Stoian

Stoian is a name of Romanian origin that appears primarily as a surname and, less commonly, as a given name. In Romanian use, it is most often encountered as a surname and is borne by individuals across various professions. It is also found among Romanian-speaking communities in Moldova and among the diaspora in Europe and North America.

Etymology and forms: Stoian is generally linked to the Slavic given name Stoyan (also spelled Stojan), from which many patronymic or nickname-based surnames in Eastern Europe are formed. The Romanian surname Stoian may have developed from a given name of an ancestor or from a descriptive nickname implying steadfastness. Variants include Stoianu in Romania, and cognate forms such as Stoyan, Stojan in other languages, and Stoyanović or Stoianović in South Slavic regions.

Distribution: In Romania, the surname is reasonably common and concentrated in certain counties. It is also present in Moldova and in communities abroad with Romanian heritage. Global distribution reflects historical and contemporary migration patterns from Eastern Europe.

See also: Stoyan, Stojan, Stoianović, Stoianu.