Surname Orloff - Meaning and Origin
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Orloff: What does the surname Orloff mean?
The surname Orloff is of Russian and Ukrainian origin, and it likely has two different historical sources. The first source is a nickname derived from the Old East Slavic word "orlo," which refers to a type of curved metal head ornament similar to a crown or halo. The second source of the name could be from the given name of Orlov, which was a personal name derived from the word for eagle ("orlin").
The given name was likely popular for generations in Eastern Europe because of the bravery, strength, and courage associated with eagles. The ancient Russian and Ukrainian tribes used the eagle as a powerful symbol of power and good fortune. It was often presented to noble families as a sign of respect and loyalty.
The surname Orloff is closely associated with Russian aristocracy and is most common among those of noble ancestry. In early times, the name likely played an important role in distinguishing one family from another and it is still seen commonly in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union as an indicator of noble heritage.
The surname Orloff is rare in other parts of the world today, however, it has popped up in places such as the United States, France, and the UK, particularly among Russian immigrants. It has come to represent a noble and honorable lineage, indicative of strength, courage, and loyalty.
Order DNA origin analysisOrloff: Where does the name Orloff come from?
The last name Orloff is a very common name throughout much of Europe and the Former Soviet Union. It is particularly common in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia, as well as other eastern European countries. It is also a very common Jewish surname.
In Russia, the name has been around since the 14th century. It is thought to be a derivative of the given name "Orel" or "Egor", and is derived from the old Slavic word "orl", which means "eagle". It is believed that the spreading of this last name began when immigrants migrated from Germany (where many Jews lived) to Russia.
It is also very common in America. According to Ancestry.com, Orloff is the 3,536th most common surname in the United States. It is most commonly found in California, New York, Florida, and New Jersey. It is also somewhat common in Canada and Israel.
Overall, the last name Orloff is a very common name in eastern Europe, especially among Jewish communities. It has also spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Israel.
Variations of the surname Orloff
The surname Orloff is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe and is linked to the Rusyn ethnic group. The most common variant of the name is Orlov, and it also appears as Orlow, Orlowsky, Orlovskiy, and Orlovka.
The spelling of the name Orloff is also found as Orlof, Orlouf, Orlofff, Orlaev, Orlovov, Orlovčević, Orlović, Orloffkin, Orluff, Orlauf, and Orlovits. These altered spellings can be found in various countries such as Russia, Estonia, Croatia, Poland, and Ukraine.
The surname Orloff has additional, interesting variants outside of Eastern Europe, including Orloffi in Italy, and Orlóffy in Hungary. The spelling of the name might also be found as Urlow. This changed spelling is likely due to transliteration errors from the Cyrillic alphabet.
Historically, the surname Orloff is associated with princely and noble families, such as the House of Orlov. Many of these noble Russian families tended to have a large amount of names for themselves, primarily in the form of patronyms.
In summary, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Orloff are Orlov, Orlow, Orlowsky, Orlovskiy, Orlovka, Orlof, Orlouf, Orlofff, Orlaev, Orlovov, Orlovčević, Orlović, Orloffkin, Orluff, Orlauf, Orlovits, Orloffi, Orlóffy, and Urlow.
Famous people with the name Orloff
- David Orloff: Russian/American actor best known for his roles in the television shows, Power Rangers Super Samurai, Monsters vs. Aliens, and also Boy Meets World.
- Karen Orloff: American author and journalist, best known for writing children’s books.
- Sasha Orloff: American architect and space pioneer, a leading advocate for human-machine collaborations, TEDx speaker, and an adjunct faculty at Carnegie Mellon University.
- Irina Orloff: Russian-born American film and television actress, best known for her roles in Anguish, Return of the Living Dead 3, and also The Phantom Menace.
- Alan Orloff: English-born American writer, director, and actor, best known for his work on the films Twin Town and also The Chipmunks Go to the Movies.
- John Orloff: American film and television screenwriter, best known for his work on films A Night at the Museum and Ocean's Twelve.
- Francis Orloff: French film director and actor, best known for his work on the feature films Morfondoir and Heaven Will Wait.
- Nina Orloff: Russian-born choreographer, best known for her work on the particular projects of The Equipment Show, The Boutique, and also a number of creative television and corporate training programs.
- Izabel Orloff: Russian-born American visual artist, best known for her stimulating and vibrant works which quickly garnered the attention of the galleries in the US.
- Countess Sonia Orloff: Russian-born French Countess, best known for participating in the world-renowned fashion shows and runway shows.