Antonios is a masculine given name and surname used primarily in Greece, serving as a variant of Antonis. Both names are Greek forms of the Latin Antonius, a Roman family name of — it is assumed — Etruscan origin. The most prominent bearer in antiquity was the Roman general Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius), known for his political alliance with and subsequent rivalry against Augustus, a story famously dramatized in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Etymology and History The root of Antonios is the Latin name Antonius, from which Anthony is ultimately derived. In the Greek and Christian contexts, the name gained wide currency due to the fame of Saint Anthony the Great, a 4th-century Egyptian hermit who founded Christian monasticism. Another prominent saint is Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century Franciscan and the patron saint of Portugal. The false association of the name with the Greek word anthos (flower) led to the addition of the letter ⟨h⟩ in the English spelling Anthony starting in the 17th century. Notable Bearers Notable people named Antonios include: Abune Antonios (1927–2022), Eritrean Orthodox prelate and archbishop. Antonios Antoniadis (20th-century), Greek physician and archaeologist. Antonios Antonopoulos (1805–1887), Greek revolutionary in the War of Independence and later politician. Antonios Aronis (born 1957), Olympic water polo player for Greece. Antonios Asimakopoulos (born 1976), Greek professional basketball player. Antonios Eparchos (1491–1571), Greek Renaissance humanist, soldier and poet. Antonios Kalamogdartis (1810–?), Greek politician and printer. Related Forms Variants of Antonios include Antonis (Greek). Its feminine counterpart is Antonia. In other languages and cultures, cognates include Antoine (French), Antwan (African American), Antonius (Dutch), Andoni and Antton (Basque), and Anton (Ukrainian). Greek surname descendants of Antonios include Antoniou, Antonopoulos, and Antonopoulou. Meaning: Greek form of Antonius (se Anthony) Origin: Greek (from Latin/Etruscan) Type: Given name (also used as surname) Usage: Greece