Expert: Hank Hokamp - 7/7/2011

Question
I am researching the last name Bakogianni for a persona for the group that I am involved with. I am an active member in the SCA and we recreate the middle ages. I am trying to establish a Greek persona and found the last name Bakogianni and fell in love with the name. I am trying to find out if the name was around during the time of 600ad to 1600ad.

Could you be of some assistance to me in my research or do you know of someone who might be of assistance to me?

Any help or information that you can give me is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Penny

Answer
   All I can say, Penny, is "Hmmmm." Please read:

   In http://greek-lastnames.blogspot.com/2010/11/15289.html some surnames of the 16th century origin are submitted. There is "Vakos" submitted, assumingly the first compound and variation of Bakogiannis. So, Bako- / Vako- + Giannis (ioannis) are its two compounds. Furthermore, according to that article, the "Vakos" applies in the Ottoman Thebae, where a mixture of Hebrew, Albanian, Ottoman and Greek inhabitants co-exist. To me it sounds possible that the origins can be found somewhere there. Finally, the surname Vako exists in Albanian nowadays.

   Therefore, I can't give you a specific answer, my friend. Do you have a first name for   Bakogianni? There was an Olympic athlete in 1968 named Niki Bakogianni. That might be a start.

                                                       HANK