Surname Solowjow - Meaning and Origin

Solowjow: What does the surname Solowjow mean?

The last name Solowjow is a Russian surname, derived from the Old Russian element “Solovei”, meaning ‘nightingale’. It is typically transliterated as Solovyov or Solovev in Russian. As a surname, both Solowjow and Solovyov are usually associated with the Russian noble family of Solov'ev, who have a long and distinguished history of service to the Tsar. The original Solov'evs were traders and artisans from the Ukraine who became loyal to the Tsar during the loss of Ukrainian independence in the early 17th century.

The Solov'evs were later ennobled for their loyalty, and the Solovyov/Solowjow surname was subsequently bestowed upon members of the family. The Solovyov/Solowjow surname was then adopted by the members of other unrelated Russian noble families, who chose to honor the first family's loyalty and commitment to the Tsar. It has been suggested that the name may also have been adopted by families descended from warriors of the Greek emperor, Constantine.

The name Solowjow has been passed down through the generations in a variety of ways, and is still prevalent in Russia today. Often, when two families marry, both families maintain their own surnames, and a third ‘joined’ surname is created. The Solovyov/Solowjow surname is often used here in this way, either replacing both original surnames or becoming a hyphenated name between them.

Solowjow: Where does the name Solowjow come from?

The last name Solowjow is most commonly found in Russia and other Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia, as well as in the United States. Some speculate that the name was historically derived from the middle or lower nobility of Novgorod and may have been derived from the Russian word solov, meaning “solo” or “lonely”. This could suggest that originally the name indicated the status of a single person or a one-man enterprise.

In Russia and other Eastern European countries, the name is most often found in the regions north of Moscow on the estuary of the Volga River. The name is also found in the Russian Far East, though not in large numbers.

In the United States, the name is found in the West, Kansas, and South, Texas, particularly in the large cities. It could be argued that the high visibility of the name in the United States is due to the large amount of Eastern European immigrants, particularly Jews, who fled to the US starting in the late 19th century.

The name is noticeably absent from other countries, particularly in Western Europe. Though it is possible that some families have emigrated, it is most likely that the vast majority of First and Second generation Solowjows still reside in the East. As such, the last name is thought of as an Eastern European one and as something of a novelty in the West.

Variations of the surname Solowjow

The surname Solowjow is said to have originated in Russia, and is a relatively common surname among Russians today. Variants of the name include Soloviov, Soloviev, Solovieff, Solovieva, Solovieffa, Solovyov, Solowieff, Solovyeva, Solovjov, and Solovjeva. The Soloviev variant is also found in Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, while the Solovyov variant is found mostly in Ukraine.

The spelling variants of the Solowjow surname most commonly include the variations Sologow, Solowjow, Solovjow, Soloviov, Soloviev and Solovieff. Because different countries and cultures may have different forms of writing and spelling names, the spelling can also fluctuate to Solowjew, Solowjoff, Solovev, Soloveff, Solovyov, Solovyeva, Solovjov, Solovjeva and so on.

Surnames that are associated with the Solowjow family include Solodukhin, Solovyanenko, Solovyanchik, Solovevich, Solovjov, Solovjova, Solovyov, Solovyoff, Solovyova, and Solovjevich.

Because Solowjow is a derivative of the Russian word for “sun”, some have suggested that the name may have come from a place in old Russia which was thought to have been under the “Sun god's” protection, or from an immigrant who came from a community where the Sun god was a central part of their culture and beliefs.

Overall, the Solowjow surname is quite common throughout Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, and due to its association with the sun god, it is likely to continue to be a popular variant for generations to come.

Famous people with the name Solowjow

• Juri Solowjow: a Soviet/Russian conductor, who conducted most notably, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and also held the post of chief conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre.
• Arkady Solowjow: a Soviet/Russian physicist and mathematician, best known for his works in quantum field theory, including the theory of solitons, and his works on the Moscow Mathematical School.
• Konstantin Solowjow: a Russian-American director, producer and writer known for his works in animation, such as the Emmy-nominated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
• Paul Solowjow: a Russian aviator, known for his work as a test pilot for Russian aircraft manufacturer Ilyushin.
• Dmitry Solowjow: a Russian economist, who served as minister of economic development of the Russian Federation from 2011-2015.
• Alexander Solowjow: a Russian-American photographer, known for his award-winning documentary style photography.
• Boris Solowjow: a Russian artist, sculptor and painter, known for his abstract, expressionist sculptures and paintings.
• Andrei Solowjow: a Ukrainian footballer, who plays as a defensive midfielder for Ukrainian premiership club Dynamo Kyiv.
• Dmitry Solowjow: a Russian philosopher and literary critic, known for his works on the history of Russian literature.
• Vladislav Solowjow: a former Russian international athlete, who won a gold medal in high jump at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Other surnames

Solowjew