70+ Top Romanian Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

You will be captivated by the distinct Romanian last names, just like you are by the country’s history and customs.

Romanian is the main language of Romania and is the most commonly used of the Eastern Romance languages. Many Romanian last names and surnames come from the language, with some influence from other European languages. These Romanian surnames are often based on where a person is from, their job, or a nickname. Many Romanian surnames are created by adding suffixes like –escu, -eanu, and -anu.

This post provides a list of Romanian family names and surnames that have fascinating and entertaining origins.

Top Romanian Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings

Albescu

This Romanian last name comes from the word ‘alb’, which means ‘white’ in Romanian.

Albu

This Romanian surname comes from the Romanian word ‘alb,’ which means ‘white’.

Aldea

This Romanian last name comes from the Spanish word ‘Aldea,’ which means ‘village.’ It is probably a surname based on a place name.

Andrei

It is the Romanian version of the surname ‘Andrew,’ derived from the Greek name ‘Andreas.’ ‘Andreas’ means ‘manly’ or ‘masculine.’ The surname ‘Andrei’ has different spellings, such as Andre, Andrea, and Andri.

Ardelean

This Romanian last name comes from the term ‘Ardeal,’ which is the Romanian name for Transylvania. The origin of the surname ‘Ardeal’ is probably from the Hungarian word ‘erdo,’ which means forest.

Baciu

This Romanian surname comes from the Romanian term ‘baci’ which means ‘shepherd.’ The name ‘baci’ is also used to describe the team captain in the traditional Romanian sport of Oina.

Balan

This surname means ‘blond’ in Romanian. Balan is also a town in Romania, so the last name could be related to the town’s name.

Barbaneagra

This Romanian surname directly translates to ‘black beard.’

Barbu

In Romanian, this surname means a beard that is thick and full.

Bogdan

The Romanian surname means ‘god-given’ or ‘gift of God.’ It is composed of two words from Slavic languages, ‘bogu’ which means ‘god’ and ‘dan’ which means ‘given.’

Botezatu

This Romanian surname from Romania translates to ‘baptized.’

Bucur

The Romanian surname ‘Bucur’ originates from the Romanian word ‘bucurie,’ which translates to ‘happiness,’ ‘joy,’ or ‘delight.’ It may also be a tribute to the legend of Bucur, a shepherd renowned for founding the capital city of Romania.

Cazacu

This Romanian last name is based on the name of a place, and it tells us that the person with this surname originally came from an area near the Cazacu river in Romania.

Cel Tradat

This last name from Romania translates to ‘the betrayed.’

Ciobanu

This surname comes from the Romanian term ‘cioban,’ which means ‘shepherd.’ This last name is commonly used by those in the shepherd community in Romania.

Cojocaru

This Romanian last name comes from the term ‘cojoc’ in Romanian, which translates to ‘sheepskin.’ It is believed to be a surname related to the occupation of making coats from sheepskin.

Craioveanu

The Romanian surname ‘Craiovan’ signifies a person from Craiova, a city in Romania. This surname is based on the city’s name and indicates someone who comes from there.

Cretu

The origin of this Romanian surname comes from the Romanian word ‘cret’ which means ‘curly’. This last name may have initially been used to describe people with curly hair.

Dalca

This Romanian surname’s origin is not confirmed, but it likely comes from an old Romanian word, ‘dalca,’ which means ‘lightning.’

This Romanian surname is a different version of the name ‘Daniel,’ which has Hebrew origins and means ‘God is my judge.’ It could also have roots in the Old Norse name ‘Danr’ or possibly refer to someone from Denmark.

Dascalu

The Romanian surname ‘Dascalu’ comes from the meaning of ‘teacher,’ ‘schoolmaster,’ or ‘instructor.’ This surname is used as a last name based on someone’s occupation.

Dragavei

This surname likely described someone who lived near or had a field of the curly dock plant.

Eder

The source of this Romanian surname is not known. It might come from the Basque word ‘Eder,’ which means ‘handsome’ or ‘beautiful.’ Alternatively, it could be from the Hebrew name ‘Eder,’ which means ‘the flock.’

Enache

It is thought to come from the name Menachem, which translates to ‘comforter’ in Hebrew.

Earner

The Romanian surnamce Erner probably refers to Serbian in Romanian language.

Fieraru

Fieraru is the Romanian word for ‘smith.’ It is a last name given to people who work as blacksmiths, coppersmiths, goldsmiths, and other types of smiths.

Fischer

The Romanian surname ‘Fischer’ in German means ‘fisherman.’ This last name probably started in Germany and later could have spread to Romania.

Floarea

This last name signifies ‘flower’ in the Romanian language.

Florescu

This surname comes from the name and word ‘Floarea’.

Funar

Funar is a last name that means ‘rope maker’ and is given to people who make ropes as their occupation.’

Gheta

Gheata is the Romanian surname that means ‘ice.’

Grosu

The Romanian surname Grosu comes from the Romanian word ‘gros,’ which means thick, stout, coarse, or bulky.

Hatmanu

Hatmanu is a Romanian last name that was commonly used for people who held a high military rank in medieval times, similar to a General.

Hofer

In Romanian, Hofer means ‘steward’ and is possibly connected to the word ‘Sofer’ which means ‘chauffer’ or ‘operator.’ It could also come from the German surname ‘Hofer’ which refers to a farm, house, or courtyard, making it an occupational name for a steward, someone who takes care of property.

Iordanescu

In simpler terms, this Romanian surname means ‘son of Iordan.’ The name ‘Iordan’ is the Romanian form of ‘Jordan,’ which has Hebrew origins and means ‘descent’ or ‘flow down.’

Ioveanu

This Romanian last name means ‘son of Ivan.’ Ivan is a name derived from John, which originates from Hebrew and means ‘God is kind.’

Lazarescu

This Romanian surname ‘Lazarescu’ means ‘son of Lazar.’ This surname is derived from the Hebrew name ‘Eleazar,’ which means ‘my God has helped.’

Luca

The Romanian version of the name Luke comes from the ancient Greek name Loucas, which means a man from Loucania. Loucania, also known as Lucania, was an ancient region in Italy.

Lungu

The surname ‘lung’ in Romanian means ‘long.’ It might have been used to describe someone who was tall or had long limbs in the past.

Lupu

This surname comes from the Romanian word ‘lup’ which means a ‘wolf.’

Lupei

This surname comes from the Romanian word ‘lup’ which means ‘wolf’.

Maier

This Romanian last name may come from the Romanian word ‘farmier’ which also means ‘farmer.’ It could also be related to the name ‘Meyer,’ which is derived from the Middle High German term ‘meier’ that refers to an ‘administrator.’

Mayer

It is a version of the name ‘Meyer’ that originates from Middle High German and translates to ‘administrator,’ ‘sheriff,’ or ‘officer.’

Mitrea

The surname ‘mitra’ is related to the Romanian word ‘mitra,’ which means a tall cap or headdress worn by bishops or senior priests.

Munteanu

In Romanian, this surname means ‘from the mountain.’ It could refer to someone who works or lives in the mountains.

Muller

It is a last name that comes from the job of being a miller, which is a person who grinds grain into flour.

Nectaria

This Romanian surname comes from the word ‘nectar,’ which is the sugary liquid found in flowers.

This Romanian surname comes from the Old Latin word ‘Netus’ which means ‘better’ or ‘larger.’

Nicolescu

This Romanian surname means that someone is the son of a person named Nicolae. The name ‘Nicolae’ is the Romanian version of ‘Nicholas’ from Greek, and it signifies ‘victory of the people.’

Popa

This Romanian surnmae refers to a religious leader like a priest, pastor, or clergyman. Another version of the last name is ‘Popescu,’ which translates to ‘son of a Priest.’

Pichler

It’s a surname based on the name of a place, usually meaning someone who lives near a hill.

Radu

This Romanian surname originates from the Old Slavic term ‘rad’ which means ‘happy.’

Reiter

Reuter is the origin of this Romanian surname, which stems from the Middle High German term ‘riute’ that means a ‘cleared land.’ This last name could have been given to someone who lived on a piece of land that has been cleared.

Romanescu

This surname signifies ‘son of Roman.’ It could have been a name used for individuals who were descended from Romans of the Roman Empire.

Rosu

This Romanian surname refers to the color ‘red’ in the Romanian language.

Rusu

In Romanian, this surname translates to ‘Russian’ and may have originally described individuals with Russian heritage.

Sala

In Romania, the surname ‘Sala’ means a room or house. It is a last name given to someone who works at a big house.

Sandu

This Romanian surname is short version of Alexandru which means ‘defender of humanity’.

Schmidt

The Romanian surnamce Schmidt comes from the word ‘smit’ in Middle High German, which meant a ‘smith.’ This surname was used for someone who worked as a smith, like a blacksmith or goldsmith.

Segarceanu

This Romanian surname refers to someone who comes from Segarcea, a town in the Romanian county of Dolj, located near the border with Bulgaria.

Stefan

The Romanian version of the name ‘Stephen’ is derived from the Greek name ‘Stephanos’ which means ‘crown.’

Skutnik

The surname ‘Skutnik’ comes from Romania and means ‘exempted.’ It may have been linked to farmers or peasants who were exempt from paying certain taxes.

Stan

This Romanian surname is a shortened version of the name ‘Stanislav,’ which comes from Slavic words ‘stani’ meaning ‘stand,’ ‘become,’ or ‘attain’ and ‘slava’ meaning ‘glory.’

Stoian

It is a form of the name ‘Stoyan’ that comes from Bulgaria. ‘Stoyan’ comes from the Bulgarian word ‘stoya,’ which means ‘to stand.”

Stoica
The name is Stoica.

This last name’s origin is uncertain, but it may be connected to ‘Stoain.’ There is also a possibility that it comes from the Romanian word ‘stoic,’ which has the same meaning as the English word stoic, referring to someone who is reserved and unemotional.

Suta

Suta is a surname in Romanian that refers to individuals who predominantly used their left hands for carrying out tasks.

Tarniceriu

This Romanian surname is commonly used as a last name for individuals in Romania who work as saddlers, creating and fixing saddles.

Tecuceanu

This Romanian surname means ‘from Tecuci.’ It is a last name that indicates someone is from the city of Tecuci in Romania.

Ungureanu

This Romanian last name for ‘Hungarian’ is used as a surname to indicate someone who is originally from Hungary.

Vacarescu

Son of cowherd’ or ‘descendant of a cowherd’ is the meaning of this Romanian surname. It is a surname that is used for people who either raised cows or were involved in the cattle industry.

Vlad

The Romanian surname ‘Vlad’ is a shorter version of the Slavic name ‘Vladislav,’ which means ‘someone who rules with glory’ or ‘someone glorious.’ Vlad III, a ruler in the 15th century, is known as a national hero in Romania and is a well-known person with this name.

Vulpe

This Romanian surname means a ‘fox’.

Weber

This last name comes from Germany and means someone who weaves fabric.

Zamfir

This variation of the word ‘safir’ in Romanian means ‘sapphire.’ The last name typically indicated that the person was either a jeweler or involved in trading jewels.

Zugravescu

The surname ‘Zugravescu’ comes from the Romanian name ‘zugravi’ which means to depict or describe. This surname means ‘son of the one who portrays the past.’

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are Romanian last names and surnames different from each other?

Romanian surnames are influenced by various cultural factors such as nature, occupation, and family background. In Romania, men and women typically have different surnames. The suffix selected for the surnames can have an impact on their meaning.

2. Over the years, how have Romanian surnames changed and developed?

The endings added to Romanian last names could have caused some changes, but it’s likely that there weren’t significant alterations.

3. Do people in Romania have two surnames?

Most Romanians usually only have one last name, which comes from their father’s family line. Sometimes, people might use both their mother’s and father’s last names casually or for certain reasons, but officially they have just one last name.

4. What is the reason behind the popularity of Romanian names ending in U?

The reason why many Romanian names end in ‘u’ is because of the way the Romanian language often creates male surnames by adding ‘-u’ to the end of a name. This tradition has led to a large number of Romanian surnames ending in ‘u.’

5. What are the historical roots and beginnings of Romanian family names and surnames?

Romanian surnames come from a variety of sources. They can be based on personal names, jobs, places, or family naming traditions. Influences from nearby areas like Slavic, Hungarian, Turkish, or German cultures have also impacted the creation of Romanian last names.

6. What sets Romanian last names apart from last names in other European countries?

Romanian surnames usually have special endings like ‘-escu’ or ‘-aș’ that show belonging or origin. These endings make Romanian last names distinctive from other countries in Europe. Furthermore, Romanian surnames are influenced by neighboring regions, leading to a wide variety of naming styles.

7. What are the factors that have shaped Romanian surnames over time, including culture and history?

Romanian surnames are affected by a variety of cultural and historical factors. These include roots in Latin from the Roman Empire and influences from nearby Slavic, Hungarian, and Turkish cultures.

8. What are the differences in Romanian naming conventions between males and females?

In Romanian culture, men usually have a first name and a last name. In contrast, women tend to add a suffix to their father’s or husband’s last name to show their gender and marital status.

9. Is it possible to track the origins of Romanian surnames to particular areas or cultural groups?

Romanian last names typically come from certain areas or cultural backgrounds. For instance, last names that end in -escu or -eanu are usually linked to the Romanian majority, while last names with Slavic or Hungarian roots may suggest family connections to those ethnic groups.

Romania is a stunning country with a rich cultural past. This list of Romanian last names and surnames can help you learn more about the country and its people. These surnames often show where the original name bearers lived or what they did for a living. However, these last names can also have other meanings and show the uniqueness and diversity of the country.