Kardos

Kardos is a Hungarian occupational surname, meaning 'swordsman' or 'cutler'. It is derived from the Hungarian word 'kard', which means 'sword'. Surnames derived from occupations were very common in Hungary, as they were in many other European cultures, helping to identify individuals by their trade or craft. The name would have originally been given to someone who made or sold swords, or perhaps someone skilled in using them.

Over time, like many occupational surnames, Kardos transitioned from primarily identifying a profession to becoming a fixed family name passed down through generations. While primarily a surname, it has occasionally been used as a given name, particularly in regions with strong Hungarian cultural influence, though this usage is rare.