Ceaușescu or Ceausescu likely derives from the Turkish word Çavuş, meaning "messenger" or the military rank of sergeant in the Ottoman and Turkish armies. In modern usage, it most often refers to Nicolae Ceaușescu, the last Communist leader of Romania, but it may also refer to: Elena Ceaușescu, wife of Nicolae Ceaușescu Valentin Ceaușescu, Nicolae Ceaușescu's older son Zoia Ceaușescu, Nicolae Ceaușescu's daughter Nicu Ceaușescu, Nicolae Ceaușescu's younger son Marin Ceaușescu, Nicolae Ceaușescu's older brother Ilie Ceaușescu, Nicolae Ceaușescu's younger brother The Ceaușescu family included a number of other less prominent individuals who are described on that page. See also Çavuş Ceaușu (disambiguation) Note The form Çauşescu—spelled with a cedilla—is considered inaccurate. No such letter exists in the Romanian alphabet. References Romanian-language surnames