Family name – Buzas

Origin of the Family name – Buzas

There are two viable explanations, and a third ridiculous explanation. Many family names were acquired recently, often derived from an occupation, location, such as an estate, or family member, such as Johnson. Hence,

1. Hungarian – buza means wheat in Hungarian, similar words refer to wheat or wheat products across the steppes to Mongolia and in Turkey, and, I am told, for millet in Persia. Also, buza, boza, etc. refer to a weak fermented broth brewed from grain. A farmers’ market is called Buza Plac. There are villages, rivers and mountains in the region named Buza and variations thereof. Buzasi means ‘from Buza.’ Thus a person of Hungarian ancestry may have acquired their family name from wheat or locations named Buza, Buzas, or similar.
2. Historical records indicate the name Buzes for a Thracian general. Linguists believe buza is the Thracian word for goat. Perhaps location names may refer to areas where goats are kept. However, there are no records to support this speculation. The earliest, the name Bouseos is applied to the current Buzau river around 376 AD, which would during the time of Roman occupation. In this regard, the closest Latin word would be “bus” for ox. Thus it is possible that some families derive their name from these locations predating the recorded presence of Hungarians, Romanians, and Bulgarians (the areas occupied by the Thracians, Getae, and Dacian peoples). Buza, Buzes and variations are not names for any tribes in the area or in historical records before 300 AD.
3. The Romanian word for lip is buza or buze, as in Czech. The Bulgarian word for cheek is buza. It seems unlikely that a family name would derive from the word for lip or cheek. Equally unlikely that a river or mountain would be named for a lip or cheek.

Presently, I conclude the family name derives from either the Hungarian word for wheat or locations named Buza, which have been named for goats, oxen, wheat or other unknown reasons.

A note on genetics, language, and culture. The DNA of eastern Hungary, Romania and surrounding areas are remarkably similar. Thus, any claims to genetic heritage are to be shared equally. Also, the Thracian-Dacian language and culture disappeared before the current cultures of Hungarians, Romanians, and Bulgarians emerged. Establishing a claim as the rightful inheritors of a cultural legacy would require a high level of proof and exclusivity. Good luck.