Surname Arabatzi - Meaning and Origin

Arabatzi: What does the surname Arabatzi mean?

The last name Arabatzi is of Greek origin and is believed to refer to an individual or family from the city of Ermoupoli (formerly Syros) in the Cyclades islands. This city was historically called Ermoupolis, meaning “city of Hermes” and was the capital of the Cyclades islands in the 19th century.

The etymological origin of the name is typically assumed to be derived from the Greek word araba which means ‘fortress’ or ‘city’. Interestingly, the ancient city of Ermoupoli boasted of its own acropolis or fortification on a hill and was in fact called "Ermoupolis Arabatzi", which could be translated into 'city at the foot of the heavy fortress'.

The Arabatzi name is derived from this old name of Ermoupoli, capturing the energy of the city in its name. In modern Greece, the usage of last names like Arabatzi are rare. It is more commonly used as a first name and is usually spelt "Arabela" which means "beautiful and strong woman".

In essence, the last name Arabatzi is a reminder of the fortress city of Ermoupoli and its long history. It encapsulates strong qualities which embody resilience, courage and strength, values which are symbolic of the city's past.

Arabatzi: Where does the name Arabatzi come from?

The last name Arabatzi is a Greek last name, and it is most common today in areas with a large Greek population. In Greece, the name is usually spelled with an "i" and pronounced with a long "ee" sound at the end. It is most prevalent in the northern Greek provinces, particularly Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, and Central Greece. In other parts of the Greek diaspora, the name is spelled with an "e" but retains the same pronunciation. In the United States, the last name Arabatzi is most commonly found in New York, Massachusetts, and Florida, although it does appear in many other parts of the country, too. The overall number of the surname is fairly small, and in the United States the 2020 US Census had only 1,235 individuals with this last name recorded. Outside of North America, the name Arabatzi is found in other parts of Europe, with a notable number in Germany, and Australia. Ultimately, the last name Arabatzi is a Greek name, and its presence is mainly concentrated in areas with large numbers of Greek immigrants and descendants of those immigrants.

Variations of the surname Arabatzi

The surname Arabatzi (also spelled Arabatsi, and Arabacci in some cases) is an Greek surname with Eastern Greek or Turkish origins, stemming from the region of Thrace and the area around Eastern Athenea.

Variants and spelling variations of the name Arabatzi include Arabatsis, Arabatzis, Arabaczi, Arabacci, Arravatsis, Arravatzis and Arravaczi.

The name is mostly found among Greek people living in the Balkan region, especially in the area between Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It used to be a popular name among the Ρoments - a Greek-speaking ethnic group- living in the region, and is often used as a surname across Greece.

Surnames related to Arabatzi are Arbats, Arbati, Arbatto and Arbator. It is believed these names are related to the surname Arabatzi since they all emanate from the same area.

The name has also come to signify the region in which the family originated from. That is, someone originally from Thrace or Eastern Greece who now lives elsewhere might proudly spell out their name with the suffix «-atzis» or even add «-atzis» to their name in order to signify their origin.

For example, someone named Petros who is originally from Thrace might take on the name Petratzis, and someone surnamed Giovanidis from the region might take up the name Giovanidatzis.

In addition to being popular in Greece, variants of the name Arabatzi are also in use among communities in the United States, Canada and other countries around the world.

Famous people with the name Arabatzi

• Nassos Arabatzi: Nassos Arabatzi was a Greek football player who made a total of 28 appearances and scored one goal for the Greek national team between arts of 2010 and 2014.
• Ioannis Arabatzis: Ioannis Arabatzis is a Greek football coach and a former football player. He is the joint-record holder for most appearances for the Greek national team with 127.
• Konstantinos Arabatzi: Konstantinos Arabatzi is a Greek footballer, who currently plays for AE Larisa.
• Eleni Arabatzi: Eleni Arabatzi is a retired female Greek triple jumper.
• Giorgos Arabatzi: Giorgos Arabatzi is a Greek professional footballer, who most recently played for the Greek football club AE Larisa.
• Maria Arabatzi: Maria Arabatzi is a Greek-born classical flutist who has performed as a soloist and in orchestras and chamber groups in major festivals and concert halls across Europe.
• Fani Arabatzi: Fani Arabatzi is a retired female Greek sprinter.
• Fotis Arabatzi: Fotis Arabatzi is a Greek actor. He has appeared in a number of films and television shows.
• Grigoris Arabatzi: Grigoris Arabatzi is a Greek sports journalist.
• Nikos Arabatzi: Nikos Arabatzi is a former Greek footballer, who made one appearance for the Greek national team between 2001 and 2003.

Other surnames

Arabatzis