Surname Stefanescu - Meaning and Origin

Stefanescu: What does the surname Stefanescu mean?

The last name Stefanescu is derived from the Greek name Stefanos, which translates to mean “crown” or “garland.” The suffix “escu” is of Romanian origin and is a common Romanian patronymic, meaning “son of.” Therefore, the Stefanescu surname signifies that its bearer is the son of a prominent man who has been bestowed with a royal title.

The Stefanescu name was prominent in Romania, especially in the Transylvanian region, during the 15th century. The name was associated with the nobility, and holders of the name were seen as having a privileged status in society. During the 1600s, the Stefanescu family began to spread out throughout Romania, and some branches settled in the regions of Oltenia and Wallachia.

In addition to Romania, the Stefanescu surname is also found in Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. Those with the surname in the US usually originate from the Romanian line, and are the descendants of immigrating family members who left Romania in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Throughout history, there have been many prestigious family members and career successes within the Stefanescu family. Some notable members of the family have served in notable positions within Romanian government, have served as ambassadors, and have held senior positions at various businesses. In addition, there are many musical performances by members of the Stefanescu family that are known throughout Romania.

Overall, the Stefanescu surname is steeped in a rich history reflecting the nobility of Romanian culture. It is a proud surname with many successful family members and a long lineage in Romania and other parts of the world.

Stefanescu: Where does the name Stefanescu come from?

The last name Stefanescu is most commonly found in Romania, with about 6,000 individuals carrying the name. It is also present in some parts of Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria. Outside of Eastern Europe, it is rare, but small pockets of people with the last name can be found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In Romania, Stefanescu is among the top 50 most common surnames, with its highest concentration in the counties of Valcea and Sibiu. The name is likely derived from the given name Stefan, derived from the name Stephan which originates from the Greek name “Stephanos."

The Stefanescu surname is also found in various contexts throughout Romanian culture. A famous Romanian scientist, Teodor Stefanescu, declared in 1922 that he was “proud to bear a Romanian name.” An asteroid was also named after him. Likewise, the Romanian writer I.B. Stefanescu Neagoe published several books in the 19th century.

In the United States the surname is most common in California, followed by Texas and New York. Notably, StefanescuNeagu founded the first Romanian Orthodox monastery in North America. Interestingly, a Romanian who emigrated to Mexico City at the end of the 19th century also bore the last name Stefanescu.

Variations of the surname Stefanescu

Stefanescu is a common Romanian surname that has origins in the Latin form Stephanus and is derived from the Greek word "Stephanos" meaning "crowned one" or "prize winner". There are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Stefanescu, including Steffanescu, Steffănescu, Steffanesh, Steffănesh, Steffanace, Stefănescu, Stefănesc, Stoicanescu, Stopanescu, Epicopă, Elenaș and Elenic.

The variant spellings of Stefanescu include Steffenescu, Steffanescu, Steffanesh, and Steffanes. There are also some alternative surnames that derive from the original such as Stojenescu, Stoihanesk, Stojescu, Stamasha, Stanečić, Stoinovici, Stoinovic and Stoyovici.

The surnames that are of the same origin as Stefanescu include Stoenescu, Stoicanescu, Stancu, Stanciu, Stoica, Stojica, Stanila, Stanescu, Stoenita, Stanisic, Stopanescu and Stanoiu. These surnames all have similar meaning to the original, typically referring to a crowned person or a prize winner, and are all derived from the Latin or Greek root words.

The spelling of Stefanescu has evolved since the mid-1800s as a result of the language shift from Latin to Romanian and has become increasingly wide-spread due to immigration and emigration. It is now a commonly found surname in Romania and across Europe.

Famous people with the name Stefanescu

• Cristian Lucian Stefanescu: Romanian mathematician and professor.
• Daniela Stefanescu: Romanian writer and publicist.
• Lucia Stefanescu: Romanian TV presenter, best known for being the anchor of the "Starting Point" show.
• Titus Stefanescu: Romanian weightlifter, winner of three gold medals at the 1984 Olympics.
• Regina Maria Stefanescu-Goanga: Romanian scientist, one of the first women professors from the University of Bucharest.
• Gheorghe Stefanescu: Romanian painter and sculptor.
• Johann A. Stefanescu: Romanian-American composer and choir conductor.
• Augustin Stefanescu: Romanian chess master, international master in 1958.
• Mary Ellen Stefanescu: Romanian-American actress.
• Andrei Stefanescu: Romanian former football player and manager.

Other surnames