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ArchivesRe: The origin of the surname Terzis
in reply to a message by John Terzis
Definitely, a Greek surname Terzis from Macedonia is related to Turkish "Terzi" meaning "tailor".
Please note that the form Terzis is in Nominative Masculine only. In other cases, the surname may lose the final -s.
Please note that the form Terzis is in Nominative Masculine only. In other cases, the surname may lose the final -s.
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Replies
Thank you :).
So it's a Greek surname given to Greeks of the tailoring profession during Ottoman (Turkish) rule over Greece? Sound likely to me. Do you know if there is any connection to the Italian names Terzi and de Terzi meaning "from Terzi (place)". I haven't managed to find any place named Terzi on an Italian map though.
So it's a Greek surname given to Greeks of the tailoring profession during Ottoman (Turkish) rule over Greece? Sound likely to me. Do you know if there is any connection to the Italian names Terzi and de Terzi meaning "from Terzi (place)". I haven't managed to find any place named Terzi on an Italian map though.
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A connection of the Greek/Macedonian name Terzis with the Italian name Terzi is unprobable.
The word "terzi" meaning "tailor" was actually used in all Balkan countries which have been under Ottoman rule.
If the name were Slavonic, it would be Terziev(-ski). The Turkish form would be Terzioglu (or just Terzi).
Many families having names Terziev or Terzioglu which later happened to live in Greece, changed their name to Terzis.
The word "terzi" meaning "tailor" was actually used in all Balkan countries which have been under Ottoman rule.
If the name were Slavonic, it would be Terziev(-ski). The Turkish form would be Terzioglu (or just Terzi).
Many families having names Terziev or Terzioglu which later happened to live in Greece, changed their name to Terzis.
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My surname is Terzievski. Our family goes back at least 400 years in Macedonia (which is known as FYROM). We have relatives in the northern part of Greece who changed their name to Terzis in order to be able to live in Greece.
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No doubt it's the same Turkish word with the preferred Macedonian ending. I did read somewhere that the Macedonians have had a great deal of trouble with their neighbours interfering with surnames. The Bulgarians forced the -ov ending on them, the Serbs the -ovic ending, and the Greeks made them adopt names of a Greek appearance. The -ovski/evski ending symbolises Macedonian independence.
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Thanks for the response.
So there's no way I'll ever know for sure?
So there's no way I'll ever know for sure?
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