Hunyadi
Hunyadi (also Hunyady in historical sources) is a notable Hungarian noble family, with Vlach (Romanian) origins. The first recorded member of the family was Serbe (also called Serb or Serban) who settled in Hunyad county in Transylvania from Wallachia. His son Vajk (Vojk in Hungarian, Voicu in Romanian), who had adopted Catholicism and the name László, became ennobled in 1409 and received the estate of Hunyad Castle (now Hunedoara in Romania, Vajdahunyad in Hungarian) which was to become the hereditary seat of the family.
Noteable members are:
- John Hunyadi (1387-1456), second son of Vajk. A successful soldier, he became Voivod of Transylvania and Captain General and Regent of Hungary.
- László Hunyadi (1433-1457), eldest son of János Hunyadi, Hungarian statesman and warrior. Subject of an opera by Ferenc Erkel.
- King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary (1443-1490), second son of János Hunyadi, ruled Hungary from 1458 to 1490.
- Emese Hunyadi, born March 4, 1966, originally Hungarian speed skater, who participated in the Olympic Winter Games each time from 1984 to 1998 and won three medals for Austria.