Surname Petrescu - Meaning and Origin
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Petrescu: What does the surname Petrescu mean?
The surname Petrescu is a Romanian surname derived from the given name Petre which translates to "rock" in English. It is often found among Romanian-speaking populations and occasionally amongst minorities of other countries such as Moldova, Bulgaria and Greece.
The surname Petrescu has a few possible meanings. Its literal translation of "son of Peter" implies that the original bearer of the name had a father whose name was Petre. Alternatively, it can also signify a person with personal characteristics of "rock-like" stoicism and stillness.
As a common name in Romania, the Petrescu family is quite extensive, and scattered around the country. It dates back to the 15th century, where the first mention of a Petrescu was recorded as a patron of that time. This noble family then spread not only in Romania, but abroad as well.
In Romania, the Petrescu surname is among the most scattered, with thousands of individuals living in the country. It is mainly observed in the counties of Argeş, Prahova, Neamţ, Suceava, and Vrancea.
By the Samuel Morisson
Order DNA origin analysisPetrescu: Where does the name Petrescu come from?
The last name Petrescu is most commonly found in Romania today. Romania is a country located in eastern Europe, in the Balkan region, and is the ninth largest country in the European Union.
Romania has one of the highest populations of people with the last name Petrescu, and there is no clear origin story for the name. It is believed to be derived from the word "petrecere," meaning "feast" or "celebration," which may be a reference to the family's propensity for entertaining and festivities.
The last name Petrescu is also fairly common in other Balkan countries, including Bulgaria, Serbia, and the Republic of Macedonia. It is likely that at some point, a member of the Petrescu family moved from Romania to one of the other countries in the region and their descendants spread out from there.
Outside of Romania and the nearby countries, the name Petrescu can be found in the United States, mainly in the large cities of Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Houston, and Philadelphia. It is also a fairly common name in Canada.
Overall, Petrescu is a relatively common last name in Romania today and can also be found in numerous other countries, both in Europe and overseas.
Variations of the surname Petrescu
The surname Petrescu (also spelled Petresco, Petreşcu, Petresco, Petrecu, Petrică, Petric and Petricău) is an old Romanian family name derived from the Latin word Petricius, or Petrus, meaning "rock" or "stone." It is believed that the name was originally spelled Petroşcu or Petroch which were variations of the same word.
The surname Petrescu is a patronymic name, which means that it was derived from the name of a father or ancestor - in this case, Petrescu. The patronymic form of Petrus is Petrović (Petrovič, Petrovičić, Petrovičević, Petrovičev).
The Petrescu family is one of the oldest in Romania, and the family name has spread throughout the country - from the southern regions of Oltenia, Muntenia and Dobrogea, as well as further north to Moldova, Suceava and Bistriţa Năsăud. As a result, many Romanian families with the same origin have variations of the same surname, such as Petrişor, Petricoviţă, Petrache, Petreschi, Petrulescu, Petresco and Petrova.
The international reach of the Petrescu family is evidenced by the presence of Petrescu in the United States and Canada, as well as in countries across Europe such as Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Greece and Switzerland. There is also a notable presence in Scandinavia, as well as in the Caucasus region and even South Africa.
In addition, Petrescu has also been translated into other languages, including Polosky (Polish), Petrovskiy (Russian), Petrovski (Belarusian), Petrovksy (Ukrainian), Perevoshchikov/Perevjoschkin (Bulgarian), Petreška (Croatian/Serbian), Petrushka (Slovenian), and Petrovska (Macedonian).
These numerous variations of the Petrescu surname reflect the widespread geographical reach of the family in Romania and abroad and the rich history and proud heritage that the name generations have come to represent.
Famous people with the name Petrescu
- Adrian Petrescu: a Romanian football coach and former player.
- Irina-Camelia Begu : a Romanian professional tennis player.
- Gabriela Petrescu: a Romanian Olympic fencer.
- Ionel Petrescu: a Romanian politician.
- Catalina Ponor: a Romanian retired artistic gymnast.
- Dinu Petrescu: a Romanian football coach.
- Emil Petrescu: a Romanian footballer and coach.
- George Petrescu: a Romanian footballer.
- Iuliu Petrescu: a Romanian footballer and manager.
- Mircea Petrescu: a Romanian novelist and short story writer.
- Laurian Petrescu: a Romanian entrepreneur and politician.
- Jeni Petrescu: a Romanian television presenter and fashion director.
- Cosmin Petrescu: a former Romanian footballer.
- Catalin Petrescu: a retired Romanian footballer.
- Gabriela Petrescu-Cosma: a Romanian politician.
- Mihai Petrescu: a Romanian university professor of electrical engineering.
- Mirela Petrescu,: a Romanian air force officer and sports pilot.
- Tiberiu Petrescu: a Romanian football coach and commentator.
- Teona Petrescu: a Romanian artistic gymnast.
- Vicentiu Petrescu: a Romanian futsal player.