Last Name Tataru

Learn more about the origin of the last name Tataru

The meaning and origin of the last name Tataru

The surname Tataru is predominantly of Romanian origin, specifically from Moldavia and Wallachia regions. It derives from the Old Slavic personal name Tatara (meaning "father's relative" or "descendant") which was brought to Romania by the Slavic settlers who lived there during the Middle Ages. The name may also have been influenced by the Tatar invaders, as some of the nomadic groups were known as Tatars in historical records. Over time, the name evolved into various forms such as Tătaru, Țătărul, and Zătărul in Romanian. Notably, the surname also occurs among the Romanian-speaking populations in Moldova and Ukraine. The name has since spread across Europe due to historical migrations and is now found worldwide among people of Romanian descent.

Geographical distribution of the last name Tataru

The surname Tataru is predominantly distributed across Romania and Moldova, being one of the most common ethnic Romanian surnames in these regions. Historically, the majority of people bearing this name are of Romanian ethnicity. In Transylvania (a region in present-day Romania), a significant number of Tatarus are Székelys, an ethnoreligious group of Eastern Orthodox origin within Hungarian cultural and linguistic influence. Smaller communities of individuals with the surname Tataru can be found in other parts of Europe due to migration and diaspora, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, there are communities of Romanians emigrated from Romania and Moldova who bear this surname in various countries around the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variants and spellings of the last name Tataru

The surname Tataru can be found with various spelling variations due to transliteration differences across different languages and regional dialects. Some of these variants include Tatarev, Tatarov, Tatarova (feminine), Tataruk, Tatarukha (feminine), Tattar, Tattara, and Tattaru. These variations may appear in Romanian, Russian, or other Slavic languages where the name originates. It is important to note that there is no one definitive spelling of this name as it can depend on personal preference, cultural background, or historical context. Regardless of spelling, the Tataru name is associated with the Tatar people, a Turkic ethnic group predominantly living in Russia and other neighboring countries.

Famous people with the last name Tataru

Notable individuals bearing the surname Tataru include:

1. Radu Tataru (b. 1947), a Romanian mathematician known for his work in geometric topology and smooth four-manifold theory. He has been a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign since 1985.

2. Ioan Tătăru (1876-1940), a Romanian historian, geographer, and academic who served as the Minister of Education in the short-lived government of Ion Mihalache during World War II. He was a significant contributor to the field of medieval Romanian history.

3. Gabriel Tataru (b. 1958), a Romanian composer, musicologist, and academic. He has been a professor at the University of Music George Enescu in Bucharest since 2007 and is known for his works in contemporary classical music.

4. Ion Tătăru (b. 1959), a Moldovan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Moldova from June to December 2009. He was also the Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova between 2005 and 2009.

Genealogical research on the last name Tataru

The surname Tataru has its origins in Romania, specifically among the Romanian people, who primarily inhabit Wallachia and Moldavia. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Tatara, which is of Slavic origin. Historically, the Tatars were a Mongolian people who invaded Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages, but the name was also used among Slavs as a short form of names like Ivan Tatar or Petar Tatar. In Romania, it's believed that the name may have been given to someone of Slavic descent, possibly a migrant or a soldier in the service of medieval princes. The earliest documented instances of the surname Tataru can be traced back to the 18th century, with notable individuals including Dumitru Tataru, a prominent Wallachian military figure in the 18th century and Gheorghe Tătărăscu, a Prime Minister of Romania in the early 20th century. Today, the Tataru surname can be found across various parts of Romania, with significant populations in cities such as Bucharest, Craiova, and Iași.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

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

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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 : 13 June 2025