jobbágyi

Jobbágyi is a Hungarian surname. It is derived from the Hungarian word "jobbágy," which historically referred to a serf or a villein. These were peasants who were tied to the land and owed labor and dues to their lord. The term itself implies a level of dependency and social standing within the feudal system. The surname likely originated as a toponymic, indicating a person who came from a place inhabited by or associated with jobbágyok, or it could have been an occupational surname for someone who managed or was responsible for such individuals. Over time, as social structures evolved, the meaning of "jobbágy" changed, and the surname became a marker of lineage rather than a direct reflection of a person's current occupation or social status. Notable individuals with the surname jobbágyi have contributed to various fields in Hungary and beyond, though the surname itself is more commonly recognized as a historical reference to a medieval social class.