My friend's origin is Greek.But his family surname's 'Moses' . Is that a Greek surname?

Answer 1

Moses is not a Greek surname at least 99% for sure.
He most likely, is a Greek of Jewish origin, under the name of "ΜΩΥΣΗΣ" Moisis ,but the question that arises is, did you get his name right ?
If it is Moisis why did he tell you Moses ? Unless you heard it wrong.
A very helpful tip will be to know from what city of Greece he is. That will narrow down the search and get better results.

TO ALL PARTICIPANTS
Note: Please refer to their nationality first and then to their religion. They feel Greeks first of all and they are just as good patriots as the rest of the Greeks. They have been here for a few hundred years.

Answer 2

He may be Jewish Greek. In the phone directory there are many Greeks with the surname Moses, usually they also have Jewish surnames, but not all (I found a George Moses). As Dellarovere said, there are also many surnames like Moseades, he may have cut it short.

Answer 3

Think about a very well known Greek: Maria Callas. Her real surname was Kalogeroupoulos.
Living in an other country most of the times makes people adjust their family names. Maybe your firend's original surname was Moisiadis, which is Greek indeed (from Asia Minor) and his grandfathers change it so that it could be easily pronounced by non greek speaking people.

Answer 4

Certainly not a Greek surname,but he could be from foreign father and Greek mother,in that case sounds logical if he had kept his fathers surname.Or somehow he had take the Greek nationality.

Answer 5

Have to agree with everyone else. Your friend is probably Greek of Jewish origins. I did a search under "Moses" and came across many baring that last name

Answer 6

Some Greek Americans abbreviate their names.

It doesn't sound Greek, but check it out on the net if you're too afraid to ask your friend.

It could also be that they're Greeks with a non-Greek family name.

Answer 7

There are 17 Moses's in Athens only, some with jewish first names also. Your boyfriend normaly is a greek Jew. Just ask him, it is not politicaly incorrect.

Answer 8

its a Greek-Jewish surname

we have a lot of Jews in Greece

Answer 9

When the Jews migrated all over the world, some settled in Greece. Your ancestors were likely Jewish.

Answer 10

well, doesnt look like greek, but maybe it is a bit changed somehow...who knows?