Hungary Personal Names

Back to Hungary Portal Page►

Naming Customs
Surname (or a family name) is used first, followed by the given name:


 * there is usually just one given name
 * surnames are generally a single names
 * patronymics were usually not used
 * his rule is also followed in Hungarian parish registers

Surnames were usually derived from common sources such as trades, qualities, ethnic origins, place names etc.:

Titles of nobility are put before the surnames:

Names of Hungarian married women take on special forms:


 * the equivalent of Mrs. is the particle né (wife) which is added to a husband's name
 * the -né means wife of
 * Klausenberger Ignáczné Bival Rosália means that Rosália Bival married a man named Ignácz Klausenberger

Excellent articles regarding Hungarian personal names can be found at:


 * Hungarian Names 101
 * Hungarian Personal Names of the 16th Century
 * Hungarian Feminine Names