Greek name

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Greek given names can be derived from the Greco-Roman gods, or from the New Testament and early Christian traditions. Some of the names are often, but not always, anglicised. Examples include:

Greek surnames are most commonly patronymics. Occupation, characteristic and location/origin-based surnames names also occur. Some surnames are prefixed with papa-, indicating ancestry from a priest. Archi- and mastro- signify "boss" and "tradesman" respectively. Prefixes such as konto- and makro- describe body characteristics, such as "short" and "tall/long".

However, the most common Greek patronymic suffixes are -poulos/-poulou (from Peloponessus) -idis/-idou and -iadis/-iadou (Very ancient surnames and clan forms from the regions of Pontus and Asia Minor) and -akis/-aki (Usually from Crete and the Aegean Sea islands).

Others of which are less common include -atos/-atou (from Cephallonia] under Italian influence); -as/-a (from Macedonia and Epirus); -ellis/-elli (from Lesvos Island); -akos/-akou (from Mani in the Laconia region); -eas/-ea (From Mani in the Messinia region); -oglou (both genres, a Turkish root ending seen in immigrants from Asia Minor) and -ou (from Cyprus).

The suffix -idis is the oldest in use and survives from ancient times sometimes from Greeks originating in Asia Minor.

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