Surname Lazar - Meaning and Origin

Lazar: What does the surname Lazar mean?

The surname Lazar has multiple origins. In certain cultures, it is derived from the Hebrew name "Eleazar," meaning "God has helped." This was the name of one of the high priests in the Old Testament. The name is particularly significant in the New Testament as it was the name of Lazarus, a man whom Jesus resurrected from the dead, which caused the name to become associated with resurrection.

In Slavic countries, "Lazar" is a prominent first name, becoming a surname through patronymic tradition. In Hungarian, it is a centuries-old surname derived from the Hebrew form, Lazarus.

In Arabic cultures, the surname "Lazar" can also translate to "God is my help".

Regardless of its origins, the name Lazar is widespread today, found in various forms depending on cultural and linguistic variations. However, its connotations of divine help or resurrection remain central to its meaning.

Lazar: Where does the name Lazar come from?

The surname Lazar has Hebrew origins, arising from the biblical name Lazarus meaning "God is my helper". It was commonly used in the early Christian era and later found its way into various cultures and languages. As a family name, it can be found extensively across Eastern Europe. In Hungary, it became quite popular and many Hungarians bear this last name. Similarly, it is also prevalent in Romania.

In addition to these regions, the name Lazar can be found in other countries like Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, and other parts of the Balkans where it was spread mainly due to Jewish migration. There are also instances of the surname in Israel and the Jewish Diaspora around the world.

In terms of usage outside of Europe and Israel, the name Lazar can be found but is less common. Instances of the surname are found in the United States and Canada.

Depending on the region, variations of the name exist such as Lázár in Hungary, Lazăr in Romania, and Lazarov in Bulgaria. Despite its origins and history, today the name Lazar is prevalent, representing a diverse group of people across various cultures and religions.

Variations of the surname Lazar

The surname Lazar has a few variants and similar surnames originating from different cultures and languages. Variants and similar surnames include Lazare, Lazaro, Lazari, Lazaru, Lazarus, Lázár, Lazarenko and Lazarov.

The name is derived from the Hebrew personal name Lazarus. In Greek, it is written as Lazaros, and it can also be found in alternate forms such as Lazare in French, Lazaro in Spanish and Italian, and Lazar in Russian and Romanian.

The Lazar surname has been historically present in different regions, contributing to slight differences in spelling and pronunciation. For example, in Hungary, the surname is spelled as Lázár. In addition to this, the name has been combined with local suffixes in different regions to indicate patronymic lineage, resulting in surnames like Lazarenko (son of Lazar) in Ukraine or Lazarov (of Lazar) in Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Sometimes, the -s ending might be used as a pet form of the name, giving us Lazars, seen in some English-speaking countries.

Please note that these variations reflect cultural differences and personal choices, and the usage might vary widely even within the same country.

Famous people with the name Lazar

• Marcel Lazar Lehel (aka "Guccifer"), a Romanian hacker
• Igor Lazar, aka Juche, a Romanian male model
• Sheila E. Lazar, a former New York City Ballet principal dancer
• Jessica Lazar, an American acting coach, actress and singer
• Kahlil Lazar, an American journalist and filmmaker
• Toni Lazar, an American film and television actor
• Eric Lazar, an actor, producer and writer
• Dave Lazar, an American film and television actor
• Michael Ezra Lazar, an Argentinian-born American rabbi and author
• John Lazar, an American voice actor and announcer

Other surnames

Lazarus