Karajan, or Caragiani, Caraiannis, Karagianni, Karagiannis, Karayiannis, Karagianis, is a Greek surname. This last name, like several other Ottoman-era ones, contains the Turkish language prefix 'kara' in reference to either someone's dark complexion, or the archaic Ottoman-era meaning of 'brave'. Specifically it means "black (or brave) John".
Notable persons with that surname include: Eftychia Karagianni (born 1973), Greek water polo player Eliette von Karajan (born 1932), French fashion model Georgios Karayiannis, Greek Army officer Herbert von Karajan (1908–1989), Austrian conductor, great-grandson of Theodor von Karajan Ioan D. Caragiani (1841–1921), Romanian folklorist Konstantinos Karagiannis (born 2000), Cypriot footballer Martha Karagianni (1939–2022), Greek actress Maurine Karagianis (born 1949 or 1950), Canadian politician Vaios Karagiannis (born 1968), Greek footballer Peter Karrie (born 1946), (Full name Peter Karagianis), Welsh Singer & TV show host
See also Karayan (disambiguation)