Surname Zinos - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'Z'
Zinos: What does the surname Zinos mean?
The last name Zinos is of Greek origin, and it is believed to come from the Greek verb “zinon”, which means “to gird up” – as in to give someone a belt or a girdle. It is also thought to have its origins in the term “zinos”, which can refer to an ornament, or something adorned for appearance.
The surname Zinos is thought to have been first used as a nickname for someone who was well-dressed or fashionably dressed. This could have also included a man with a dashing physique, which was seen as a symbol of youth and beauty in Ancient Greek culture. It could also have been used to denote someone who had received the honor of being crowned with a garland of victor, awarded to a champion athlete.
Other theories abound, with some suggesting that the name Zinos is a variant of Zenon, derived from the Ancient Greek god Zeus. As the thunderer, the Black Sky, and the Cloud Gatherer, Zeus was believed to be the leader of all the gods, and so a bearer of the name Zinos was thought to exude power and command.
The last name Zinos is also seen as archetypical for the group of Greek immigrants that left Greece at the start of the 20th century. As with many Greek families that have settled in countries around the world, the name has been maintained and handed down through generations. It also has strong cultural connotations, representing the strength and resilience of the Greek people.
Order DNA origin analysisZinos: Where does the name Zinos come from?
The Zinos surname is commonly found in various Mediterranean countries, particularly Greece, Italy, and Turkey. It is an occupational surname derived from the Greek word “zinon” meaning “olive oil.”
In modern times, the Zinos name is found in both Greece and Turkey. In Greece, it is mainly concentrated in certain cities, including Thessaloniki, Arta, Ioannina, Larissa, and Kavala. Relict Greek-speaking populations found in southern Albania and the Epirus region of Albania and Northern Greece also boast Zinos surnames.
In Turkey, the Zinos surname has been well-documented in Thrace since before the time of Ottoman conquest. According to research conducted by scholars such as R.T. Issa, Zinos family members were recorded as native to the Anatolian region in the early 19th century.
Overall, the Zinos surname today appears to be quite rare. This may be due to the fact that surname has likely been altered in many countries, due to the difficulty of pronunciation. Additionally, in widespread diaspora due to migrations, many Zinos family members may have simply changed their last name to something else.
Variations of the surname Zinos
The surname Zinos is thought to have originated in Greece and is derived from the Hebrew word Tsino meaning “thorn”. It is believed to have been the name of a chief who led the Hebrews out of Egypt. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for 'Zinos' could include the following:
Zinovic/ Zinovich/ Zinovitch/ Zinovik: These are variations of the Zinos surname found mainly in Slavic countries including Serbia and Croatia.
Sinovic/ Sinovich/ Sinovitch/ Sinovik: Variations of Zinos from the same Slavic countries that emphasize the 'S' sound in the name.
Tsinos/ Tsinov/ Tsinovich: Variations of Zinos not as common as the other variants.
Picino/ Pikino/ Picinov: Alternate spelling of Zinos with 'P' sound instead of 'Z' found mainly in Russia.
Zinzano/ Zinzanelli: Italian variations of Zinos found in southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.
Zinzen/ Zinzenzeller/ Zinzenberger: German spellings of Zinos found mainly in the northern regions.
Zinour/ Zinoura/ Zinette: French variations of Zinos.
Ziynus/ Zyynus: Turkish variations of Zinos.
Zinus: A Latin American and Spanish variant of Zinos.
Famous people with the name Zinos
- Antonis Zinos: Greek actor, director, and screenwriter.
- Nikki Zinos: American attorney, professor, and author.
- Charles Zinos: Canadian politician, who served as an MPP for York Centre between 1999 and 2003.
- Stephanos Zinos: Greek writer, psychoanalyst and intellectual who played an important role in the Hellenization of psychoanalysis in Greece.
- Maria Zinos: Greek athlete, who won two gold medals in the discus throw at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
- John Zinos: American musician, who has played bass with many bands, including the American hard rock band White Zombie.
- Jim Zinos: American entrepreneur and business executive, best known for being co-founder and CEO of Geeknet, Inc.
- Marcus Zinos: American artist, filmmaker, and educator, who works in the fields of digital media, film, and visual art.
- David Zinos: American banker and financial executive, who served as President and CEO of US Bank from 1999 to 2016.
- Emmy Zinos: American writer and editor, who has worked on the editorial teams for the New Yorker, The New York Times, and Esquire.