Munteanu

The origin of the surname Munteanu

Munteanu comes from munte, “mountain,” for a highland dweller.

What kind of surname is Munteanu?

As a toponymic (locational) surname, the surname Munteanu originally described where its bearer lived or came from — a village, region, landscape feature or landmark. When people moved from one place to another, neighbours often identified the newcomer by their place of origin, and that association became a lasting family name. Some toponymic surnames name a specific town or county; others describe the local terrain, such as a hill, wood, field, ford or bridge beside which a family lived. These names are a kind of map of migration and settlement, recording where earlier generations put down roots.

How Romanian surnames work

Romanian surnames are often patronymic, most recognisably through the ending “-escu” (“son/descendant of”), as in Popescu, “son of the priest”; the ending “-eanu” typically marks where a family came from. Others derive from occupations, the Orthodox church (Popa, “priest,” is very common) or descriptive nicknames.