Founder of the House of Basarab

The dynasty was named after Voivode Basarab I, who gained the independence of Wallachia from the Kingdom of Hungary.

The origin of the family is highly disputed, with theories suggesting either a Vlach, or Romanianized Cuman background. However, there is no scholarly consensus on their actual origin. The Cuman hypothesis is largely based on the origin of Basarab's name, but remains unproven. At least four royal charters from the 14th century refer to Basarab as a 'Vlach' and in his lifetime Basarab would have certainly considered himself as a member of the Romanian elite of Wallachia.

The name Basarab is of Cuman or Pecheneg Turkic origin and most likely meant "conquering or reigning father"; Bas was the present participle of the verb "to rule", while the second part is believed to derive from the honorary title -aba "father", recognizable in many Cuman names, such as Terteroba, Arslanapa, and Ursoba. Besides the Cumans, the name was also common among Romanians in medieval Wallachia and Transylvania. Basarab's baptismal name was most likely "Ioan" or "Ivanco", as noted in the preface to the Dušan Code and other Serbian and Bulgarian documents. Basarab's "possible" father Thocomerius likely bore a Latin rendering of the Slavic name "Tihomir", a common name amongst Vlachs and South Slavs in the Middle Ages. Alternatively, the name is identified as Toq-tämir, a Cuman and Tatar name attested in the 13th century. Some historians consider the name's origin a weak argument to support the Dynasty's Cuman origin, while they believe contemporary documents that universally regard Basarab as "Vlach" to be of greater relevance.