Giannopoulos Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Giannopoulos (Γιαννόπουλος) is a patronymic name, meaning it is derived from the given name of a male ancestor. The root Gianno- comes from the first name Giannis (Γιάννης), the common Greek form of Ioannis, which originates from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning “God is gracious.” Giannis has been one of the most widespread personal names in Greece for centuries due to its strong biblical and Orthodox Christian foundations. The suffix -opoulos is a patronymic marker that developed during the Byzantine period and became especially common in the Peloponnese and southern mainland Greece, meaning “son of” or “descendant of.” Consequently, the surname Giannopoulos signifies “the son of Giannis” or, more literally, “the descendant of John.”