About: Hatzi

Hatzi- or Chatzi- (Greek: Χατζη-) is a prefix of Greek family names. It ultimately derives from the Arabic Hajji, a name for someone who has successfully completed a pilgrimage. In Christianity, the prefix is added when someone had committed the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. For example, if the name was Giannis, the surname would then be Hatzigiannis after the journey. In conclusion he would be renamed Giannis Hatzigiannis. In Islam, the prefix is added before the name, for example, Ibrahim Kaya would become Hajji Ibrahim Kaya.