Surname Ivanov - Meaning and Origin
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Ivanov: What does the surname Ivanov mean?
The last name Ivanov is one of the most widespread surnames in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and other Slavic countries. Its literal meaning is 'son of Ivan'. The name Ivan, also known as John in English, is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, which means, “God is gracious.”
The Ivanov surname is associated with a litany of famous people throughout history. Russian writer Ivan Turgenev and Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky both bore the surname Ivanov. Time Magazine listed Mikhail Sergeyevich Ivanov, the former defense minister of the Russian Federation, in its list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2004. He was described by the magazine as “a warrior-diplomat” who had the trust of the Russian government.
Ivanov is also a popular name outside of Russia. The former President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, was born Alexander Ivanov. In 2002, the United Nations recognized the work of Yury Ivanov, the former Soviet engineer in Afghanistan, where Ivanov headed a group of Soviet geologists working in the country.
The name Ivanov is an example of a Russian patronymic surname. Such surnames make reference to a father or ancestor, and in this case, the name honors the original bearer's father, Ivan. The surname carries a sense of tradition and heritage that can be passed down through multiple generations, as Ivanovs continue to be seen around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisIvanov: Where does the name Ivanov come from?
The last name Ivanov is one of the most common last names in Russia, as it is the patronymic derivative of the first name "Ivan", which was one of the most popular personal names in Russia during the Middle Ages. This trend continues today, and the name "Ivanov" is the most popular surname in Russia according to recent census data.
The surname "Ivanov" is also quite common throughout other former Soviet republics, and throughout the Balkans where Slavic languages are spoken, such as Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia. In the United States, Ivanov is also a relatively common name among people of Eastern European ancestry, primarily in places such as New York City, Chicago, and Detroit, where a large number of Russian immigrants reside.
Lastly, the last name Ivanov can also be found in other countries around the world such as Canada, Israel, Brazil, Finland, Argentina, Mexico, and France, to name a few. People of Russian heritage are spread out all over the world, and this helps to explain why the last name remains so enduringly popular.
Variations of the surname Ivanov
Ivanov is a common and popular Slavic surname. As with most surnames, it has several variants and alternative spellings, as well as other surnames of the same origin.
Variants of the surname Ivanov include: Iwanow, Iwanowitsch, Iwanovitch, Iwano, Iwanczuk, Iwanschitz, Ivantchev, and Iwanovenko. A few of these variants are also popular spellings, such as Iwanowitsch and Iwanczuk.
Other surnames of the same origin as Ivanov include: Ivankov, Ivanko, Ivankin, Ivankova, Ivanisevic, Jovanovic, Ivanovic, and Jovanovski. Of these, Ivanovic is the most commonly known in Slavic countries.
The surname Ivanov is usually assumed to be derived from the given name Ivan, which is itself derived from the Greek name Ioannes (John). Given the popularity of the name, it is common in many countries throughout Europe; in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, and Poland. Additional countries where the surname may be found include Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Hungary.
In summary, Ivanov is a very common Slavic surname, and has several variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Though most likely derived from the given name Ivan, the surname can be found in many countries throughout Europe, from Bulgaria to Poland.
Famous people with the name Ivanov
- Sergey Ivanov, former Prime Minister of Russia
- Andrei Ivanov, Russian basketball player
- Ivan Ivanov, Bulgarian ski jumper
- Stanislav Ivanov, Russian kickboxer
- Pavel Ivanov, Russian speed skater
- Alexander Ivanov, Russian chess Grandmaster
- Yuri Ivanov, Russian footballer
- Maxim Ivanov, Russian boxer
- Slava Ivanov, Russian-born American concert pianist
- Sergey Ivanov, Soviet football player
- Dmitri Ivanov, Soviet Olympic swimmer
- Gennady Ivanov, Soviet Olympic gymnast
- Ekaterina Ivanova, Russian figure skater
- Galina Ivanova, Russian fashion model
- Yevgenya Ivanova, Russian actress
- Leonid Ivanov, Soviet military commander
- Maksim Ivanov, Russian Dominos champion
- Yuri Ivanov, Russian space researcher
- Aleksey Ivanov, Russian mountain climber
- Alexey Ivanov, Russian physicist