irrigational channel”.

28. Theodoropoulos

Theodoros in Greek means “God-given” or a “Gift of God”. The surname means “son of Theodoros”.

29. Vasilakis

A Greek word for “basil”, the name is derived from Vasilikos.

30. Vitalis

The surname means what the word would mean in spoken English. In Greek, it means “alive” or “vital”.

31. Voulgaropoulos

This name probably belongs to someone who adopted Greece but originally came from Bulgaria. It means “descendant of a Bulgarian”.

32. Vouvali

Vouvali is a Greek last name that means “buffalo.” It may have been used for someone known for strength or linked to animals.

33. Xenakis

Xenos in Greek means “stranger” or a “newcomer”. The surname, again is a patronymic.

34. Yiannopoulos

Another surname with a suffix, it means “son of Yianni”.

35. Zervas

It is a last name derived from the nickname that means “left-handed”.

36. Zografos

It is a combination of two names – zoe, which means “life”, and graphein, which means “write”. The surname is also an occupational name, which means painter or miniaturist.

Common and Ancient Greek Last Names or Surnames

Ancient Greek surnames tell a lot about Greek ancestry, occupation, and tradition. These common Greek last names can be found all around the country as well as worldwide.

1. Adamos

The name means “Son of Adam”. Derived from a first name, the surname goes well with any first name, too.

2. Aetos

Aetos is a Greek last name that means “eagle.” It symbolizes strength, vision, and freedom, making it a powerful and respected surname in Greek culture.

3. Agathangelou

One of the long Greek last names, Agathangelos, is a patronymic name that has descended from the historical figure with the same moniker. It is given to descendants of this historical figure.

4. Andino

The surname is Greek for “manly”. It probably originated from someone who displayed a lot of masculinity.

5. Castellanos

Also spelt as Kastellanos, it is derived from the word “kastello”. The name is an adjective form and means “castle”.

6. Chaconas

The name is an Americanized version of Tsakonas or Tsakonian which means “an inhabitant of the eastern side of Peloponnese”. It is an archaic kind of Greek last name.

7. Christodoulopoulos

Greeks have a deep connection with Christianity, and this name has a strong religious influence. It means the “descendants of the servants of Christ”.

8. Christoforou

Another variant of the name beginning with Christ, it means “one who is bearing Christ”.

9. Dougenis

The name is a combination of the word “doulos”, which means “slave or servant” and “genes”, which means “born”.

10. Eliopoulos

Derived from “Elias”, the first name and the suffix Poulos that is derived from the Latin word “nestling”. The suffix is also given to people originating from the Peloponnese.

11. Filo

Short and sweet, it is a Greek derivative of the first name Filip. Filip, in turn, is derived from the English name ‘Phillip’ which means “the horse’s friend”.

12. Florakis

There are two parts to this name- “Flor”, which means flower, blossom or virginity. The other part, “akis” that means originating from Crete.

13. Ganas

The meaning of the name is an occupational name for a coppersmith.

14. Georgiades

A spelling variant of Georgiadis, it could be a patronymic name modified from the first name “George” with “-ades” as a suffix.

15. Hondros

The surname is a nickname for the word “fat”. In Greek, “khondros” means fat. Hondros is a prefix and is added to any first name.

16. Kallis

Kallistos is a Greek name that means “best” and is reduced to form a patronymic.

17. Katopodis

Katopodis is a Greek last name that means “the guy who ran away.” It may have started as a nickname for someone known for escaping or fleeing quickly.

18. Kouris

It is a topographic name in Greek for someone who resided in a forest, derived from either the Aromanian curie or the northern Greek kouri, which means “little woodland.”

19. Lambros

In classical Greek, “lampros” means “radiant”, ”luminous”, and “brilliant”. The name was coined to commemorate Easter, which is known as Lanbri, “the bright day”. It could also become a patronymic surname and be added as a prefix.

20. Makris

It is a nickname for the Greek word “makros,” which means tall. Popular in ancient Greece, it is combined with many personal names.

21. Mavros

Mavros in Greek means “black” and is a descriptive name for someone with a dark complexion. It is used popularly as a prefix with personal names.

22. Nikolaou

In Greek, Nikolaou or Nicolaou is a surname. It is a relatively popular Greek Cypriot surname and is of Greek origin. The Greek word Nicolaou means “Victor of the People.”

23. Onasis

Onasis is a rare Greek last name that is said to mean “lover.” It carries a romantic and affectionate meaning, though it is not commonly used in Greece.

24. Othonos

Another Greek surname derived from “Otto”, it means “fortune” or “wealth”.

25. Rellakis

The name means an occupational name for an embroiderer.

26. Panagos

The name is very ancient and has a deep significance to it. It means “all holy” and is symbolic of the Greek way of life.

27. Papadopoulos

Papadopoulos is a very common surname, with over 59,000 people in Greece (0.55%) having this last name Papadopoulos, which makes 1 in every 188 people. This is basically a patronymic name, which means “son of priest”.

28. Remis

The last name originates from medieval times. This surname originates from “Remigius”.

29. Raptis

The surname is an occupational name and means “a tailor”. In Greek, it is spelt as ‘raptis’ (pronounced as raftis) and derived from the classical Greek word raptein which means to sew.

30. Sagona

A classic, it is a Greek name for someone with a protruding jaw. “Sagona” in Greek means jaw. In Classic Greek, it is spelt as “Siagon”.

31. Selinofoto

In Greek, the name means “moonlight”.  It probably originates from one who lives by the sea and enjoys the moonlight.

32. Sideris

A powerful surname, it means “may the child grow up to be as strong as iron”. Actually, a first name, it is a patronymic name that has been adapted to a surname.

33. Vassos

The last name means “from Vasos” and is a short form of the name Vasilis.

34. Xiphias

Pronounced as ‘Zi-fias’, the name means “swordfish.”

35. Zafeiriou

The gemstone “sapphire” in Greek is called Zafeiri. As a surname, it means “son of Zaferiris” and is another patronymic name.

36. Zika

A short form of the first name “Zikmund”, as a surname is also derived from a Greek phrase. A wishful phrase, it means “to live” or “may he live”.

Modern Greek Last Names or Surnames

Are you looking for a modern take on Greek surnames? You have stumbled upon the right place. Here are the top modern Greek last names or surnames.

1. Angelopoulos

Angelopoulos is a modern take on the Greek name Angelos, which was shortened from Evangelos and has the patronymic ending “poulos”.

2. Christopoulos

Christopoulos is one of the examples of modern as well as patronymic last names, which are derived from the father’s first name. The name means “son of Christos” or “son of Christ”.

3. Kostopoulos

Kostopoulos is a popular modern name which means “son of Kostas”. The name also refers to the connection to a place or region in Greece, i.e., from Kostopolis, a village in Thessaly.

4. Papadakis

Papadakis is a well-established modern Greek name, meaning “son of Dakis”. The Greek suffix ‘akis’ stems from the place Crete.

5. Vasilopoulos

Vasilopoulos is a Greek last name that means “son of Vasilis”, with Vasilis being a common Greek first name and -poulos meaning “son of.”

Unique Greek Last Names or Surnames

Not all Greek names are common or known by everyone. There are certain families that have a rich history but cannot be found everywhere. From such unique and rare families, we bring unique Greek surnames. Hope you enjoy this historic treat!

1. Ariti

The name sounds more like a first name, but in Greek, it means someone who is “approachable”, “generous”, and “friendly”.

2. Balaska

The meaning of the name is “drawer of lots” in Greek.

3. Baros

Derived from Portuguese or Spanish from the places called Barros. Barro means “loam” or “clay”. In Greek, it is a nickname from the Albanian word ‘mbare’, which means “happy” or “lucky”.

4. Bouras

In Greek, it is Booras, and the word is of Latin origin. It means “a woollen cloth, coarse and reddish-brown with long hair”.  It belongs to someone who worked in the wool trade.

5. Chronis

In Greek, the name means a short form of the personal name Polychronis is an omen or well-wishing name meaning ‘(may he be) long-lived.’

6. Cirillo

This Greek surname is actually of Italian origin and means “lord” or “masterful”.

7. Danielopoulos

The name speaks for itself and means “son of Daniel”.

8. Diamandis

A surname for someone who deals with diamonds, the name means “diamonds”.

9. Diakos

The name means “deacon” in Greek. A deacon is a member of the clergy, and the name signifies the occupation of a person.

10. Doukas

During medieval times, the name was for someone in the imperial rank. It originates from the Greek word “doukas”, which means “Duke” or “Lord”.

11. Economos

The name relates to occupation and is derived from oikonomos, which means “steward”. It also means someone who manages a property.

12. Fountas

Historically, this surname has evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation and place of origin.

13. Fotos

Derived from the Greek word “phos” which means light, it is also a shortened version of the patronymic name Fotopoulos.

14. Franopoulos

The name means “descendant of a Frank”. Franks were a group of people in Europe.

15. Gabris

It is a Greek derivative of the English name Gabriel.

16. Gataki

Simple and sweet, this name means “kitten” in Greek.

17. Galanis

A surname that describes a person with “pale blue eyes”. The name originates from “galanos” in Greek, which means “pale blue” or “azure”.

18. Hasapis

The meaning of the name is Leader, Visionary, Powerful.

19. Ioannou

Pronounced as I-o-nou, it means “child of John”.

20. Iordanou

The name is a Hebrew variant of the name of the Jordan River. It means “flow down” or “descend”.

21. Laskaris

Greeks have a rich history of fighting battles, and Laskaris as a name is a tribute to it. In Greek, it means “a kind of soldier”.

22. Lekas

The name is of Albanian origin, and Leka is an Albanian personal name. In Albanian, it means “Alexander”.

23. Louis

The name means “Famed warrior” or “loot bringer”.

24. Mandrapilias

Common in the Spartan region of Greece, the name means “a stonewall” or “made of stone”.

25. Μarkis

Markis means the day on which a person is christened.

26. Nanos

A short form of Giavanni in Italian, the name is also derived from the Greek word “nanos” which means a “dwarf”.

27. Pantazis

A surname that is full of vibrancy, it means “always alive” or ”full of life”.

28. Papatonis

Papatonis is a Greek last name that can be interpreted to mean “a very badass man.” It’s a bold-sounding name, often linked to strength and confidence.

29. Petrakis

The name means Descendant of little Petros (rock).

30. Rella

It is a shortened form of Rellakis and is an occupational surname. It is mostly adopted by embroiders and derived from “reli”, which means “hem” or “border”.

31. Rousopoulos

A Greek surname, it actually means “someone of Russian descent”.

32. Samaras

The surname is ideal for a lover of horses. It means “saddler” or a “saddle maker”.

33. Sotiropoulos

Ending in poulos, it belongs to someone from the Peloponnese and is actually derived from Latin. It means “nestling” or “chick”.

34. Tavoularis

The name belongs to the medieval times and means “secretary”; “literary” and “assistant”. It is an ancient surname and is passed on from generation.

35. Thanos

Thanos is a boy’s name of Greek origin, meaning “immortal”.

36. Tsaoussis

The surname in Greek means “peacock” and could well be adapted from the father’s first name.

Funny Greek Last Names

Greek last names are often rich in history and meaning—but some also come with a humorous twist! From quirky pronunciations to amusing translations, these funny Greek surnames are sure to bring a smile.

1. Bakalopoulos

This name means “son of the grocer.” It likely came from a family who ran a small neighbourhood shop.

2. Malioris

Possibly linked to the word for “apple” or fruit. It has a sweet and slightly amusing sound.

3. Moustakas

Derived from the word moustaki, meaning “mustache,” this name probably described someone with a prominent or memorable mustache.

4. Kafes

This surname directly translates to “coffee.” It could have belonged to someone who sold coffee or simply loved it a lot making it quite funny today.

5. Portokalis

Literally means “orange,” either the fruit or the colour. It’s a bright, zesty name that sounds cheerful and fun.

6. Maroulis

It comes from the word for “lettuce.” This name might have started as a joke or nickname.

7. Kolokithas

This means “zucchini” or “pumpkin.” It sounds silly and may have come from a farming family.

8. Tsounis

Although its exact meaning is unclear, the name has a playful ring to it. Its cheerful sound alone makes it feel amusing and lighthearted.

Greek Last Names Inspired From Mythology

From Zeus and Poseidon to Pandora to Hera, Greek mythology is known and appreciated worldwide. Let’s explore some popular Greek last names inspired by its vast mythology.

1. Galatas

In Greek, “gala” means milk, and the surname is an occupational one for someone who sells milk.

2. Iraklidis

The name means “son of Herakles”.

3. Leos

It originates from the personal name Leos, which means “lion” and is a short form of Leon.

4. Lykaios

An original Greek name derived from a Greek word that means “wolf”.

5. Nephus

In Greek, Nephus means “son of God who will eventually become God”. A very religious surname it has a deep meaning to it.

6. Pallas

It is another name for Athena, the Goddess of Arts and Wisdom. It is also a nickname for Palac in Greek, which means “thumb”.

7. Teresi

The name is associated with the Goddess of Hunting-“Artemis” and is a metronymic for the feminine personal name Teresa.

Greek Last Names Inspired By Movies and Profession

From earlier times, many people have been bearing occupational surnames to represent them. Just like we have surnames, such as Smith and Carpenter in English, a similar tradition follows in the Greek surnaming. Let’s explore some well-recognised Greek last names inspired by profession and movies:

1. Kalogeropoulos

Originating from the Greek word ‘kalogeros’, which refers to “friar” or “monk”, Kalogeropoulos is a popular Greek last name meaning “son of the monk”.

2. Karras

Karras is an occupational Greek last name which is derived from the Greek word “karo” which means “cart”. The surname refers to “someone who is a carter or cart driver by profession”.

3. Kazan

Kazan is an occupational surname derived from the reduced form of ‘Kazandis,’ referring to people engaged in crafting or using cauldrons, particularly in distilling alcohol.

4. Loukanis

Loukanis is another Greek occupational name referring to butcher or a sausage maker.

5. Metaxas

Originating from the Greek word “metaxy”, Metaxas is a Greek occupational last name. It refers to a person who deals in silk.

6. Nomikos

This Greek surname is preferred for individuals who work in fields pertaining to law.

7. Katsopolis

Katsopolis is a unique Greek surname. The surname was used by a character in the popular TV show Full House, Jesse Katsopolis, who is of Greek descent.

History of Greek Last Names

For centuries, the Byzantine Empire ruled several nations, including Greece, Italy, the Balkans, the Levant, and more. With Christianity as its primary religion, the Byzantine Empire came to be the longest-lasting medieval power. During this Empire’s reign, Greek surnames originated when the Byzantine royalty began to use them around or after the 9th century. With the rise of the Ottoman Empire and its expansion to earlier Byzantine nations, many scholars and artists fled and took refuge in Calabria, today’s southern section of Italy. This triggered the initiation of the European Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. Even though the Ottomans were Muslims, the Empire allowed Jews and Christians to continue practising their faith safely to prevent the public from rebelling.

Even during this time, surnames or family names were not very prevalent or firmly fixed in society. Surnames were flexible and were designed based on people’s geographical location, occupation and patronymic characteristics. It was not until the third decade of the 19th century that the standardisation of last names in Greece began. During this time, the then government started with record keeping of the population, finally deciding on standardised surnames, which were often based on family occupations, geographical locations, and patronyms. For example, Achilles was Achilles Pileidis, which indicated ‘from his father Pileas.’

Naming Traditions in Greece

Last names in ancient Greece were non-existent. After the 9th century, the Greek royal class started using family names to represent them. Greek last names and meanings have been derived from geographical locations (where people resided), the patron of the family (kind of a legacy), religious influence, occupation, and more. Here are some factors based on which Greece surnames evolved:

1. Patronymic and Matronymic Names

In addition to a given name, Greeks traditionally have a patronymic (father’s name) or matronymic (mother’s name) to identify lineage. Surnames often end with the suffix -opoulos or -idis, which means “son of” or “descendent of.” The format is often “son of” (in the case of a male) or “daughter of” (in the case of a female) followed by the father’s or mother’s name. Another common suffix is “ou,” signifying “of,” which is given to a female’s given name, found in many popular Greek last names. For instance, Christoforou translates to “son of Christophoros.” For example, the surname Theodoropoulos translates to “son of Theodoros.”

2. Geography

Most Greek surnames vary with location. Regional variations in surname suffixes are notable, such as the prevalent use of “–akis” in Crete, denoting a diminutive form meaning “child of.” The popular ‘-iadis’ suffix belongs to individuals from Lakonia or Messinia, while ‘-oudas’ is for individuals from North Greece (Macedonia). Similarly, a Greek surname beginning with ‘Kara’ implies that it refers to a person belonging to East or Asia Minor.

3. Religious Influence

The influence of the Greek Orthodox Church on naming traditions can be found significantly in Greek last names and meanings. Many Greeks are named after saints and Bible references. Naming a child after a saint is considered an honour and a way to seek the saint’s protection. Children are given a name associated with the saint whose feast day falls closest to the child’s birth date.

4. Occupation

Occupational surnames, derived from a person’s profession or societal role, also contribute to Greek naming traditions. An example is the surname “Hasapis,” originating from the Greek word for “butcher.”

FAQs

1. Are Greek Surnames Different in Different Regions?

With the variation in lands, Greek surnames also experienced a shift due to migration, ethnicity and linguistic factors. Different regions of Greece have different last names specific to a particular area.

2. For What Reason Do Certain Greeks Have Turkish Surnames?

The inclusion of Turkish surnames in certain Greek communities can be traced back to the reigning of the Ottoman Empire after the end of Byzantine in Greece. This continued for centuries. Due to this, many Greeks share similarities to Turkish surnames.

Surnames, family names, or last names bridge the gap between the past and present of families. In Greece, this tradition holds deep significance, as Greek family names reflect the country’s rich history, culture, and heritage. Some names come from ancient Greek mythology, while others show the strong influence of Christianity that shaped the nation over centuries. Many common Greek surnames also have roots in Latin, Hebrew, or Italian, revealing the diverse cultural connections that have influenced Greek identity through generations.

Infographic: 10 Unique Greek Surnames or Lastnames

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