Economou

Economou is a Greek surname, an alternate transcription of the Greek surname Οικονόμου. It is derived from the term oikonomos, meaning 'housekeeper' or 'steward'. The name originated as an occupational surname for stewards or household managers, a role of some importance in Byzantine and later Greek society.

Etymology and Origins

The root word oikonomos is composed of oikos (house) and nomos (law or management), literally 'household management'. This term later evolved to refer to a steward or executor. The equivalent Latin term is economus, from which English 'economy' also derives. The surname is documented since the Byzantine period and spread among Greek populations in regions including mainland Greece and the Greek diaspora.

Notable Bearers

The name Economou, along with its variants Oikonomou and Ikonomou, has been borne by many notable individuals. One prominent early figure is Antonis Oikonomou (1785–1821), a naval captain in the Greek War of Independence. In more recent times, there are individuals in various fields such as:

• Constantin von Economo (1876–1931), an Austrian neurologist of Greek origin, known for his work on encephalitis lethargica.
• George Economou (1934–2019), an American poet, and George Economou (Shipbuilder) (born 1953), a Greek billionaire shipowner.
• Ioannis Ikonomou (born 1965), a Greek translator and dedicated polyglot, known for his work with the European Commission.
• Evangelos Ikonomou (born 1987) and Demetris Economou (born 1992), professional football players in Greece and Cyprus respectively.

Distribution and Variants

The surname is common throughout Greece and the Greek diaspora. Variants include Ikonomou and Oikonomou. All forms derive from the same root and are often used interchangeably.

• Meaning: 'steward', 'housekeeper'
• Origin: Greek, occupational
• Type: Surname
• Usage regions: Greece, Cyprus, Greek diaspora