Hatzi- or Chatzi- ( el, Χατζη-) is a
prefix
A prefix is an affix which is placed before the Word stem, stem of a word. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word. For example, when the prefix ''un-'' is added to the word ''happy'', it creates the word ''unhappy'' ...
of
Greek family names. It ultimately derives from the Arabic ''
Hajji'', a name for someone who has successfully completed a
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
.
[Αγγελική Πλάγου, ''Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου: Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Ιωαννίνων: Όπου η Ομορφιά Περισσεύει'', AKAKIA, 2016, "Χατζηκώστα Γεωργίου."]
In Christianity, the prefix is added when someone had committed the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. For example, if the name was Giannis, the name would then be Hatzigiannis after the journey.
In Islam, the prefix is added before the name. For example, Ibrahim Kaya would become Hajji Ibrahim Kaya.
See also
*
Hatzis
*
Hadžić
*
Hatzianestis
*
Hatzidakis
*
Hatzimichalis
*
Chatzigeorgiou
References
Greek-language surnames
Surnames
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