Surname Iwanoff - Meaning and Origin

Iwanoff: What does the surname Iwanoff mean?

The last name Iwanoff is of Russian origin, and is derived from the name from the given name Ioan or Ivan. It is derived from the element "Io", meaning “God is Gracious” combined with the word "an" meaning “xaviour”.

The Iwanoff surname is thought to have originated in the region of Ukraine, with bearers of the name first migrating to the other Slavic countries in Eastern Europe. They community expanded throughout the continent during the 16th and 17th centuries, and by the 19th century, substantial communities had settled in the Baltic countries, Russia, and the United States.

The Iwanoff name has experienced great success in the last century. Notable people who bear this name include the writer, etcher and illustrator, Boris Iwanoff; the engineer, Paul Iwanoff; the former deputy mayor of San Francisco, Concha Iwanoff; and the Russian actor, Vasily Iwanoff.

Today, the Iwanoff surname is quite common in many parts of Europe, especially in Russia, Poland, and Ukraine. The name is still very much alive and its bearers are proud to have a noble heritage. Those who bear the name will often keep it for generations, either as a reminder of their family’s past or as a symbol of strength and resilience.

Iwanoff: Where does the name Iwanoff come from?

Iwanoff is a surname of ancient Slavic origin, with origins in Polanization, which means it is most commonly found in Slavic countries around Europe. It is most common in Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Russia and Belarus. It is also pretty common in some parts of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada where people of Slavic descent live.

In Serbia, it's one of the oldest family names, and was one of the first to feature the Slavic patronymic ending "off". It's also used to indicate the family members' original homeland - the village of Iwan near the border of Serbia and Montenegro. The meaning of the name is derived from the name of the village - "Iwan's village" - the owners or inhabitants of which were known as the Iwanoffs.

In Russia, it is very popular, especially among those of Cossack descent. Throughout much of the 20th century, those with the surname Iwanoff tended to be found concentrated in the Balkan and Eastern European countries where Slavs are the main population. Today, however, the surname's been adopted in many other cultures around the world, including in the Americas (Canada, USA, and Latin America) and in Asia. It can also sometimes be found in parts of Europe and even in France, Italy, and Spain.

Variations of the surname Iwanoff

Iwanoff is a Slavic surname that is derived from the given name Ivan. The alternate spellings of Iwanoff include Iwanow, Iwanov, Iwanovitch, Iwanenko, Iwanichev, Iwaneko, Yevanoff, Jevanoff, and Yevanov.

One of the most common spellings adopted by many with this surname are Iwanoff, although its usage is primarily confined to Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union. It is also common to find Iwanoff’s living in Hungary, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Belarus. Those with the surname sometimes adopt shortened versions of their surnames, such as Iwan or Yvan, as well as anglicised versions, including Iwanoff, Iwanow, Yevanoff, or Yevanov.

In some areas, the surname is extended by the addition of an additional suffix like -ova or -ev, such as Iwanova, Ivanova, Yevanov, or Iwanovitch. In other cases, the suffix may be dropped entirely, with the surname simply being pronounced as Iwanoff.

In addition to these variants, it is also common for people to adopt multiple spellings, as spellings for surnames often vary depending on an individual’s regional or cultural background. All of these variants are used interchangeably and are from the same origin.

Famous people with the name Iwanoff

• George Iwanoff: Australian musician and actor who is most famous for his stage performances, and his appearances in films including the 2000 movie My Mother Frank
• Anton Iwanoff: Russian-born Australian photographer whose works have been featured in several national and international magazines and exhibitions
• Yuri Iwanoff: Russian basketball player who has played for teams all around the world, most notably in the United States
• Ivan Iwanoff: Bulgarian entrepreneur and investor, founder and CEO of the sovereign wealth fund Iwanoff Capital
• Anna Iwanoff: Australian contemporary visual artist and painter whose works explore gender, materialism and identity
• Stephen Iwanoff: Australian poet and author of several books, including 2014’s ‘The City and Its Ghosts’
• Sarah Iwanoff: Australian fashion designer based in Sydney, who is known for her use of classic silhouette with modern tailoring techniques
• Dmitri Iwanoff: Russian-born chess grandmaster who competed in several international chess tournaments
• Peter Iwanoff: Australian businessman and philanthropist, founder and former CEO of Australia’s largest car rental company
• Dimitri Iwanoff: French cinematographer and photographer, credited for the films ‘The Color of Cold’, ‘Eileen’ and ‘The Sisters Brothers’.

Other surnames

IwanovIwanovaIwanowIwanowaIwanowiczIwanowskiIwanowsky