Surname Petkof - Meaning and Origin
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Petkof: What does the surname Petkof mean?
The last name Petkof is of Slavic origin and is derived from the popular nicknames Petro, Petur, and Petko. It is said to have originated in the former Yugoslavia and other Slavic countries. The actual meaning of this name is debatable, however, some sources state that it refers to a person with a "head of stone" or "rock-like strength". Others believe it could mean “one who is welcomed", with pet being a popular Slavic translation of “to welcome”. It is also thought that people with the surname Petkof may have come from a place in Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia known as Petkovac.
The last name is common among families of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Macedonia and there are many stories that accompany the name. It is said that Petkof was first used by members of a local militia, who preferred the name over others when they were defending their families from invaders during the Bosnian War in the 1990s. For this reason, the name also carries a certain amount of pride and honor in the region.
To sum up, the last name Petkof is of Slavic origin, with disputed etymologies. It has a long history in the region, especially among families of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Macedonia. It might refer to strength, to welcoming, or to Petkovac, a village in Bosnia. It carries a strong sense of pride and honor in the region due to its connection to a group of vigilant defenders during the Bosnian Wars.
Order DNA origin analysisPetkof: Where does the name Petkof come from?
The last name Petkof is most commonly found in Bulgaria, as well as other countries in the Balkans. It can also be found in smaller numbers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania. This surname is believed to have originated in the early 1700s from a Bulgarian family with the sobriquet “Petko”, which was derived from the Greek word “Petros” meaning “stone”.
The name Petkof is highly concentrated in Bulgaria, where it is ranked in the top 400 surnames. It is particularly common in the city of Plovdiv, where more than 1,000 Petkofs live. In Bulgaria, the name is often spelled Petkov (Петков). Other common spellings of the name seen in other countries around the world are Petkov, Petkoff, Petroff, Petrov, and Petrow.
The Petkof family has made significant contributions to Bulgarian culture, with many notable people bearing the name. Some notable relatives include General Nikola Petkof, who led the fight for Bulgarian independence in the 19th century, and songwriter Lazar Petkof.
Today, the Petkof family is dispersed across the globe, but a large majority still live in Bulgaria. Although the majority of the Petkofs still live in Bulgaria, there are various Petkofs that have emigrated to other countries, as well as many that live abroad as part of the diaspora.
Variations of the surname Petkof
The surname Petkof has a variety of variant spellings, surnames of similar origin, and other closely related surnames. Petkof is the main spelling of the surname, but it can also be spelled Petkoff, Petkov, and Petkovic. Other surnames of similar origin are Petkovic, Petkowicz, and Petkevic, all of which are derived from the same family name.
Related surnames include Petkofski, Petkova, Petkevich, and Petrof. Petkofski is derived from the Russian word petukh (русское петух), which means rooster. Petkova is derived from the female Russian given name Petr, and Petkevich is derived from the male given name Peter. Petrof is a slightly different spelling of Petkof, likely to aid in pronunciation.
The Petkof surname also has many other spellings and variants that are less common, such as Petkow, Petkowski, Petkau, Petko, and Petkoff. These differences in spellings may be due to how the name was spelled when it was introduced to a new region, or to how a particular region pronounced the name. For example, some English-speaking countries may have changed the spelling to Petkoff, while other countries may have taken a more phonetic approach and changed it to Petko instead. The original spelling of the surname is still uncertain, and it is difficult to trace its precise origins.
In summary, the surname Petkof has many variants, spellings, and source surnames, all of which can be traced back to the same family name. There is much variance in the spelling and pronunciation of the surname, likely due to how it was adopted in different regions.
Famous people with the name Petkof
- Ivana Petkovic: Serbian actress, comedian and TV host
- Ioanna Petkova: Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast
- Zoran Petkovic: Serbian professional basketball player
- Vasil Trajce Petkov: Bulgarian football player
- Mikhail Petkov: Soviet ice hockey player
- Marija Petkovic: Australian lawyer and author
- Dragoljub Petkovic: Serbian footballer
- Clinton Petkovic: Australian sports reporter and producer
- Andrej Petkovic: Croatian film director and producer
- Dmitry Petkov: Russian water polo player