100 Popular and Unique Greek Surnames

Greek surnames are more than family names — they are living echoes of ancestry, woven with stories of mythology, history, faith, and geography. Rooted in Byzantine, Classical, and Ottoman eras, these names reflect the rich linguistic diversity and cultural pride of Greece and the Greek diaspora.

From the Aegean islands to the mountains of the Peloponnese, surnames often reveal patronymic roots (based on a father’s name), occupational traditions, or regional origins. Many names carry ancient meanings tied to nature, religion, or heroic lineage — all showcasing Greece’s profound connection to the past.

In this article, you’ll discover 100 fascinating Greek surnames, both common and rare, sorted by themes such as patronymic, geographic, occupational, and descriptive. Each one includes its meaning or origin, helping you appreciate the beauty, complexity, and legacy behind every name.

👤 Patronymic Surnames (Derived from the Father’s First Name)

These names often end in -poulos, -idis, -akis, or -oglou, meaning “son of.”

1. Papadopoulos

Meaning: “Son of the priest” — one of the most common Greek surnames.

2. Georgiadis

Meaning: “Son of George.”

3. Nikolaidis

Meaning: “Son of Nikolaos (Nicholas).”

4. Konstantinou

Meaning: “Of Konstantinos”; indicating lineage from Constantine.

5. Dimitriadis

Meaning: “Son of Dimitrios (Demetrius).”

6. Michailidis

Meaning: “Son of Michail (Michael).”

7. Christopoulos

Meaning: “Son of Christos”; also means “follower of Christ.”

8. Antoniou

Meaning: “Of Antonios”; patronymic from Anthony.

9. Stavropoulos

Meaning: “Son of Stavros.”

10. Alexopoulos

Meaning: “Son of Alexandros (Alexander).”

11. Ioannidis

Meaning: “Son of Ioannis (John).”

12. Vasileiou

Meaning: “Of Vasileios”; derived from “king” or “royal.”

13. Grigoropoulos

Meaning: “Son of Grigorios (Gregory).”

14. Theodoridis

Meaning: “Son of Theodoros (Theodore).”

15. Panagiotopoulos

Meaning: “Son of Panagiotis”; related to the Virgin Mary.

🧭 Geographic Surnames (Derived from Locations)

These names reflect ancestral hometowns or regions.

16. Kritikos

Meaning: From Crete.

17. Thessalonikios

Meaning: From Thessaloniki.

18. Maniatis

Meaning: From Mani, a region in the Peloponnese.

19. Zakynthinos

Meaning: From the island of Zakynthos.

20. Pelopidas

Meaning: From the Peloponnese.

21. Smyrnios

Meaning: From Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey).

22. Delios

Meaning: From Delos, the sacred island of Apollo.

23. Kyprianos

Meaning: From Cyprus.

24. Naxos

Meaning: From the island of Naxos.

25. Messenos

Meaning: From Messene, in the Peloponnese.

🧰 Occupational Surnames

These surnames describe the family trade or profession.

26. Psaras

Meaning: Fisherman.

27. Sideris

Meaning: Blacksmith; from sidero, meaning iron.

28. Fournaris

Meaning: Baker.

29. Raptis

Meaning: Tailor.

30. Katasanis

Meaning: Shoemaker.

31. Psomiadis

Meaning: Bread maker; from psomi, meaning bread.

32. Mylonas

Meaning: Miller.

33. Chantzis

Meaning: Cantor or church singer.

34. Tsakiridis

Meaning: Leather worker or shoemaker.

35. Karamanlis

Meaning: Possibly carpet maker; also linked to Turkish roots.

🗣️ Descriptive & Character-Based Surnames

These names describe traits, appearances, or symbolic meaning.

36. Kouris

Meaning: Youth or young man.

37. Kalogeropoulos

Meaning: “Son of a monk”; from kalogeros.

38. Makris

Meaning: Tall or long.

39. Kondos

Meaning: Short.

40. Xanthopoulos

Meaning: “Son of the blonde-haired man.”

41. Psarasakis

Meaning: Little fisherman; affectionate diminutive.

42. Skouras

Meaning: Dark-complexioned or swarthy.

43. Avramidis

Meaning: Son of Avram (Abraham); indicates Jewish-Greek roots.

44. Glykas

Meaning: Sweet.

45. Melisinos

Meaning: Of honey or bee origin; sweet and symbolic.

🔱 Mythology & Religion-Based Surnames

Inspired by Greek mythology, saints, or religious significance.

46. Dionysopoulos

Meaning: Son of Dionysios, god of wine.

47. Apollonaris

Meaning: Devoted to Apollo.

48. Athanasiou

Meaning: Of Athanasios, meaning “immortal.”

49. Angelopoulos

Meaning: Son of the angel or messenger.

50. Panagopoulos

Meaning: “Son of the all-holy one,” referring to the Virgin Mary.

🔠 Other Unique & Notable Surnames

A collection of less common but meaningful surnames with linguistic or cultural value.

51. Christophorou

Meaning: Bearer of Christ.

52. Lazaridis

Meaning: Son of Lazarus.

53. Sarantakos

Meaning: Possibly from “forty”; a family with historical religious ties.

54. Galanis

Meaning: Pale or light-skinned.

55. Pappas

Meaning: Priest (variant of Papadopoulos).

56. Zervas

Meaning: Left-handed.

57. Haralambous

Meaning: Of Charalambos; “shining with joy.”

58. Karagiannis

Meaning: Black John; often from “Kara” (black) and a first name.

59. Petridis

Meaning: Son of Petros (Peter).

60. Triantafyllou

Meaning: Of the rose; from “triantafyllo.”

61. Zografos

Meaning: Painter or iconographer.

62. Giannopoulos

Meaning: Son of Giannis.

63. Kourtelis

Meaning: Possibly from a Turkish root meaning “axe.”

64. Stratakis

Meaning: Soldier; common in Crete.

65. Kalivas

Meaning: From a rural hut or shepherd’s shelter.

66. Papanikolaou

Meaning: Priest of Nikolaos.

67. Tavlaridis

Meaning: Table maker or carpenter.

68. Manolakos

Meaning: Diminutive of Manolis; “little Emmanuel.”

69. Stavrianos

Meaning: Of the cross; related to Stavros.

70. Katsaros

Meaning: Curly-haired.

71. Tsakalotos

Meaning: Possibly of Arvanite origin; military family name.

72. Vlahos

Meaning: Shepherd or Vlach (nomadic people).

73. Dimopoulos

Meaning: Son of Dimos.

74. Moraitis

Meaning: From the region of Morea (Peloponnese).

75. Economou

Meaning: Steward or house manager.

76. Papageorgiou

Meaning: Priest of George.

77. Spanos

Meaning: Beardless or clean-shaven.

78. Fotiadis

Meaning: Son of Fotios (light).

79. Lambropoulos

Meaning: Son of Lambros (bright or radiant).

80. Leventis

Meaning: Gallant or handsome man.

81. Katsigiannis

Meaning: Possibly a form of Giannis; from Thessaly.

82. Arvanitis

Meaning: Of Albanian (Arvanite) origin.

83. Georgopoulos

Meaning: Son of George.

84. Koulouris

Meaning: Seller of bread rings (koulouri).

85. Papathanasiou

Meaning: Priest of Athanasios.

86. Kalogeras

Meaning: Monk.

87. Makropoulos

Meaning: Son of the tall one.

88. Themelis

Meaning: Foundation; strong, grounded.

89. Vardalos

Meaning: Possibly occupational; related to carts or transport.

90. Xenakis

Meaning: Stranger or guest.

91. Vougiouklakis

Meaning: Possibly Turkish-Greek in origin; a surname made famous by actress Aliki.

92. Charalambidis

Meaning: Son of Charalambos.

93. Nikopoulos

Meaning: Son of Nikos; victory of the people.

94. Tsoukalas

Meaning: Pot maker or ceramicist.

95. Avgerinos

Meaning: Morning star; dawn-like or radiant.

96. Kafkalas

Meaning: Possibly related to someone from Kafkala region or root word for pride.

97. Platanos

Meaning: From the plane tree; nature-inspired surname.

98. Kazantzakis

Meaning: From Kazancı (Turkish for coppersmith); surname of famous author Nikos Kazantzakis.

99. Galanopoulos

Meaning: Son of the fair-skinned one.

100. Mandalios

Meaning: Possibly a maker or seller of mandalas or related to Mandalion.

A Legacy Written in Every Name

Greek surnames are more than family identifiers — they are whispers of the past, echoing the lives, landscapes, and legacies of those who came before us. From patronymic lineages and ancestral villages to trades passed down and virtues once admired, each name tells a story that deserves to be remembered.

Whether your surname connects you to a priest, a fisherman, a region of mythic history, or a noble house, it carries the strength of Hellenic heritage and cultural pride. Exploring these names helps us appreciate not only where we come from but how deeply identity, tradition, and language are interwoven into everyday life.

💬 Do you recognize your family name or one that holds special meaning to you? We’d love to hear from you! Share your favorite Greek surname, its story, or how it connects to your roots.