Mazreku (archaic forms: Masarecu, Masareccu, Meserechus, Mânzaraku, Mazaraki or Mazarek) is an Albanian tribe[1] or fis from the Dukagjin highlands. Historically they were one of the most widespread tribes, and placenames related to them are found throughout Albania: examples include Mazrek of Shkodër, or Mazrek in Tiranë.
The name Mazrek(u), which means "horse breeder" in Albanian, is found throughout all Albanian regions.[2] Furthermore, the name relates to the Albanian word mëz - maz ('foal'), deriving from the Proto-Albanian *mandja and cognates to the Messapic word *menza ('foal').[3]
Another Albanian tribe called the Mazreku lived in Epirus during the Middle Ages.
As a surname it may refer to:
Mazarek (vojvoda), Albanian nobleman and general in Serbia in the 15th century
Pjetër Mazreku, Albanian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th century
Matija Mazarek, priest in the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century
^Matzinger, Joachim (2005). "Messapisch und Albanisch". International Journal of Diachronic Linguistics and Linguistic Reconstruction (in German). 2: 29–54.
