Surname Popa - Meaning and Origin
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Popa: What does the surname Popa mean?
Popa is a Roman name derived from the Latin word “pope,” which translates to “father.” This last name is widely used throughout many cultures, including Romania, Slavic countries, Bulgaria, and Hungary.
The original meaning of “Popa” signifies the head of a family, or a father figure. In 19th-century Romania, the term was also associated with high respect and esteem. It was often used to refer to important figures in the Church, such as priests or monks.
Throughout the years, this surname has evolved to extend beyond the religious connotations. Popa is now commonly used for people with dedicated leadership abilities. The name holds the sentiment of being a leader in both a personal and professional context.
Popa is a strong indicator of great family values, as well as hard work and dedication. This name represents both strong commitment and faith. It is associated with those who have the courage to make difficult decisions and the strength to take on any challenge. Those with this last name often have a determination to succeed and the perseverance to achieve their goals.
Order DNA origin analysisPopa: Where does the name Popa come from?
Popa is a popular surname throughout Eastern Europe. It is most common in Romania, Moldova, Albania, and Bulgaria. According to the US Census, Popa is the 1007th most common last name in the United States. Its history dates back to the Latin word pater, meaning father.
In Romania, the Popa surname is extremely popular and often denotes priestly lineage. It’s often found in regions of Transylvania, as well as Bucharest. It is also popular in other Balkan states.
In Moldova, the surname Popa is prevalent and believed to have originated from Russia. It is primarily found in and around the capital city of Chisinau.
In the United States, the surname Popa has become less common in recent years, with the number of people bearing this surname dropping in recent decades. The highest population of Popas can be found in the cities of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami.
In Albania, Popa is one of the most common surnames, primarily found in the south and populated regions of the country. Popa in Albania traditionally denotes a princely family with a genealogy that can be traced back to the thirteenth century and King Peter of Arbër.
In summary, the Popa surname is most commonly found in the countries of Romania, Moldova, Albania, and Bulgaria, as well as the cities of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami in the United States. It can also be found in other parts of the world, including other Balkan states and Europe.
Variations of the surname Popa
The surname Popa is an Eastern European surname derived from the Eastern title of a priest or spiritual leader. It is normally spelled with two “p” as in Popa, but can also be spelled with one “p” as in Papa. It can also be found spelled as Pop, Popescu, Popiș, Popovici, Popov, Popovic, Popesco, Popovych, Popovschi, and Popovska.
In some cases, Popa has been paired with double surnames, such as Popa-Sponza, Popa-Papa, Popa-Priog, Popa-Tomescu, Popa-Hutuleac, Popa-Cristoiu, Popa-Ionescu, Popa-Matei, and Popa-Mara.
In some cultures, Popa may have been adopted by people of other religious denominations. For example, Popa can indicate a Protestant pastor in Romania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria. In some cases, the spelling Popescu may indicate someone who has adopted the Catholic religion.
The Slavic form of Popa is Popov and it can be combined with double surnames such as Popov-Valev, Popov-Krakov, Popov-Avramov, Popov-Karenov, Popov-Nedev, Popov-Dimitrov, Popov-Grigorov, and Popov-Ivanov. The Hungarian variant Popovitz can also be combined with two surnames as Popovitz-Prunean.
The Czech, Slovak, and Ukrainian form of Popa is Popovych. It can also be combined with two surnames, such as Popovych-Kostyuk, Popovych-Sarzhevskyi, Popovych-Poliak, Popovych-Bochomrak, Popovych-Matsko, and Popovych-Dudchak.
The Romanian form of Popa is Popescu. It can also be combined with two surnames such as Popescu-Alexandrescu, Popescu-Calinescu, Popescu-Cristescu, Popescu-Gheorghiu, Popescu-Lupu, Popescu-Nastasa, Popescu-Stanciu, Popescu-Verdes, and Popescu-Toma.
Overall, the surname Popa has a wide range of variations, some of which can be combined with two surnames. It is a popular surname of Eastern European origin, which has spread across other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Popa
- Marcel Popa: Romanian Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
- Aurel Popa: Romanian Writer and Opinion Leader
- Mihai Popa: Romanian lyrical singer and composer
- Roman Popa: Romanian businessman and leader of the Great Romanian Party
- Sergiu Popa: Romanian sculptor
- Iustin Popa: Romanian composer and conductor
- Valentin Popa: Romanian football player
- Ion Popa: Romanian athlete and Olympic gold medalist
- Bogdan Popa: Romanian singer and songwriter
- Ioan Popa: Romanian mobster
- Tiberiu Popa: Romanian footballer
- Alexandru Popa: Romanian football player
- Florin Popa: Romanian writer and journalist
- Fiodor Popa: Romanian compositor, conductor and ethnomusicologist
- Ana-Maria Popa: Romanian astronomer
- Alexandru Popa: a Moldovan politician
- Ovidiu Popa: Romanian football player
- Ion Popa: a former Romanian football player
- Gică Popa: Romanian footballer
- Mircea Popa: Romanian politician