Meaning & History
Bedrosian (Western Armenian: Պետրոսեան) is an alternate transcription of the Armenian surname Petrosyan (Eastern Armenian: Պետրոսյան), which means "son of Petros" (the Armenian form of Peter). The two forms reflect the division between Eastern and Western Armenian dialects, with Bedrosian being typical of the Western Armenian diaspora and Petrosyan common in the Republic of Armenia and among Eastern Armenian speakers.
Etymology
The root of Bedrosian is the Armenian given name Petros (Պետրոս), which itself derives from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning "stone." This is a translation of the Aramaic name Cephas, given by Jesus to the apostle Simon (Peter) as recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 16:18, John 1:42). As with many Christian names, Peter became widespread across Europe and the Near East, spawning numerous cognates and patronymic surnames. In Armenian, the suffix -yan (or -ian in Western Armenian) denotes "son of," making Petro.syan/Petrosian literally "son of Petros" and Bedrosian the Western Armenian equivalent.
Geographic Distribution and Cultural Context
Petrosyan is one of the most common surnames in Armenia, ranking among the top ten surnames in the country. In the Armenian diaspora—especially in communities from the Ottoman Empire, such as those in Lebanon, Syria, the United States, and France—the Western Armenian form Bedrosian is prevalent. The spelling Bedrosian (or occasionally Bedrossian) is therefore a hallmark of Armenian families whose ancestral roots lie in Western Armenia or former Ottoman territories.
Notable Bearers
According to the Wikipedia entry for Petrosyan, the surname (including both Eastern and Western forms) has been borne by many notable individuals across various fields. Since the article lists figures commonly associated with Petrosyan (the Eastern spelling), the same individuals generally have relatives using the Western form in diaspora contexts. Notable people with the Petrosyan/Bedrosian surname include:
- Arev Petrosyan (born 1972), Armenian artist
- Arevik Petrosyan (born 1972), Armenian politician and lawyer
- Armen Petrosyan, multiple individuals including a mixed martial artist and a politician
- Armenak Petrosyan (born 1973), Armenian professional footballer
- Arsen Petrosyan (born 1991), Armenian footballer
- Artur Petrosyan (born 1971), Armenian professional footballer and later manager
- Gagik Petrosyan (born 1973), Armenian politician
- Galust Petrosyan (born 1981), Armenian professional footballer
- Gevorg Petrosyan (politician) (born 1972), Armenian lawyer and politician
Key Facts
- Meaning: "Son of Petros" (the Armenian form of Peter, meaning "stone")
- Origin: Armenian
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage Regions: Armenia and the Armenian diaspora worldwide; the form Bedrosian is particularly common among Western Armenian communities
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Petrosyan