Last Name Madjar

The surname Madjar is believed to have origins rooted in Hungary and other Slavic regions. It may be a variant or shortened form of several Slavic names, such as Matej, Matyas, or Madjarov, which are derived from the name Matthew (Matej in Slovak or Czech, Матей in Bulgarian). However, it's important to note that surnames can have multiple origins and variations, so further research might be needed for a definitive answer about a specific individual's ancestry.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Madjar

The meaning and origin of the last name Madjar

The surname Madjar is of Hungarian origin, derived from various place names in Hungary. The name can be traced back to several locations, including Madaras, Madar, Madaraszbarna, and Madarasz, all of which are found primarily in the northern and eastern regions of modern-day Hungary. These places are named after the bird species, madár, meaning "bird" in Hungarian, reflecting their rural or forested settings. Over time, as people migrated from these areas, the surname Madjar became more widespread among various communities, both in Hungary and other countries where Hungarian immigrants settled.

Geographical distribution of the last name Madjar

The surname Madjar has its roots predominantly in Hungary, where it is a relatively common patronymic derived from the first name Máté or Mátyás, which means "gift of God." However, variations such as Magyar (meaning "Hungarian" in Hungarian) are more widespread among ethnic Hungarians living outside of Hungary. The name is also found in other Central European countries, particularly Slovakia and Romania, due to historical migration and assimilation. In the United States, the Madjar/Magyar surname has primarily been traced to immigrants from Hungary and Austria-Hungary who arrived between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, settling predominantly in cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Additionally, there are smaller communities of Madjars/Magyars in other countries such as Canada, Australia, and South America, due to continued migration from Hungary and its diaspora.

Variants and spellings of the last name Madjar

The surname Madjar can have various spelling variations due to differences in transcribing and transliterating names from different languages or dialects. Some common variations of Madjar include Madzhar, Madjarov, Madzharov, Madjaroff, Madzharoff, Madjarski, Maddox (a possible Anglicized version), and Madzhur (in Cyrillic script). These spelling differences may be found among people with Eastern European or Middle Eastern origins. The name Madjar itself is of Slavic origin and means "Hungarian" in some Slavic languages. It could have been given to someone who was originally from Hungary, or whose ancestors were connected to that region.

Famous people with the last name Madjar

Notable individuals with the surname Madjar include:

1. Yaron Madjar (born 1963), an Israeli businessman and founder of the Madjar Technologies group, which includes companies such as Wix, MobileOCT, AppsFlyer, and Dynamic Yield.

2. Judy Madarasz-Madjar (1958–2020), a Canadian politician who served as the mayor of the City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario from 2014 to 2018.

3. Michael Madjar (born 1965), an American physicist and engineer, known for his research on the properties of high-temperature superconductors and the development of novel magnetic sensors.

4. Alex Madjar (born 1987), a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has played in various leagues, including the ECHL, AHL, and KHL.

5. Gabor Madjar (born 1965), a Hungarian-American cell biologist, known for his research on the molecular mechanisms of cancer metastasis and tumor microenvironments.

Genealogical research on the last name Madjar

The surname Madjar originates from various regions, primarily Hungary and Poland, due to historical migration patterns. In Hungary, the name is derived from Matyás (Matthew), a common given name, which was often transformed into Matyar or Madjar during the Middle Ages. In Poland, the name may have been brought by settlers of German or Hungarian descent. Notable figures with this surname include Hungarian mathematician Lajos Mándor (1876-1934), Polish chess grandmaster Aleksander Węgierski (born 1950), and American jazz musician Dave Madjar (active in the 1920s). The name's distribution is widespread in Hungary, Poland, and the United States, with concentrations in areas where there have been historical Hungarian or Polish communities.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "madjar"
• 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 : 30 July 2025

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