Hatzi
Hatzi- or Chatzi- (Greek: Χατζη-) is a prefix of Greek family names. It derives ultimately from the Arabic Hajji, denoting one who has successfully completed a pilgrimage.
In a Christian context, the title designates a person who has visited Jerusalem and the Holy Land and was baptised in the Jordan River. Thus, someone whose family name was previously "Dimitriou" would be called "Hatzidimitriou" after that. The change of the name is not obligatory for the traveller or the family as a whole but it is an honour and many cases of family name alterations have been noted.
This honorific title exists among the Slavic Orthodox Christians as well in the form hadži (written in Bulgarian хаджи and Serbian хаџи).
The stand-alone form of the surname is Hatzis or Chatzis (Χατζής) (female version Χατζή, Chatzi or Hatzi) and it may refer, among others, to:
- Guido Hatzis, Greek-Australian comic character
- Michalis Chatzis, Greek footballer
- Nikos Hatzis, Greek basketball player
- Tony Hatzis, Australian footballer
- Gregory P Hatzis, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.