Chatzigeorgiou Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Chatzigeorgiou (Χατζηγεωργίου) is a patronymic and religious surname preserved in the genitive form, meaning “of Hadji Georgios.” The prefix Hatzi- (Χατζη-) indicates that an ancestor completed a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, while the second element derives from Georgios (Γεώργιος), meaning “farmer” or “earth worker.” Genitive form surnames were commonly used to indicate family association in traditional Greek naming practice. As these identifiers were recorded in church and civil documentation, they became hereditary surnames passed down through generations. Consequently, the surname Chatzigeorgiou signifies “the family of the pilgrim Georgios,” reflecting religious honorific naming tradition rather than occupation.