75 Romani Last Names & Their Special Meanings

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Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: February 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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Common

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Occupational

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Geographic

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Descriptive

The Romani people originated in northern India, but throughout history, they migrated all over Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. As a result, they tended to adopt last names from the cultures or locations where they settled. You might recognize some Romani last names, and others might be totally new to you. Luckily, we've compiled this thorough list of common, occupational, geographic, and descriptive Romani surnames for you to explore!

What are examples of Romani last names?

Some people with Romani ancestry have super common last names like Adams, Boswell, and Davis. Others' last names come from their occupations, like Biro ("judge") or Smith ("metal worker"), or their geographic location, like Scott (from Scotland). You might also hear descriptive names, like Balan ("blonde") or Kiss ("small").

Section 1 of 4:

Common Romani Last Names

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Common Romani last names include Adams, Boswell, and Davis. The Romani people originally came from northern India, but they were historically nomadic, and they often adopted surnames that were common wherever they decided to stay.^{[1]
X
Research source} That's why a lot of families with Romani ancestry have last names associated with other parts of the world, like Adams, Boswell, and Davis. Here's a list of other Romani last names you might recognize, along with their meanings: v
- Adams: Means "man" or "earth," refers to Adam from the Bible
- Ayres: Heir to fortune or land
- Barnes: Refers to someone who lived or worked in a barn
- Black: Refers to the color black
- Boss: Means "employer"
- Boswell: Means "settlement by the spring"
- Buckland: Means "land held by right of a written charter"
- Chilcott: Means "child's cottage," "young man's cottage," or "dwelling at the boundary"
- Codona: Means "crown"
- Davis: Means "beloved" or "favorite"; also "son of David"
- Doe: Refers to a female deer
- Faa: Means "keen or swift person"
- Farkas: Means "wolf"
- Georges: Means "farmer" or "earthworker"
- Green: Refers to the color green
- Gray/Grey: Refers to the color gray
- Harrison: Means "son of Harry"
- Hearn: Means "nook/corner of the land" or "a bend in the river"
- Heron: Refers to someone who looks like a tall, thin bird called a heron
- Hodgkins: Means "son of little Hodge" or "son of Roger"
- Holland: Means "wood land"
- Jones: Means "son of John"
- Lee: Means "clearing in the wood" or "meadow"
- Lovell: Means "little wolf" or "wolfling"
- Loveridge: Means "beloved ruler"
- Lucas: Means "man from Lucania" or "bringer of light"
- Miller: Refers to someone who owned or worked in a grain mill
- Mitchell: Means "son of Michael"
- Morgan: Means "sea-born" or "sea dweller"
- Nichols: Means "son of Nichol" or "son of Nicholas"
- Petrik: Means "rock" or "stone"
- Rose: Refers to the flower of the same name
- Royles: Refers to someone who lives on a rye hill
- Scamp: Refers to a mischievous person
- Stanley: Means "stony meadow"
- Stevens or Stephens: Means "son of Steven/Stephen"
- Tamas: Means "twin"
- Taylor: Means "tailor" or "to cut"
- Thompson: Means "son of Tom/Thomas"
- White: Refers to the color white
- Williams: Means "son of William" or "son of the resolute protector"
- Wood: Refers to a forest
- Young: Refers to the person's youth

Section 2 of 4:

Occupational Romani Last Names

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Some Romani last names refer to a person's occupation. It was once a common practice around the world to name yourself after the work you were known for doing. This is where Romani last names like Biro, meaning "judge," and Smith, meaning "metal worker," originate. Here's a full list of occupational Romani last names:^{[2]
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Research source}
- Barta: Refers to a ploughman
- Biro: Means "judge"
- Cooper: Means "maker of barrels or cakes"
- Csabo: Means "shepherd" or "gift"
- Demeter/Dimitrov: Refers to a gardener or agriculturalist
- Dzambas: Means "herdsman" or "horse trader"
- Fieraru: Means "blacksmith" or "ironworker"
- Kovacs: Means "blacksmith" or "smith"
- Lakatos: Means "locksmith"
- Molnar: Means "miller"
- Orsos: Refers to someone who spins wool
- Smith: Refers to a type of metal worker (i.e., blacksmith or goldsmith)
- Szabo: Means "tailor"
- Tinker: Refers to a tinker (i.e., someone who repairs pots and pans)
- Varga: Means "shoemaker"

Section 3 of 4:

Geographic Romani Last Names

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Some Romani last names reveal a person's country of origin. Some Romani families adopted or were given their last names based on where they were born or settled. For example, a Romani who was born or lived in Scotland might take Scott as a surname. Here are other Romani last names based on geographic location:^{[3]
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Research source}
- Berki: Refers to someone who lives near a berek (a Hungarian word for "thicket")
- Cigany: Means "Gypsy" or "Romani"
- Horvath: Means "Croat," as in someone from Croatia
- Puddifoot: Refers to someone who lives on or near a marsh
- Racz: Refers to someone of Serbian descent
- Scott: Refers to someone of Scottish descent
- Sherwood: Refers to someone who lives in or near Sherwood in England
- Toth: Means "Slovak," as in someone from Slovakia, or "foreigner"

Section 4 of 4:

Descriptive Romani Last Names

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Other Romani last names describe a person's characteristics. If your Romani family is known for having children with blonde hair, you might have adopted the surname Balan, meaning "blonde." Or if you are known to be tall, you might be named Lungu, meaning "long" or "tall." Below are other descriptive Romani last names:
- Balan: Means "blonde"
- Balogh: Refers to a left-handed person
- Kiss: Means "small"
- Lungu: Means "long" or "tall"
- Lupu: Means "wolf"
- Nagy: Means "big"
- Raij: Means "ray," as in a ray of light
- Rosca: Refers to someone with red hair or reddish skin
- Vaduva: Means "widow"