Clues in Greek Last Names and Other Genealogy Resources

Certain Greek surname suffixes are associated with various parts of Greece, providing clues to where a family might have originated. Here are common place-based suffixes:

• akis: Crete and the Aegean Islands
• akos: Laconia
• as: Macedonia and the Epirus
• atos or –etos: Ionian islands
• eas: Messenian part of the Mani peninsula
• allis or –ellis: Dodecanese islands, mainly Rhodes
• iadia or –iades: Asia Minor
• idis or –ides: Asia Minor
• lis: Turkey
• oglou: Asia Minor
• ou: Cyprus
• opoulos: originally Peloponnesus, but now widespread throughout Greece

A version of this article appeared in the May/June 2012 issue of Family Tree Magazine.

Greek Genealogy Records Terms

Familiarize yourself with these Greek genealogy terms, and you’ll be more comfortable using your ancestors’ Greek records. We give both the Greek word and a transliteration.

A version of this article appeared in the May/June 2012 issue of Family Tree Magazine.