Hungarian Last Names: Common Surnames in Hungary

Looking for common Hungarian last names? This comprehensive list explores the most prevalent surnames in Hungary, delving into their unique origins and meanings. These names offer a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of Hungary and its historical influences.
1. **Nagy:** Meaning "big" or "large", this surname is the most common in Hungary, reflecting the significance of family size or social standing in the past.
2. **Kovács:** This occupational surname refers to "blacksmith", highlighting the importance of this trade in traditional Hungarian society.
3. **Szabó:** This common name translates to "tailor", further demonstrating the prevalence of craft-based surnames in Hungary.
4. **Tóth:** This surname derives from the word "other" or "foreigner", often used to distinguish people from a different region or ethnic group.
5. **Horváth:** This name has Croatian origins and means "Croatian", reflecting the historic presence of Croatian people in Hungary.
6. **Molnár:** This surname means "miller", indicating the importance of milling in traditional Hungarian life.
7. **Varga:** Meaning "cobbler" or "shoemaker", this name reflects the importance of this profession in Hungarian society.
8. **Kiss:** This surname simply means "small", perhaps referring to a person's physical stature or family size.
9. **Szabó:** This surname translates to "tailor", further demonstrating the prevalence of craft-based surnames in Hungary.
10. **Farkas:** This surname means "wolf", and could indicate a person's bravery, cunning, or connection to wildlife.
11. **Papp:** This surname means "priest", reflecting the strong role of the Catholic Church in Hungarian history.
12. **Juhász:** This name translates to "shepherd", emphasizing the importance of pastoralism in Hungarian culture.
13. **Balogh:** This surname means "white", and could have signified a person's hair color or social status.
14. **Berecz:** This surname means "birch", perhaps reflecting the presence of birch trees in a person's hometown.
15. **Máté:** This name means "gift of God", and could have been bestowed upon a child born after a period of hardship.
16. **Simon:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "listener" or "he who hears".
17. **Gábor:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "God is my strength".
18. **Antal:** This name has Latin origins and means "worthy" or "invaluable".
19. **Zoltán:** This name has Hungarian origins and means "brave" or "gallant".
20. **Péter:** This name has Greek origins and means "stone" or "rock".
21. **Ákos:** This name has Hungarian origins and means "eagle".
22. **János:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "God is gracious".
23. **Tamás:** This name has Aramaic origins and means "twin".
24. **György:** This name has Greek origins and means "farmer" or "landworker".
25. **András:** This name has Greek origins and means "manly" or "brave".
26. **László:** This name has Hungarian origins and means "renowned" or "famous".
27. **Katalin:** This name has Greek origins and means "pure" or "innocent".
28. **Erzsébet:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "my God is abundance".
29. **Mária:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "bitter" or "beloved".
30. **Ilona:** This name has Greek origins and means "torch" or "light".
31. **Zsuzsanna:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "lily".
32. **Eszter:** This name has Persian origins and means "star".
33. **Sándor:** This name has Greek origins and means "defender of man".
34. **József:** This name has Hebrew origins and means "God will increase".
35. **Béla:** This name has Hungarian origins and means "white" or "bright".
36. **István:** This name has Greek origins and means "crown" or "wreath".
37. **Gergely:** This name has Greek origins and means "vigilant" or "watchful".
38. **Tibor:** This name has Hungarian origins and means "courageous" or "brave".
39. **Miklós:** This name has Greek origins and means "victory of the people".
40. **Károly:** This name has German origins and means "free man".