Surname Popova - Meaning and Origin
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Popova: What does the surname Popova mean?
Popova is a patronymic surname that originates from the given name Pop, derived from the Greek name Papios. It is commonly found in Russian and Slavic countries such as Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, and Moldova.
Popov is the Russian version of the surname and is also derived from the Greek Papios, but with an added suffix -ov/-ev, which is a common trend in Russian surnames. The suffix -ov/-ev stands for "one who is related to".
The surname Popova is a feminine form of the status name, or the name given to a person from a high social class. It was most likely assigned to the wife or daughter of a priest, scholar, or member of a royal family. It could also be earned by an individual with a large amount of land, influence, and power.
Popova is now seen as a common surname across many Slavic countries and is believed to have been in existence since the middle of the 17th century. This surname is often seen as a trendy name, probably due to the name’s connection with power and fame.
Overall, the last name Popova implies a prestigious and influential status, and in the present day, it is associated with wealth and power. Popova is a patronymic name with a strong history that has been passed down through many generations of people.
Order DNA origin analysisPopova: Where does the name Popova come from?
Popova is a common surname found primarily in eastern regions of Europe. It is derived from the Slavic word “Pobeda” which means “victory.” It is a very common surname in Russia, who account for around 90% of the people bearing the Popova name. Other countries in the former Soviet Union also have a sizeable population of Popovas, with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova also having a large number of people with the last name.
Outside of that region, Popova is common in Serbia and Bulgaria, while also appearing in smaller numbers in countries such as Kazakhstan, Norway, Finland and Italy. It is even possible to find a few Popovas in the United States and Canada, whose ancestors likely arrived from the aforementioned countries in the past century.
In Russia, the Popova surname is associated with wealth and power, with prominent families having reigned in the country over the centuries. Such names are featured in articles, books and other forms of literature in Russia, where the Popova name is considered to be quite prestigious.
Overall, the surname Popova is extremely popular in the eastern region of Europe. It is also common in places further away from the region, such as Canada and the United States. However, its roots remain firmly established in the Slavic region, with families bearing the surname often claiming a noble ancestry.
Variations of the surname Popova
The surname Popova is of Slavic origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the Slavic male given name Pop meaning 'grandfather', 'priest', 'lord', or 'father'.
Variants of this surname include Popov, Popoff, Popovka, Popovets, Popovits, Popow, Popowetz, Popowicz, Popowich, Popowtiz, Popovec, and Ponomarev. Some variation in the spelling may have occurred due to the original form of the name being written in a language other than English.
The surname Popova is found mainly in Slavic countries. In Denmark, the Popov family is of Russian origin and dates back to 1831. In Ukraine, Popova is a very common surname. It is also found with greater frequency in Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Poland.
In the United States, the surname Popova is most commonly seen among people who have Russian ancestry. There are also other families of European descent and some of African, Asian, and Latin American descent.
Additionally, variants of the Popova surname may appear among individuals with other origins. For example, Ponomarev is a common surname in Russia, but with a different spelling than Popova. Popow is also a German surname that could have derived from the same root as Popova.
Overall, Popova is a very common surname, and there exist many variants of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Popova
- Olga Popova: Russian art historian, curator and professor.
- Alla Popova: Russian theater and film actress.
- Olga Viktorovna Popova: Russian sculptor and graphic artist.
- Nadezhda Popova: Russian World War II flying ace.
- Ekaterina Popova: Russian fashion model.
- Elvira Popova: Russian poet.
- Inna Popova: Russian TV presenter.
- Ksenia Popova: Russian ballet dancer.
- Vlada Popova: Russian artist, writer and political activist.
- Oksana Popova: Russian figure skater.