Last Name Fogarasi

The surname Fogarasi is of Hungarian origin and is believed to have derived from a geographical location. The term "fogaras" in Hungarian means "well" or "spring," and it's possible that early bearers of this surname lived near such a feature, or inhabited a place named Fogaras. As with many surnames, its origins can be traced back to feudal times when the system of hereditary land tenure was introduced in the Hungarian Kingdom and the nobility were identified by their lands and places of origin.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Fogarasi

The meaning and origin of the last name Fogarasi

The surname Fogarasi is of Hungarian origin and is derived from a geographical location or toponymic name. In Hungarian, "fogár" means 'hook' and "-ház" denotes 'house', leading to the interpretation that the original bearer may have lived near or at a place with such a topographical feature. Alternatively, it could have been a nickname for someone who had some resemblance or occupation related to hooks. Over time, the spelling has evolved in different ways due to various historical and linguistic factors.

Geographical distribution of the last name Fogarasi

The last name Fogarasi is primarily found in Hungary, with a significant concentration in the southern region, particularly in counties such as Baranya and Somogy. It is also present in other parts of Hungary but less densely populated. Beyond Hungary, small communities of Fogarasis can be found in countries with large Hungarian diaspora communities, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America. In these countries, the last name may have been spelled differently due to local phonetic or orthographic adaptations, for example Fogarasy, Fogarasi-Fuchs, or Fogarasey. These variations suggest a common origin, reflecting the migration of Hungarian immigrants over time.

Variants and spellings of the last name Fogarasi

Fogarasi is primarily a Hungarian surname with variations and alternate spellings. The name originates from the word "fogorás", meaning a snare or trap, and it has been anglicized over time resulting in several variant forms. Here are some common variations of the last name Fogarasi:

1. Fogarassy - with an additional 'y' at the end.
2. Fogaraszi - with a 'z' instead of 'i' at the end.
3. Fogorási - a more traditional Hungarian spelling.
4. Vogarasi, Vo-garasi, or Vaughn-garasi (Anglicized forms)
5. Phogarasi, Pohgarasi (Phonetic spellings)
6. Fukarasi - A rare variant that may have arisen due to misspellings or phonetic transliteration from other languages.

Famous people with the last name Fogarasi

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Fogarasi are:

1. Géza Fogarasi (1913-2006), a Hungarian cinematographer known for his work on films like "The Battle of Vienna" and "The Red and the White".

2. Ferenc Fogarasi (born 1948), a Hungarian chess player who won the European Junior Chess Championship in 1965 and represented Hungary at several international competitions.

3. László Fogarasi (1902-1987), a Hungarian poet, journalist, and literary critic who published numerous works including "Egy tükör személye" (A Personality of a Mirror) and "Nyugati utak" (Western Ways).

4. Zsolt Fogarasi (born 1968), a Hungarian politician who served as the Mayor of Győr from 2010 to 2019. He is also a member of the National Assembly of Hungary, representing Győr-Moson-Sopron County.

These individuals have made significant contributions in their respective fields and have contributed to the Fogarasi family's notable presence in various areas of society.

Genealogical research on the last name Fogarasi

The surname Fogarasi originates from Hungary and is primarily associated with Transdanubia, specifically the Somogy and Vas counties. Historically, it is a toponymic name derived from places named Fogaras or its variants, such as Fogaras in Baranya county and Fogarasi in Veszprém county. The earliest known reference of this surname dates back to the 14th century in the Pannonian region. Notable figures with the name include László Fogarasi (1832-1900), a Hungarian painter, and Géza Fogarasi (1911-1976), a prominent photographer and photojournalist. The name's frequency has remained relatively stable throughout the centuries, with a notable increase in emigration to North and South America during the 20th century.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "fogarasi"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 29 July 2025

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