Abadjieva is a Bulgarian surname, an alternate transcription of Abadzhieva, which itself is the feminine form of Abadzhiev. The name ultimately derives from the Bulgarian word абаджия (abadzhiya), meaning "weaver" or "tailor", borrowed from Turkish and ultimately from Arabic عباءة (ʿabāʾa), meaning "cloak" or "mantle". The root thus denotes a person who makes or sells cloaks, a common occupational surname in regions influenced by Ottoman culture.Notable BearersA notable bearer is Lilia Abadjieva (born 3 November 1966), a Bulgarian theatre director known for unconventional re‑interpretations of Shakespeare's plays. Born in Sofia, she earned a master's degree in theatre direction from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in 1998 and has since directed productions across Eastern and Central Europe. Her avant‑garde work, described as culturally transgressive, has been featured at international festivals and earned her several awards, including an artist‑in‑residence position at Westmont College in 2008.Geographic and Cultural ContextAbadjieva, like its masculine counterparts Abadjiev and Abadzhiev, is most common in Bulgaria. The surname reflects the strong Turkish linguistic and cultural influence on Bulgarian onomastics during the Ottoman period (1396–1878). The occupation of cloak‑making, though less prominent today, endures in the family name of many Bulgarians. Variant spellings such as Abadjieva vs. Abadzhieva stem from differing transliterations of Cyrillic characters (е vs. дз), common in Bulgarian surnames.Key FactsMeaning: weaver, tailor; cloak‑makerOrigin: Bulgarian (from Turkish/Arabic)Type: occupational surnameUsage regions: BulgariaNotable bearer: Lilia Abadjieva, theatre director