Surname Sova - Meaning and Origin
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Sova: What does the surname Sova mean?
Sova is a common surname of Slavic origin. It is derived from the Slavic word for "eagle," which was used as a symbol of strength and courage. The eagle was also used as a heraldic symbol by many of the nations of Eastern Europe, including the Slovaks, Slovinians, Czechs, Poles, Ukrainians, Belarussians, and Russians. The exact meaning of the name depends on which language the surname originates from. For example, in Czech, it is translated to "eagle," whereas in Polish meaning “increase.”
The name is most common in countries where Slavic languages are spoken, from Russia to Slovakia. It is also sometimes hyphenated as "So-va," "So-vá," or "So-váč."
Today, the name can be found across a range of different professions and cultures. It is most commonly associated with people in the arts, sports, entertainment, and politics. A few prominent people that share the surname include Czech writer Josef Šolva; former Slovak Prime Minister Ján Šolva; Slovakian footballer Mário Sova; Russian footballer Dmitriy Sova; Czech film director Jan Šováček; Polish politician Jan Socha; and Russian writer and journalist Aleksandra Solovaya.
In sum, the name Sova refers to someone of Slavic descent and signifies strength, courage, and potential. It is a common surname amongst Eastern European countries, and has become popular in many other countries today.
Order DNA origin analysisSova: Where does the name Sova come from?
The last name Sova is most commonly found in the Czech Republic. Today, it ranks as the 312th most popular surname in the country. It is believed to have originated in Bohemia, a region which is now part of the Czech Republic. The name Sova is thought to be derived from the Czech word ‘sova’, meaning ‘owl’. People who had the last name ‘Sova’ could have taken on the name to represent a connection with this bird of prey.
The origins of the Sova name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, but the name has since spread beyond the Czech Republic. It is also found in Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. In Poland, the Sova name is more commonly spelled as ‘Sowa’. The Sowa spelling can also be found in Germany, France, England, and even the United States.
Overall, the last name Sova is strongly associated with the Czech Republic, and is a relatively popular name in the region. It is likely to remain a common surname there for many more generations to come.
Variations of the surname Sova
The surname Sova is a patronymic Slavic surname, derived from the given name "Sova" and has been found in records from Russia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Variants and spellings of the surname Sova include Sowa, Sowaĭ, Sove, Sov, Sob, Soven, Sobin, Sobej, Sobol, Sobolev, Sobulesky, Sobal, Sosedkin, Sosedikin, Soshkin, and Soviak. All of these variants trace back to the given name Sova.
The given name Sova is a Slavic name derived from sova, the word for owl, symbolizing wisdom, luck, and foresight. This name has also been used traditionally in places across Central and Eastern Europe, in particular in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia. Common nicknames for the given name Sova are Sovka, Sovicka, Vicka, and Vicya.
Patronymic surnames, such as Sova, developed when a son took the name of his father and added "vic" or "vich," meaning son of. For example, the son of a man named Sova would take the surname Soovich. Variations of Sobovich include Sobachewsky, Sobachenko, Sobakovsky, Sobalsky, Soban, Sobchuk, Sobenko, and Sobelevsky.
In Germany and Poland, the surname Sowinski or Zowinski is also derived from the given name Sova and is of Slavic origin. Zowinski is derived from the Polish "zow" and the Russian "ov", combined to mean the son of Sova.
In Ukraine, the surname Sova is a variation of the given name Soven and could also be spelled Sowa, Sobot, Sovenko, Sobenko, Sovnenko, Sobotenko, Sovenyuk, and Soveniuk. In Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus the surname Sova is also common and can be traced back to the same origin as the given name Sova. Variations of the name in these regions include Sobelewski, Sobieski, Sobycenko, Sobolewski, Soboliwski, Sobolanowski, Sovenskaya, and Sovenshchikov.
In modern times, many of the original variants and spellings of the surname Sova have been simplified into the modern spelling of Sova. All of these variations and spellings, however, trace back to the Slavic root of the name and share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Sova
- Tomáš Sova: a Czech middle-distance runner.
- Pavel Sova: a Czech football midfielder.
- Jana Hájková Sová: the Minister of Tourism for the Czech Republic.
- Julius Sova: a Slovak footballer.
- Bohumír Sova: a Slovak politician.
- Richard Sova: an English rock musician and singer.
- István Sová: a Slovak modern pentathlete.
- Jana Svobodová Sová: a former Czechoslovakian cross-country skier.
- Ivan Sova: a Slovak high jumper.
- Drahoslav Sova: a Czech former football player.
- David Sova: a Czech sculptor and artist.
- Radovan Sova: a Czech ice hockey player.
- Eva Sová: a Czech politician.
- Boris Sova: a Bulgarian boxer.
- Michelle Sova: an American figure skater.