Origins of the Changos

The term Chango (Csángó) is the name of a population whose ethnic origin has been the subject of much controversy. The term originates from the Magyar language, in which it means “mixed” or “impure.”

Most Changos live on the territory of Romania, with the largest number in Moldavia. Many are bilingual, speaking Romanian and Magyar, and their religion is Catholic.

This book makes an important contribution to the scholarly discussion of the origin of the Changos and sheds new light on the history of this little-known, but fascinating people. The only work on the subject written by a Chango scholar, it disputes the theory that the Changos are of Magyar origin—a theory largely based on their Catholicism—demonstrating that they are, in fact, of Romanian origin.