Romanian Last Names

Five real Romanian last names per press, each with the word or name it is built on.

Romanian Last Names

MitrițăFrom the name Mitrea + -iță.
TurcuFrom turcul (“Turk”).
ApostolFrom apostol (“apostle”).
NeamțuFrom neamț (“a German”).
AvramescuFrom the given name Avram + -escu.

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How it works

These Romanian last names are 241 real surnames, each with the word or name it is built on: Popescu from popă, a priest, and Munteanu from muntean, a mountaineer. The twelve most common are marked.

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Romanian last names and meanings

A card gives the root from the surname's dictionary entry, with its meaning in English: Moraru is the miller, Croitoru the tailor, Ursu the bear and Lungu long. A root that is itself a name, as Ion in Ionescu, is named and not translated.

Sort by ending or by kind

The dropdown, Ending, keeps the 64 names in -escu, the 20 in -eanu or the 26 in -ar, -aru or -ariu, of which 24 are trades. Under More filters, Kind keeps names from a parent's or given name (84), a trade (40) or a place or a people (35); the other 82 are not marked.

Tips

Names in Ș and Ț stand under S and T in the letter row: Ștefănescu, Țăranu.
The twelve most common carry no rank: the count behind them was not open to read.

Questions and answers

What are the most common Romanian last names?

Popa and Popescu lead a 2013 count cited by Wikipedia's list of common surnames: the first is built on the word for a priest, the second adds -escu. Pop, Radu, Dumitru, Stan, Stoica, Gheorghe, Matei, Ciobanu, Ionescu and Rusu complete the twelve.

Why do so many Romanian last names end in -escu?

The ending was added to a father's name when family names were introduced in the mid-19th century, so Ionescu is Ion's child. It comes from Latin -iscum and is cognate with Italian -esco.

What does -eanu mean in a Romanian last name?

It says where a family came from: -eanu, or the simpler -anu and -an, is added to the name of a place, a river or a region. Moldoveanu is from Moldova, Mureșanu from the Mureș river and Sadoveanu from Sadova.

Are these real Romanian last names?

Yes. Each has a Romanian surname entry in the dictionary and a surname article in Wikipedia, and the root on the card is the one the entry gives. Nothing is invented; only the draw is random.

All 241 last names

The 12 most common 12

Ciobanu Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From a word for a shepherd.
Dumitru Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania.
Gheorghe Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. A form of George.
Ionescu Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From Ion (“John”) + -escu.
Matei Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. The Romanian form of Matthew.
Pop Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From popă (“priest”).
Popa Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From popă (“priest”).
Popescu Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From popă (“priest”) + -escu.
Radu Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania.
Rusu Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. From rus (“Russian”).
Stan Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania. A shortened form of Stanislav.
Stoica Among the 12 most common surnames in Romania.

More Romanian surnames 229

Adamescu From the given name Adam + -escu.
Albu From alb (“white”).
Aldulescu From the name Aldea.
Alexandrescu From the given name Alexandru + -escu.
Anghelescu From the given name Anghel + -escu.
Antonescu From the given name Anton + -escu.
Apostol From apostol (“apostle”).
Arcan From arcan (“noose, lasso”).
Ardelean From ardelean (“of or from Transylvania (a region of Romania)”).
Ardeleanu From ardelean (“of or from Transylvania (a region of Romania)”).
Argetoianu From the place name Argetoaia + -anu.
Avramescu From the given name Avram + -escu.
Băban From the place name Baba + -an.
Băcilă From the name Baciu + -ilă.
Balauru From balaur (“dragon”).
Baltag From baltag (“long-handled axe”).
Bănică From the name Banu + -ică.
Bârlădeanu From the place name Bârlad + -eanu.
Boerescu From the name Boeru + -escu.
Bordeianu From bordei (“shack”) + -eanu.
Bostan From bostan (“pumpkin”).
Bot From bot (“snout, mouth”).
Brătescu From the name Bratu + -escu.
Bratu From brat (“brother”).
Briceag From briceag (“pocketknife”).
Bucan From the name Bucă + -an.
Bucătaru From bucătar (“cook”).
Bucșă From bucșă (“fitting, coupling”).
Budișteanu From the place name Budești + -eanu.
Bulgaru From bulgar (“Bulgarian”).
Călinescu From the name Călin + -escu.
Călugăru From călugăr (“monk, friar”).
Câmpean From câmpean (“lowlander”).
Cârciumaru From cârciumar (“innkeeper”).
Cataramă From cataramă (“buckle”).
Cazacu From cazac (“Cossack”).
Ceaușu From ceauș (“doorman, courier, usher, sergeant”).
Cercel From cercel (“earring”).
Cerchez From cerchez (“Circassian”).
Chelaru From chelar (“steward in charge of the cellars and supplies”).
Cioban From cioban (“shepherd”).
Ciocan From ciocan (“hammer”).
Ciocoiu From ciocoi (“boyar”).
Ciorbă From ciorbă (“a kind of soup (usually sour)”).
Ciubotaru From ciubotar (“shoemaker”).
Ciupercă From ciupercă (“fungus”).
Cocorăscu From the name Cocor + -escu.
Cojoc From cojoc (“sheepskin waistcoat”).
Cojocar From cojocar (“skinner”).
Constantinescu From the given name Constantin.
Copil From copil (“child”).
Cornea From corn (“horn”) + -ea.
Costescu From the name Costea + -escu.
Covali From covali (“blacksmith, smith”).
Covaliu From covali (“blacksmith, smith”).
Creangă From creangă (“branch”).
Crețulescu From the name Crețu.
Croitoru From croitor (“tailor”).
Davidescu From the given name David + -escu.
Deleanu From the place name Delea + -eanu.
Diaconescu From diacon (“deacon”) + -escu.
Diaconu From diacon (“deacon”).
Dimitrescu From the given name Dimitrie + -escu.
Dinescu From the given name Dinu + -escu.
Dinicu From the given name Dinu + -icu.
Dogaru From dogar (“cooper”).
Drăghicescu From the name Drăghici + -escu.
Dumitraș From the given name Dumitru + -aș.
Dumitrescu From the given name Dumitru + -escu.
Enache Greek Γιαννάκης, from Γιάννης (“John”) + -άκης (“diminutive form”).
Enescu From the name Ene + -escu.
Epure From iepure (“rabbit”).
Epurescu From the name Epure + -escu.
Faur From faur (“ironsmith, blacksmith”).
Feraru From fierar (“blacksmith, smith”).
Fieraru From fierar (“blacksmith, smith”).
Florescu From the name Florea + -escu.
Floroiu From the name Florea + -oiu.
Focșeneanu From the place name Focșani + -eanu.
Georgescu From the given name George.
Giușcă From Giurgiu (“George”) + -ușcă.
Goian From the name Goia + -an.
Grecescu From the name Grecu + -escu.
Grecu From grec (“Greek”).
Grigoraș From the given name Grigore + -aș.
Grigorescu From the given name Grigore + -escu.
Grosu From gros (“thick”).
Grozav From grozav (“terrific”).
Grozavu From grozav (“terrific”).
Hagi From hagiu (“pilgrim”).
Hațieganu From the place name Hațeg + -anu.
Hergheligiu From hergheligiu (“studmaster, stablemaster”).
Iacobescu From Iacob (“Jacob”) + -escu.
Ianculescu From the name Iancu.
Iliescu From the given name Ilie + -escu.
Iliuță From the given name Ilie + -uță.
Ionel From the given name Ion + -el.
Ioniță From the given name Ion + -iță.
Iordache Greek Γιωργάκης, from Γιώργος (“George”) + -άκης (“diminutive form”).
Ivănescu From the given name Ivan + -escu.
Kogălniceanu From the place name Cogîlnic + -eanu.
Lăcătuș From lăcătuș (“locksmith”).
Lăcustă From lăcustă (“locust”).
Lăzăreanu From the given name Lazăr + -eanu.
Lăzărescu From the given name Lazăr + -escu.
Lemnaru From lemnar (“someone who works with wood”).
Lucescu From the given name Luca + -escu.
Lungu From lung (“long”).
Lupescu From lup (“wolf”) + -escu.
Lupulescu From the name Lupu.
Măcelaru From măcelar (“butcher”).
Magheru From magher (“cook”).
Maghiar From maghiar (“a Hungarian, Magyar”).
Mănescu From the name Manea + -escu.
Manolescu From the given name Manole + -escu.
Mărăcineanu From mărăcine (“bramble, briar, brake”) + -eanu.
Mărginean From mărginean (“person living at the outskirts of a settlement”).
Mican From the place name Mica + -an.
Micu From mic (“little, small”).
Miculescu From the name Micula + -escu.
Miereanu From miere (“honey”) + -eanu.
Mihăescu From the given name Mihai + -escu.
Mihăilă From the given name Mihai + -ilă.
Mihăilescu From the given name Mihail + -escu.
Militaru From militar (“soldier”).
Mititelu From mititel (“very small, tiny, teeny-weeny”).
Mitrea From the name Mitru + -ea.
Mitriță From the name Mitrea + -iță.
Mocan From mocan (“Transylvanian shepherd”).
Mocanu From mocan (“Transylvanian shepherd”).
Moldovan From moldovean (“Moldavian”).
Moldovanu From moldovean (“Moldavian”).
Moldoveanu From moldovean (“Moldavian”).
Morar From morar (“miller”).
Morariu From morar (“miller”).
Moraru From morar (“miller”).
Movilă From movilă (“mound, knoll, hillock, pile”).
Mungiu From mungiu (“chandler, candlemaker”).
Muntean From muntean (“mountaineer”).
Munteanu From muntean (“mountaineer”).
Mureșan From Mureș (a river) + -an.
Mureșanu From Mureș (a river) + -anu.
Mușat From mușat (“beautiful”).
Muscalu From muscal (“a Muscovite, a Russian”).
Nădejde From nădejde (“hope”).
Neamțu From neamț (“a German”).
Negreanu From the place name Neagra + -eanu.
Negrescu From negru (“black”) + -escu.
Negru From negru (“black”).
Negulescu From the name Neagu.
Nemeș From nemeș (“small landlord”).
Nenițescu From the name Neniță + -escu.
Nicolaescu From the given name Nicolae + -escu.
Nicu From the given name Nicolae.
Olar From olar (“potter”).
Olaru From olar (“potter”).
Păcuraru From păcurar (“shepherd”).
Păduraru From pădurar (“forester”).
Paler From paler (“foreman”).
Pârvulescu From the given name Pârvu.
Pascu From Paște (“Easter (Christian holiday)”).
Păunescu From the name Păun + -escu.
Pavelescu From the given name Pavel + -escu.
Pescaru From pescar (“fisher, fisherman”).
Petrișor From the given name Petre + -ișor.
Pîslaru From pâslar (“feltmaker”).
Plugaru From plugar (“plowman”).
Protopopescu From protopop (“archpriest”) + -escu.
Puiu From pui (“chicken”).
Pușcaș From pușcaș (“rifleman”).
Rădoi From the given name Radu + -oi.
Răducanu From the given name Răducu + -anu.
Rădulescu From the given name Radu.
Rațiu Hungarian Rác, from rác (“Serbian”).
Rebreanu From the place name Rebra + -eanu.
Romanescu From the name Roman + -escu.
Rotariu From rotar (“wheelwright”).
Rudeanu From the place name Ruda.
Rusescu From the name Rusu + -escu.
Sabău Hungarian Szabó, from szabó (“tailor”).
Sadoveanu From the place name Sadova + -eanu.
Săftoiu From the given name Safta + -oiu.
Sârbu From sârb (“a Serb”).
Sasu From sasul (“Saxon”).
Șerb From șerb (“serf”).
Șerbu From șerb (“serf”).
Simionescu From the given name Simion + -escu.
Slăvescu From the name Slavu + -escu.
Soare From soare (“sun”).
Socolescu From the name Socol + -escu.
Stănculescu From the name Stancu.
Stănescu From the given name Stan + -escu.
Ștefănescu From the given name Ștefan + -escu.
Strungaru From strungar (“turner, lathe-operator”).
Surugiu From surugiu (“coachman”).
Șuteu Hungarian Sütő, from sütő (“baker”).
Tănase From the given name Atanasie.
Tănăsescu From the given name Tănase + -escu.
Țăran From țăran (“peasant, countryman”).
Țăranu From țăran (“peasant, countryman”).
Tcaciuc Ukrainian Ткачук, from ткач (“weaver”).
Tecuceanu From Tecuci (“a Romanian city”).
Teodoreanu From the place name Teodoreni.
Teodorescu From the given name Teodor + -escu.
Tismăneanu From the place name Tismana + -eanu.
Tudorache From Tudor (“a male given name in Romania”).
Tudoran From Tudor (“a male given name in Romania”) + -an.
Țurcan From țurcan (“shepherd”).
Țurcaș From the name Țurcă + -aș.
Turcescu From turc (“Turk”) + -escu.
Turcu From turcul (“Turk”).
Ungur From ungur (“a Hungarian person”).
Ungureanu From ungurean (“a person from certain areas of Transylvania”).
Ureche From ureche (“ear”).
Ursache From urs (“bear”) + -ache.
Ursu From urs (“bear”).
Văduva From văduvă (“widow”).
Vasilescu From the given name Vasile + -escu.
Vereș Hungarian Vörös, from vörös (“red”).
Vioreanu From vioară (“a violet (flower)”) + -eanu.
Vizitiu From vizitiu (“coachman”).
Vlădescu From the given name Vlad + -escu.
Voiculescu From the given name Voicu.
Voiculeț From the given name Voicu + -uleț.
Vrabie From vrabie (“sparrow”).
Vulpe From vulpe (“fox”).
Vulpescu From the name Vulpe + -escu.
Zidaru From zidar (“mason, bricklayer”).
Zugrăvescu From the name Zugravu + -escu.

How this list was compiled

A list by a written rule, built on 2 October 2026. A surname is listed when it has a Romanian surname entry on English Wiktionary (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Romanian_surnames, 9,610 entries that day, CC BY-SA 4.0), a surname article in English Wikipedia's category 'Romanian-language surnames' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Romanian-language_surnames, 821 pages that day), which shows the name is in use, and an etymology in the dictionary entry that names the word or name it is built on: 234 of the 459 names that pass the first two tests. The card gives that root and the ending the entry names; the English meaning in quotation marks is the one the surname's entry gives or, where it gives none, the first meaning in the root word's own Romanian entry on English Wiktionary. A root that is itself a given name or a name is named as one and not translated. Left out: names whose root or meaning is a word this site does not print. The twelve most common surnames are those of the Romania table in English Wikipedia's 'List of most common surnames in European countries' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_common_surnames_in_European_countries, read the same day), which cites a 2013 count by name-statistics.org; they are marked as a group and no rank or figure is printed, because that count's terms were not read. Seven of the twelve have no root in the dictionary and are listed from the table, four of them with the meaning the table gives. Kinds are the dictionary's own filing of the surname (patronymics and matronymics, occupations, place names, ethnonyms) or follow from a root that is a given name or a place; a card with neither is not marked. Endings are read from the spelling. What the endings tell is from English Wikipedia's 'Romanian name' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_name, read the same day). A root is what a dictionary records for the surname in general, not for any one family. The marks ă, â, î, ș and ț are kept. Licence: English Wiktionary and English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The selection and the card wording are our own work.