Surname Grigoryan - Meaning and Origin

Grigoryan: What does the surname Grigoryan mean?

The last name Grigoryan is of Armenian origin. It is derived from the given name Grigor, a popular Armenian name. It is believed to be related to the Latin name Gregorius, which translates to “watchful” or “vigilant”, and is likely a reference to Armenians’ history of vigilance against their many invaders.

The annual Grigor Lousavorich (Gregorius Illuminator) festival is still celebrated annually in Armenia, and is one of the most important days of the year for the Armenian people. The holiday marks the miraculous conversion of the Armenian people to Christianity by Grigor Lousavorich. It is also when Armenians recognize the important role that the Grigoryan family played in the establishing the first Armenian nation in 301 AD and expanding the Armenian church.

The Grigoryan family is a distinguished and respected family of Armenia that includes many notable members, in both past and present. The family has produced many influential people, both in politics, business, and the arts, and scholars note that many Armenian aristocracy and nobles are descended from this family.

The name Grigoryan and its various forms is still common among Armenians today, as well as diaspora Armenian communities, making it a recognizable Armenian surname. It is a symbol of Armenian history, culture, and faith. It represents Armenians’ strength in the face of adversity, resilience in preserving their faith and identity, and recognition that scientific and artistic achievements are possible while keeping cultural ties.

Grigoryan: Where does the name Grigoryan come from?

The last name Grigoryan is most commonly found in two regions of the world today.

The first is Armenia, where the Armenians originate from. The name Grigoryan, or its variant Grigorian, is derived from Gregory which means “watchful one” or “guardian”, and is the 35th most popular surname in the country. Historically, Armenians often had a personal name and then a patronymic surname, such as Grigoryan, which was formed from the name of the father, in this case Gregory.

The other region of the world with a sizable population of Grigoryans is Russia - specifically Moscow, where the name is also among the top 50 most popular surnames. A large influx of Armenians moved to Russia during the 19th century in search of new opportunities and this is why the name is now so widely spread throughout the country.

Several notable Grigoryans throughout history have made a mark in politics, film, art and literature, such as Robert Grigorian, renowned Armenian-Russian theatre director, playwright, and actor who won Golden Mask Award for his work as stage director; and musician, songwriter and poet, Armen Grigorian, who is known for his songs about Armenia and its people.

The fact that the Grigorian surname is found in both Armenia and Russia is testament to the resilience of the Armenian people that have survived adversity and ventured out in search of a better life.

Variations of the surname Grigoryan

The surname Grigoryan is of Armenian origin and can have various spelling variants, surnames, and spellings that share the same root. Some of these variants include Griporyan, Gregorian, Grecoryan, and Grixorian. Other widely used variants of the Grigoryan name include Grivoryan, Gurolyan, Guryan, and Grioryan.

Gregory is a name deriving from the Greek Γρηγόριος (Grigórios), meaning "watchful" or "alert". This is the name of several Christian saints, and was also the name of several popes. Some of the other more popular variants of Grigoryan are Gregorius, Gregorios and Grigorijs (in Russian).

While the Grigoryan name is primarily Armenian, variations of it have been adopted into other cultures as well. The Persian form of the name is Gurgian, while the name is written as Kurjian in Turkish. It is also seen as Georgian, Greek or Macedonian in some places.

In the United States, the Grigoryan surname is quite popular among Americans of Armenian descent. It is also fairly common among the Armenian diaspora communities. The Grigoryan surname might also be found in some Slavic countries, as well as among populations living in some parts of Europe and Asia.

Apart from the Grigoryan surname, there are several other surnames that are variations of the same name and share the same root. Some of these include: Grigorian, Gregoryan, Griporyan, Grechko, Grecorian, Grigorov, Gurian, Grekov, Gurler, Grizzi and Grilo.

Therefore, the Grigoryan surname can take on various spellings and origins, depending on region and culture. Regardless, the surname is widely popular among Armenians throughout the world and serves as a reminder of the culture's rich history and language.

Famous people with the name Grigoryan

• Tigran Grigoryan: Armenian Founder of the Tigran Grigoryan Fund, a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of Syrian Armenians affected by the Syrian civil war.
• Arsen Grigoryan: Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations since 2019.
• Mariam Grigoryan: Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2018.
• Artur Grigoryan: Armenian former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interregional Cooperation from 2017 to 2018.
• Mark Grigoryan: Armenian Actor and Writer, best known for roles in films like Metro and Accused.
• Narek Grigoryan: Armenian Actor, known for roles in films like Superheroes and My Step Brothers.
• Martin Grigoryan: Armenian-American Physicist, best known for his research into solid state physics.
• Milena Grigoryan: Armenian Figure Skater and Olympic silver medalist. 9.Susan Grigoryan:Armenian bronze medalist in the 2018 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria.
• David Grigoryan: Armenian Grandmaster of Chess and the 7th ranked Armenian chess player in the world.

Other surnames

GrigoryevGrigoryeva