Juhász is a Hungarian occupational surname meaning "shepherd", derived from the word juh ("sheep"). It is one of the most common Hungarian surnames, reflecting the historical importance of sheep farming in the region. The name can also be anglicized as Yuhas.
Etymology
The surname originates from the Hungarian juh ("sheep") combined with the occupational suffix -ász, which denotes a profession. Thus, Juhász literally means "shepherd." Similar occupational surnames exist in other languages, such as the English Shepherd or the German Schäfer.
Notable Bearers
Several prominent individuals bear the surname Juhász. In sports, notable figures include Hungarian football player Dániel Juhász (born 1992), handballer Ádám Juhász (born 1996), and basketball player Dorka Juhász (born 1999), who plays professionally in the United States. In athletics, Béla Juhász (1921–2002) was a long-distance runner. Hungarian poet Ferenc Juhász (1928–2015) represented a major voice in 20th-century literature, while Ferenc Juhász (born 1960) served as Minister of Defense of Hungary from 2002 to 2006. In politics, Attila Juhász (born 1967 and 1976) are Serbian politicians from the Hungarian community in Vojvodina. Other bearers include Finnish curler Eszter Juhász (born 1988), born in Hungary, and rower Adrián Juhász (born 1989).
Distribution
Juhász is one of the most frequent surnames in Hungary, with concentrations in regions where sheep farming was traditionally significant. It also appears in neighboring countries with Hungarian minority populations, such as Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia.
Variant Forms
Variant spellings include Juhás and the anglicized Yuhas. Related Hungarian occupational surnames include Szűcs ("furrier") and Varga ("shoemaker").
- Meaning: "Shepherd"
- Origin: Hungarian
- Type: Occupational surname
- Usage: Primarily Hungary
Sources: Wikipedia — Juhász