Surname Bortnikow - Meaning and Origin

Bortnikow: What does the surname Bortnikow mean?

The last name Bortnikow is of Russian origin, and is derived from the word bortniki, which means "cotter". The cotter was a peasant farmer in pre-industrialized Russia, typically working on land owned by a wealthy landowner.

Cotter-style farming was a form of subsistence agriculture, where a cotter would work on rented or given land in return for some portion of the harvested crops. Cotters often lived and worked in small villages or other compact agricultural settlements. In some cases the landowner may have also provided them with housing, or other material support, in the form of a house and farming resources.

Today, the name Bortnikow is still found among some Russian families, and may even imply inherited wealth, status, and education among descendants of the original cotter families.

Cotters were important members of a pre-industrialized economy, and their culture has shaped the heritage of Russia. The name Bortnikow is a reminder of their legacy and of the social and economic circumstances from which the Russian people have come.

Bortnikow: Where does the name Bortnikow come from?

The last name Bortnikow is most commonly found today in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe. According to a surname origin website, the name may be linked to an archaic form of a Slavic word meaning “servant” or “slave”. It could be from an occupational reference of some kind, like the man who operated the mill or the one who grinded the flour.

In terms of geography, Bortnikow can be found in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Romania, and even some of the former Soviet countries. It is more rare in Western Europe, though there are some scattered cases in the Scandinavian countries, Germany and the United Kingdom. There are also a few people who have this last name in the United States.

With the fall of the Soviet Union, many people with the Bortnikow last name have left their countries of origin looking for a better life. In the present day it can be found throughout the diaspora, with many members of the Bortnikow family living in different places all over the world.

Though it is still a relatively uncommon last name, if someone is trying to find a member of the Bortnikow family, the Internet is a great source. Social media platforms like Facebook can serve as a great way to find members of the same extended family, regardless of where in the world they may be.

Variations of the surname Bortnikow

The surname Bortnikow is a Russian last name that has evolved in many variants over the years. One of the most common variants is Bortnikova, which is the feminine version of the surname. Other variants include Bortnikov, Bortnykov, Bortnkov, Bortnikoff, Bortniko, Bortnicov, Bortnikovskiy, Bortnikovsky, Bortnykovskiy, and Bortnykovsky.

In some cases, the surname may sound similar, but it is used in different contexts. Countries like Belarus, Ukraine, and Belarus use the word "Bert" or "Bort" to mean "field" or "gift of the field". Thus, Bortnikov and Bortnikovskiy are sometimes used interchangeably with Bertnikov and Bertnikovskiy.

Since the 19th century, some Russian Jews have adopted Germanic spellings of Bortnikow with Bertnikow, Burtnikow, or Burtnicoff being the most common variants.

In Germany, many Russian emigrants with the surname Bortnikow were recorded as Bortnicolff, Bortnecolff, or Bortnekolff.

In neighboring Lithuania, some of the Bortnikow surname could be found spelled as Bortnakas, Bortkijev, Bortkyvas, and Bork Ignatovich.

In Latvia, the Bortnikow surname is usually spelled as Bortkievich, Bortkevitch, and Bortkovic.

No matter how it is spelled, the Bortnikow surname is still the same- a family name that has been passed down through the ages and evolved into many variants.

Famous people with the name Bortnikow

• Anatoli Bortnikow: Anatoli Bortnikow is a Russian billionaire and businessman. He is the former owner of Moscow-based Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods, one of the largest dairy and juice companies in Russia. He is also the founder of the Russian food retailer Bortnikow & Co.
• Svetlana Bortnikow: Svetlana Bortnikow is a Russian singer and actress, and has appeared in numerous Russian films and television series.
• Alexej Bortnikow: Alexej Bortnikow is a Russian politician and former Prime Minister of Russia.
• Victor Bortnikow: Victor Bortnikow is a former Soviet athletics coach who has worked with multiple Olympic and world championship medalists in various track and field events
• Evgeny Bortnikow: Evgeny Bortnikow is a former Olympic rower who competed for Russia. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
• Oleksandr Bortnikow: Oleksandr Bortnikow is a former Ukrainian footballer who has played for several clubs in his home country. He also played for the Ukraine national team.
• Valeriy Bortnikow: Valeriy Bortnikow is a former Soviet footballer who has played for a number of clubs in England and Russia.
• Viktor Bortnikow: Viktor Bortnikow is a former Soviet volleyball player who was part of the USSR national team that won gold at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
• Nicolai Bortnikow: Nicolai Bortnikow is a former Soviet footballer who played for the Soviet Union's national team.
• Igor Bortnikow: Igor Bortnikow is a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Soviet Union's national team.

Other surnames

BortnikBortnikov