Zois Surname Meaning

The Greek surname Zois (Ζωής) is a patronymic and devotional surname, meaning it is derived from the given name of a male ancestor. Zois comes from the Greek word zoí (ζωή), meaning “life,” and was used as a personal name expressing hope, survival, or divine blessing, especially in families that had experienced hardship or loss. Such names carried strong symbolic meaning in Greek Orthodox tradition, reflecting gratitude for life itself. In many cases, the personal name Zois was preserved unchanged and passed down as a hereditary surname. Consequently, the surname Zois signifies “the descendant of Zois” or “the one associated with life.”