Pal Sarkozy Nagybocsai, the president's father, comes from Hungarian nobility and fled to the West after the arrival of the Red Army in Hungary in 1944.
Sarkozy is a widespread surname in the country and can be found several hundred times in Budapest's telephone directories.
During his official visit, Sarkozy will address the Hungarian parliament, and meet with the country's President Laszlo Solyom and Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
The Hungarian government, which is under pressure by the opposition to resign, is hoping that Sarkozy's visit will give their popularity a boost.
The opposition has boycotted the Gyurcsany government, accusing the prime minister of distorting economic indicators and cheating the population in their 2006 election win.
