Iancu

Iancu is a masculine given name and surname used in Romania and Moldova. In Romanian, Iancu originated as a diminutive or affectionate form of Ioan/Ioannes, the Romanian equivalents of John, and over time has come to be used as an independent given name as well as a surname.

Etymology and usage: The name traces back to the Latin Ioannes, adapted in Romanian through Ioan and Ion, with Iancu emerging as a regional or familial variant. It remains most common in Romanian-speaking communities and can appear in historical and contemporary contexts.

Distribution and function: As a given name, Iancu has historical resonance in Romanian history and culture. As a surname, it appears among families whose ancestors bore the given name, and it may be found across Romania and Moldova in various professions and regions.

Notable bearer: The best-known bearer is Iancu de Hunedoara, known in English as John Hunyadi, a 15th-century military and political leader who ruled Transylvania and served as Regent of Hungary. He played a central role in campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and in shaping late medieval Central European history.

See also: For related names, see Ion, Ioan, and John. Iancu may also appear as a surname in Romanian contexts and, less commonly, as a given name in literary or historical references.