Voulgaris

Voulgaris is a Greek surname written in Greek as Βούλγαρης. It is derived from the ethnonym Bulgár (Bulgar), indicating Bulgarian origin or association. The name is typically interpreted as meaning “son of the Bulgarian” or “the Bulgarian, one from Bulgaria,” and it reflects a common pattern in Greek surname formation where ethnic or geographic descriptors become hereditary family names. The feminine form of the name is Voulgari (Βούλγαρη).

Distribution and variants: The surname is most common among Greek-speaking populations and is found widely in Greece. It is also present in Greek communities abroad, including Cyprus and the Greek diaspora in countries such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Transliterations into Latin script may vary slightly, but Voulgaris remains the standard form in English-language references. The name can appear in historical records dating back to the medieval and early modern periods, often in contexts involving interaction between Greek and Bulgarian or Slavic-speaking communities.

Cultural and historical notes: As with many ethnonymic Greek surnames, Voulgaris reflects historical patterns of movement and interaction within the Balkans and the broader Hellenic world. Over time, bearers of the name have contributed to various aspects of public life, including culture, academia, sports, and politics, within Greece and among Greek communities worldwide.

See also: Bulgarian-Greek historical relations and Greek surnames of ethnonymic origin.