Surname Sokolov - Meaning and Origin
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Sokolov: What does the surname Sokolov mean?
The last name Sokolov is a Russian surname derived from the word “sokol,” which means “falcon” in the language. The name is thought to have originated from the nickname of aristocrats who rode or owned falcons for the purposes of hunting or training, similar to the English surnames of Falconer or Falconet.
The Sokolov family is believed to have originated in the Russian province of Novgorod and was part of the Russian nobility at one point in time. The name was also popular among the Jewish communities of Russia.
Today, there are many famous people with the last name Sokolov, including the Russian author Sergei Sokolov, the astronaut Ivan Sokolov, the Soviet marshals Semyon Sokolov and Matvei Sokolov, and the war reporter Anna Politkovskaya.
The name Sokolov is now a popular option for many families of Russian and Slavic descent. It conveys a sense of strength and power, and the namesake falcon is also a symbol of nobility, intelligence, courage, and determination.
Order DNA origin analysisSokolov: Where does the name Sokolov come from?
The surname Sokolov is most commonly found in Russia as an East Slavic derivation of 'falcon', although historically the surname has been found in other parts of Europe. Within Russia, it is particularly common in the regions of Central and Eastern Russia. It is also common in many Slavic countries, such as Ukraine, Belarus, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, as well as Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia. In addition, this surname is also found in the United States, Canada, and many other countries with a large number of immigrants from Eastern Europe.
In the United States, the surname Sokolov is most commonly found in New York, with other states like California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Florida recording significant concentrations. Within New York, Sokolov is especially popular in the metropolitan areas of White Plains, Queens, and Brooklyn. In Canada, Sokolov is mostly concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Sokolov is a relatively rare surname in UK with fewer than 4,000 individuals sharing this name. However, it is fairly common among British Jews, many of whom immigrated to the country from Eastern Europe. The surname is also found in Australia, which has a large population of British Jewish immigrants. In addition, Sokolov can be found in smaller numbers in many other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Sokolov
The surname Sokolov originates from the Russian word for “falcon” (sokol). Variants of the surname are Sokoloff, Sokolovsky, and Sokolovskyi. Spellings reflecting different dialects of Russian include Соколов, Sokolow, Zokolow, and Zokoloff. The surname also appears in other Slavic languages such as Ukrainian and Polish, where it may be written as Sokolow, Sokola, and Sokolowicz.
In addition, several other surnames have a similar meaning and form. One such example is Sokoloff, which is a derivative of the original Russian word. A similar sounding surname is Sakaev (or Sakayev), which is derived from the Russian word for “hawk” (sokay). Another variant, which also originated in Russia, is Sokolovski, which can also be found in Russian-speaking countries and other Slavic countries.
In the United States, various spellings of the surname Sokolov have been used more commonly than in Russia. These include Shenkman, Shinkman, Schoenkman, and Schonkman. There is also speculation that these spellings are connected to a different surname, Shenkman, which is derived from an old Jewish word meaning “God's cup”. Thus, those bearing the surname Sokolov may have adopted different spellings in order to mask their Jewish background in order to avoid religious persecution.
In conclusion, the surname Sokolov is commonly found in Russian-speaking countries and other Slavic places, with numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of similar meaning and form. Despite the possible masking of origins, the surname continues to have a strong presence in various parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Sokolov
- Alexander Sokolov: an internationally renowned Russian violinist
- Elena Sokolova: a distinguished Russian prima ballerina
- Zoya Sokolova: a Russian opera singer, actress, and radio host
- Hubert Sokolov: a German actor and comedian
- Evgeny Sokolov: a prominent Russian concert pianist
- Boris Sokolov: a Soviet and Russian historian
- Lev Sokolov: a Soviet weightlifter and Olympic champion
- Oleg Sokolov: a Russian military historian
- Arkady Sokolov: a Russian philosopher
- Artem Sokolov: a Russian ice hockey player
- Dmitriy Sokolov: a Russian footballer
- Yuri Sokolov: a Soviet-Russian sculptor
- Oksana Sokolova: an award-winning Russian violinist
- Aleksandr Sokolov: a Russian economist
- Maksim Sokolov: a Russian politician
- Ivan Sokolov: a Russian-Dutch chess grandmaster
- Alexander Sokolov Jr.: a Russian concert violinist
- Vladimir Sokolov: a Russian film director
- David Sokolov: a Jewish American composer
- Sergei Sokolov: a Russian actor and filmmaker