Averoff

Averoff is a Greek surname that can also be transliterated as Averof or Averoff. It derives from the Greek family name Αβέρωφ and is associated with several notable figures in Greek public life, especially in politics and public service.

The most prominent bearer of the name in modern Greece is Evangelos Averoff-Tossizza (1910–1990), a statesman who played a central role in postwar Greek politics. He served as a senior government minister and is remembered for his influence on national defense policy and military modernization. The Averoff name is closely linked with public service and nationalist reform in 20th-century Greece.

Georgios Averof, often anglicized as Georgios Averoff, is a historically significant warship in the Hellenic Navy named in honor of Evangelos Averoff-Tossizza. It is a protected cruiser built in the United Kingdom and entering service in the early 20th century. The vessel served as a flagship for the Greek fleet during the interwar period and into the Second World War, and it remains celebrated as one of the most famous Greek warships of the era. Today it is widely regarded as a monument of Greek naval heritage.

Because of transliteration practices, the surname appears in English-language sources with several spellings, including Averof and Averoff. In Greek, the name is written Αβέρωφ and is associated with both individuals and the historic ship that bears the same name.