Cojocaru

Cojocaru is a Romanian occupational surname derived from the word cojoc, meaning "sheepskin coat." It originally referred to a maker or seller of traditional sheepskin jackets, a garment widely used in rural Romania due to the country's strong pastoral heritage. The name belongs to a common class of Romanian surnames that describe a person's trade, similar to Popescu (from "priest") or Ciobanu (from "shepherd").

Etymology

The root cojoc comes from the Slavic word kožuch, meaning "fur coat," reflecting the linguistic influence of Slavic languages on Romanian. The suffix -aru in Romanian typically denotes an agent or profession (e.g., lăcătuș "locksmith" → lăcătușar), though in names like Cojocaru the ending was often added without the intermediary -ar. Alternative forms include the simpler Cojoc and other variants such as Cojocar or Cojocărescu.

Notable Bearers

Among the most recognized figures with this surname are Alina Cojocaru, a celebrated Romanian ballet dancer who has performed as a principal with London's Royal Ballet and other major companies; Alina Carmen Cojocaru, a mathematician specializing in number theory; and Steven Cojocaru, a Canadian television personality and fashion critic known for his work on Entertainment Tonight. In sports, the name appears in multiple disciplines:Cristieana Cojocaru (athletics), Maxim Cojocaru (football, Moldova), Ovidiu Cojocaru (rugby union, Romania), and Sabina Cojocar (artistic gymnastics). Musicians include Israeli classical violist Ziv Cojocaru, while Mara-Daria Cojocaru is a German poet and philosopher of Romanian origin. The surname also appears outside Romania, as with Israeli basketball player Ido Kozikaro, whose name is a Hebrew spelling variation.

Geographic & Cultural Context

Cojocaru is particularly common in the historical region of Moldova (divided between present-day Romania and Moldova) and as such appears among Moldovan footballers and other public figures. The traditional cojoc garment itself is a point of cultural pride, often decorated with intricate embroidery and associated with festive attire in Romanian folklore. This occupational surname thus not only identifies a family's ancestral trade but also ties them to the material culture of Romania's pastoral traditions.

• Meaning: From Romanian cojoc "sheepskin coat", an occupational name for a coat maker
• Origin: Romanian (Slavic root kožuch)
• Type: Occupational surname
• Usage: Romania, Moldova, diaspora communities