Xenou Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Xenou (Ξένου) is a patronymic and descriptive surname preserved in the genitive case, meaning “of Xenos.” It derives from the word xénos (ξένος), meaning “stranger,” “foreigner,” or “guest,” a term historically used to describe someone who came from outside a local community. In traditional Greek society, newcomers were often identified by such descriptors, which gradually became personal bynames and later hereditary surnames. The genitive form Xenou reflects family association with an ancestor known as Xenos. Consequently, the surname Xenou signifies “the family of the outsider” or “the descendant of Xenos,” reflecting historical social identification rather than profession.