Vlachos Family History

Greek: ethnic name for an Aromanian or Vlach, a member of Romanized traditionally pastoralist population living in the Balkans, speaking a language closely related to Romanian. Through ethnic stereotyping, the Greek ethnic name, which is cognate with Slavic Vlah (see Vlasic), came to denote a highlander.

Any of these senses could be involved in the development of the surname. It is also a shortened form of compound surnames beginning with Vlach-. For example, Vlachogiannis meaning ‘John the Aromanian, John the hillbilly’ and Vlachakis (see Vlahakis).

Compare Vlahos.