200+ Greek Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)

Greek last names are a reflection of the long-standing traditions and rich heritage of the culture dating back thousands of years.

Many Greek surnames are based on the father’s name (patronymic), while others may be derived from an occupation, geographical location, or personal traits.

The suffixes at the end of many surnames give clues as to where the family originated from and when the last name may have changed.

Greek surnames have evolved over time by drawing from both ancient influences (Classical Greece) and contemporary influences (language and migration), creating a perfect example of how these two influences can combine to produce unique surnames that represent both history and identity.

Greek Last Names

Papadopoulos – “son of a priest;” one of the most common surnames, reflecting religious heritage.

Papadakis – “little son of a priest;” a diminutive form showing lineage.

Georgiou – “son of George;” meaning farmer or earth-worker.

Dimitriou – “son of Dimitris;” linked to Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.

Nikolaou – “son of Nikolaos;” meaning victory of the people.

Ioannou – “son of Ioannis;” meaning God is gracious.

Konstantinou – “son of Constantine;” meaning steadfast or constant.

Christodoulou – “servant of Christ;” deeply religious in origin.

Vasileiou – “son of Vasileios;” meaning royal or kingly.

Theodorou – “son of Theodoros;” meaning gift of God.

Angelopoulos – “son of Angelos;” meaning messenger or angel.

Alexiou – “son of Alexios;” meaning defender.

Andreadis – “son of Andreas;” meaning manly or brave.

Antonopoulos – “son of Antonios;” meaning priceless.

Apostolou – “son of Apostolos;” meaning messenger.

Charalambous – “son of Charalambos;” meaning shining joy.

Christou – “of Christ;” indicating religious devotion.

Evangelou – “bearer of good news;” religious significance.

Kyriakou – “of the Lord;” tied to Sunday or holy day.

Manolopoulos – “son of Manolis;” derived from Emmanuel.

Panagiotopoulos – “son of Panagiotis;” meaning all-holy.

Petropoulos – “son of Petros;” meaning rock.

Sotiriou – “of the savior;” spiritual meaning.

Zachariou – “son of Zacharias;” meaning remembered by God.

Kostopoulos – “son of Kostas;” linked to Constantine.

Roussos – “red-haired;” describing physical traits.

Karras – “black;” referring to dark features.

Pappas – “priest;” a direct occupational surname.

Vlachos – “shepherd;” tied to pastoral life.

Karagiannis – “black John;” combining color and name.

Makris – “tall;” describing physical stature.

Laskaris – “soldier;” tied to military roles.

Doukas – “duke;” indicating nobility.

Kanelos – “cinnamon;” possibly linked to trade or color.

Kokkinos – “red;” referring to hair or complexion.

Xenos – “foreigner;” given to outsiders or travelers.

Zervos – “left-handed;” describing a physical trait.

Bakas – “keeper;” possibly linked to storage or trade.

Galanis – “blue;” referring to eye color or sea tones.

Diamantis – “diamond;” symbolizing strength and value.

Economou – “steward;” a manager of property or resources.

Hatzis – “pilgrim;” one who traveled to holy lands.

Kalogeropoulos – “son of a monk;” religious lineage.

Kalogeras – “monk;” tied to religious life.

Karalis – “good;” reflecting positive traits.

Katsaros – “curly-haired;” describing appearance.

Kontos – “short;” referring to stature.

Lianos – “slender;” describing build.

Mavros – “black;” referring to dark features.

Nikas – “victor;” symbolizing success.

Orfanos – “orphan;” possibly a historical identifier.

Panos – “all-holy;” derived from Panagiotis.

Papageorgiou – “son of priest George;” combining religion and lineage.

Papandreou – “son of priest Andrew;” patronymic origin.

Papanikolaou – “son of priest Nicholas;” very common Greek surname.

Papathanasiou – “son of priest Athanasios;” religious lineage.

Papazoglou – “son of priest’s son;” layered patronymic form.

Raptis – “tailor;” occupational surname.

Sarris – “blond;” describing appearance.

Stavropoulos – “son of Stavros;” meaning cross.

Stefanidis – “son of Stefanos;” meaning crown.

Thanasis – “immortal;” derived from Athanasios.

Tsakalos – “jackal;” symbolic or descriptive origin.

Tsoukalas – “potter;” linked to pottery craft.

Tzanis – “gift of God;” derived from John.

Vassiliadis – “son of Vasilis;” meaning kingly.

Xydas – “vinegar;” possibly linked to trade.

Zafeiriou – “of sapphire;” symbolizing preciousness.

Zografos – “painter;” artistic profession.

Aggelopoulos – “son of Angelos;” variant of Angelopoulos.

Anagnostou – “reader;” one who read in church.

Arvanitis – “Albanian;” indicating ethnic origin.

Bardis – “bard;” a singer or poet.

Deligiannis – “brave John;” combining trait and name.

Filippidis – “son of Philip;” meaning lover of horses.

Gennadios – “noble;” reflecting character.

Katsanis – “from Katsa;” regional origin.

Kavouras – “crab;” symbolic or descriptive.

Kitsos – “honor;” derived from a given name.

Kouris – “boy;” youthful association.

Lambros – “bright;” symbolizing light and clarity.

Manolis – “God is with us;” derived from Emmanuel.

Michalopoulos – “son of Michael;” meaning who is like God.

Nikolopoulos – “son of Nicholas;” victory of the people.

Panousis – “all-holy;” religious meaning.

Papakonstantinou – “son of priest Constantine;” long patronymic form.

Pavlidis – “son of Paul;” meaning small or humble.

Rizos – “root;” symbolizing origin and foundation.

Spanos – “beardless;” describing appearance.

Tassopoulos – “son of Tasos;” derived from Anastasios.

Topalidis – “lame;” describing a physical trait.

Vardas – “guardian;” one who protects.

Vassos – “royal;” tied to kingship.

Xanthos – “blond;” referring to hair color.

Zannis – “God is gracious;” variant of John.

Zorbas – “lively;” describing personality.

Zotos – “alive;” energetic meaning.

Zouras – “sour;” possibly descriptive nickname.

Zygouris – “balanced;” symbolizing harmony.

Zissis – “life;” connected to vitality.

Adamopoulos – “son of Adam;” meaning man or earth.

Alexandris – “defender of people;” derived from Alexander.

Anastasiou – “of the resurrection;” a deeply spiritual surname.

Argyros – “silver;” possibly linked to trade or appearance.

Asimakopoulos – “son of Asimakis;” meaning silver-related.

Athanasiou – “immortal;” tied to eternal life concepts.

Bakopoulos – “son of Bako;” derived from a personal name.

Ballas – “prince;” associated with nobility.

Barbas – “bearded;” describing physical traits.

Bellos – “beautiful;” reflecting appearance.

Bikos – “small or short;” describing stature.

Botsaris – “shepherd;” tied to pastoral life.

Chalkias – “coppersmith;” a metalworking profession.

Charitos – “graceful;” describing elegance.

Chondros – “thick or stout;” referring to build.

Christakis – “little Christ;” a diminutive religious form.

Daskalakis – “little teacher;” linked to education.

Delias – “servant;” possibly occupational.

Dimitriadis – “son of Dimitris;” connected to Demeter.

Doukidis – “son of a duke;” noble lineage.

Drakos – “dragon;” symbolizing strength and power.

Efthymiou – “good-spirited;” reflecting positive character.

Eleftheriou – “free;” symbolizing independence.

Eliadis – “son of Elias;” meaning my God is Yahweh.

Efstathiou – “stable or steadfast;” indicating reliability.

Fokas – “seal;” possibly symbolic or geographic.

Frangos – “Frank;” referring to Western Europeans.

Galatos – “milk-like;” possibly descriptive.

Gavriilidis – “son of Gabriel;” meaning God is my strength.

Giannakos – “little John;” diminutive patronymic.

Gikas – “victorious;” tied to triumph.

Giorgadis – “son of George;” farmer lineage.

Glinos – “smooth;” describing personality or appearance.

Gounaris – “furrier;” one who works with furs.

Hatzidakis – “little pilgrim;” tied to religious journeys.

Hatzipetros – “pilgrim Peter;” combining faith and name.

Iakovidis – “son of Jacob;” meaning supplanter.

Ioannidis – “son of John;” meaning God is gracious.

Kalogirou – “of a monk;” religious association.

Kampouris – “hunchback;” describing a physical trait.

Kandylis – “candle;” possibly linked to church or craft.

Karampelas – “dark skin;” describing complexion.

Karathanasis – “brave immortal;” combining strength and eternity.

Karidis – “nut;” possibly symbolic or trade-related.

Katsimbris – “goatherd;” tied to rural life.

Kefalas – “big head;” descriptive nickname.

Kiriakidis – “son of Kyriakos;” meaning of the Lord.

Kollias – “glue maker;” an occupational surname.

Kondylis – “club;” possibly weapon-related.

Kostidis – “son of Kostas;” tied to Constantine.

Kourkoulos – “curly-haired;” describing appearance.

Koutsos – “short;” referring to stature.

Kyriazis – “lordly;” connected to authority.

Ladopoulos – “son of Lados;” derived from a name.

Lazaridis – “son of Lazaros;” meaning God has helped.

Leventis – “brave or gallant;” describing character.

Lignos – “wooden;” tied to material or trade.

Loukas – “from Lucania;” geographic origin.

Makropoulos – “son of Makros;” meaning tall.

Mandas – “prophet;” possibly religious.

Markakis – “little Mark;” derived from a given name.

Marmaras – “marble worker;” tied to stone craft.

Matsas – “gift;” symbolic meaning.

Melas – “black;” referring to dark features.

Menis – “strong;” indicating resilience.

Mihailidis – “son of Michael;” meaning who is like God.

Mitsos – “little Dimitris;” diminutive form.

Moschos – “musk;” possibly trade-related.

Nanos – “dwarf;” describing stature.

Nerantzis – “orange tree;” nature-based surname.

Nikiforidis – “son of Nikiforos;” meaning bearer of victory.

Nikolakis – “little Nicholas;” diminutive patronymic.

Oikonomidis – “son of a steward;” tied to management roles.

Pagonis – “peacock;” symbolic of beauty.

Pallis – “priest;” religious connection.

Papanastasiou – “son of priest Anastasis;” resurrection meaning.

Papavasiliou – “son of priest Vasilis;” royal connection.

Pappou – “grandfather;” familial nickname.

Paraskevaidis – “son of Paraskevas;” meaning preparation.

Petrakis – “little Peter;” meaning rock.

Platis – “broad;” describing physical features.

Politis – “citizen;” tied to urban life.

Rallis – “brave;” reflecting courage.

Raptakis – “little tailor;” occupational diminutive.

Rigas – “king;” noble meaning.

Sakkas – “sack maker;” trade-related.

Samaras – “saddle maker;” tied to horse equipment.

Sideris – “iron;” symbolizing strength.

Skouras – “dark;” describing complexion.

Spanidis – “son of Spanos;” meaning beardless.

Stamatakis – “little Stamatios;” meaning stop or pause.

Stratos – “army;” military association.

Tataris – “Tatar;” indicating ethnic origin.

Theofilidis – “son of Theofilos;” meaning friend of God.

Tsiolis – “curly;” describing hair.

Tsitsipas – “little chick;” symbolic or nickname-based.

Vagenas – “wagon maker;” occupational surname.

Vogiatzis – “ox driver;” tied to farming life.

Xydopoulos – “son of sour one;” descriptive nickname.

Zacharias – “remembered by God;” biblical origin.

Zervopoulos – “son of Zervos;” meaning left-handed.