Hodžić

Hodžić (Cyrillic: Хоџић, pronounced [xôd͡ʒitɕ]) is a common surname in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other parts of the former Yugoslavia. It is derived from the Bosnian word hodža, meaning "master, teacher, imam", itself a Turkish loanword (hoca) from Persian (khawaja). The suffix -ić denotes "little" or "son of", so Hodžić literally means "little hodža" or "son of the hodža".

Historical and Cultural Context

The root hodža traces back to the Persian honorific khwāja, used for merchants, scholars, or high-ranking officials. Via Ottoman Turkish hoca, which also means "master" or "teacher", the word entered Bosnian and became a title for Islamic religious leaders (imams) and respected community elders. The surname Hodžić thus originated as a patronymic or occupational name, likely indicating descent from or service to a hodža.

Bearers of Hodžić are predominantly Bosniaks, reflecting the Ottoman heritage in the region. The name is found not only in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also in Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia due to migrations and historical ties.

Notable Bearers

• Adnan Hodžić (born 1971), Bosnian basketball player
• Adnan Hodžić (born 1988), Bosnian-American basketball player
• Adrijana Hodžić (born 1975), Kosovar politician
• Adis Hodžić (born 1999), Slovenian footballer
• Admir Hodžić (born 1985), Serbian biathlonist
• Aida Abadžić Hodžić (born 1970), art historian and art critic
• Ajla Hodžić (born 1980), Bosnian-American actress
• Alen Hodžić (born 1992), Slovenian basketball player
• Almina Hodžić (born 1988), Bosnian footballer
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Related Names

Persian khawaja also gave rise to other surnames and titles across the Islamic world, such as Khoja in Central and South Asia and Hoca in Turkish. Variants in the Balkans include Hodža (without the patronymic suffix) and Hodzic (simplified spelling).

• Meaning: little master, son of the teacher
• Origin: Persian > Turkish > Bosnian
• Type: Occupational surname, patronymic
• Usage Regions: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia