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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.
These names often end in -poulos, -idis, -akis, or -oglou, meaning “son of.”
Meaning: “Son of the priest” — one of the most common Greek surnames.
Meaning: “Son of George.”
Meaning: “Son of Nikolaos (Nicholas).”
Meaning: “Of Konstantinos”; indicating lineage from Constantine.
Meaning: “Son of Dimitrios (Demetrius).”
Meaning: “Son of Michail (Michael).”
Meaning: “Son of Christos”; also means “follower of Christ.”
Meaning: “Of Antonios”; patronymic from Anthony.
Meaning: “Son of Stavros.”
Meaning: “Son of Alexandros (Alexander).”
Meaning: “Son of Ioannis (John).”
Meaning: “Of Vasileios”; derived from “king” or “royal.”
Meaning: “Son of Grigorios (Gregory).”
Meaning: “Son of Theodoros (Theodore).”
Meaning: “Son of Panagiotis”; related to the Virgin Mary.
These names reflect ancestral hometowns or regions.
Meaning: From Crete.
Meaning: From Thessaloniki.
Meaning: From Mani, a region in the Peloponnese.
Meaning: From the island of Zakynthos.
Meaning: From the Peloponnese.
Meaning: From Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey).
Meaning: From Delos, the sacred island of Apollo.
Meaning: From Cyprus.
Meaning: From the island of Naxos.
Meaning: From Messene, in the Peloponnese.
These surnames describe the family trade or profession.
Meaning: Fisherman.
Meaning: Blacksmith; from sidero, meaning iron.
Meaning: Baker.
Meaning: Tailor.
Meaning: Shoemaker.
Meaning: Bread maker; from psomi, meaning bread.
Meaning: Miller.
Meaning: Cantor or church singer.
Meaning: Leather worker or shoemaker.
Meaning: Possibly carpet maker; also linked to Turkish roots.
These names describe traits, appearances, or symbolic meaning.
Meaning: Youth or young man.
Meaning: “Son of a monk”; from kalogeros.
Meaning: Tall or long.
Meaning: Short.
Meaning: “Son of the blonde-haired man.”
Meaning: Little fisherman; affectionate diminutive.
Meaning: Dark-complexioned or swarthy.
Meaning: Son of Avram (Abraham); indicates Jewish-Greek roots.
Meaning: Sweet.
Meaning: Of honey or bee origin; sweet and symbolic.
Inspired by Greek mythology, saints, or religious significance.
Meaning: Son of Dionysios, god of wine.
Meaning: Devoted to Apollo.
Meaning: Of Athanasios, meaning “immortal.”
Meaning: Son of the angel or messenger.
Meaning: “Son of the all-holy one,” referring to the Virgin Mary.
A collection of less common but meaningful surnames with linguistic or cultural value.
Meaning: Bearer of Christ.
Meaning: Son of Lazarus.
Meaning: Possibly from “forty”; a family with historical religious ties.
Meaning: Pale or light-skinned.
Meaning: Priest (variant of Papadopoulos).
Meaning: Left-handed.
Meaning: Of Charalambos; “shining with joy.”
Meaning: Black John; often from “Kara” (black) and a first name.
Meaning: Son of Petros (Peter).
Meaning: Of the rose; from “triantafyllo.”
Meaning: Painter or iconographer.
Meaning: Son of Giannis.
Meaning: Possibly from a Turkish root meaning “axe.”
Meaning: Soldier; common in Crete.
Meaning: From a rural hut or shepherd’s shelter.
Meaning: Priest of Nikolaos.
Meaning: Table maker or carpenter.
Meaning: Diminutive of Manolis; “little Emmanuel.”
Meaning: Of the cross; related to Stavros.
Meaning: Curly-haired.
Meaning: Possibly of Arvanite origin; military family name.
Meaning: Shepherd or Vlach (nomadic people).
Meaning: Son of Dimos.
Meaning: From the region of Morea (Peloponnese).
Meaning: Steward or house manager.
Meaning: Priest of George.
Meaning: Beardless or clean-shaven.
Meaning: Son of Fotios (light).
Meaning: Son of Lambros (bright or radiant).
Meaning: Gallant or handsome man.
Meaning: Possibly a form of Giannis; from Thessaly.
Meaning: Of Albanian (Arvanite) origin.
Meaning: Son of George.
Meaning: Seller of bread rings (koulouri).
Meaning: Priest of Athanasios.
Meaning: Monk.
Meaning: Son of the tall one.
Meaning: Foundation; strong, grounded.
Meaning: Possibly occupational; related to carts or transport.
Meaning: Stranger or guest.
Meaning: Possibly Turkish-Greek in origin; a surname made famous by actress Aliki.
Meaning: Son of Charalambos.
Meaning: Son of Nikos; victory of the people.
Meaning: Pot maker or ceramicist.
Meaning: Morning star; dawn-like or radiant.
Meaning: Possibly related to someone from Kafkala region or root word for pride.
Meaning: From the plane tree; nature-inspired surname.
Meaning: From Kazancı (Turkish for coppersmith); surname of famous author Nikos Kazantzakis.
Meaning: Son of the fair-skinned one.
Meaning: Possibly a maker or seller of mandalas or related to Mandalion.
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.