Surname Teslov - Meaning and Origin

Teslov: What does the surname Teslov mean?

The last name Teslov is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Teslo, itself a shortened form of the Russian male given name Teslav. Its root is the Old Slavonic word tesŭlъ which means “teacher” or “tutor”.

The use of patronymic surnames to denote family relationships is a common practice across many Slavic countries in Europe and certain parts of Asia. This type of surname is typically formed by taking the first name of one’s father and adding a suffix such as -ich, -ev, -ov, or -in to denote that parental relationship. Variations in the spelling of the surname, Teslov, can appear.

Becoming a teacher was once an esteemed occupation within Russian culture, and it is thought that those bearing the surname Teslov were likely descended from an ancestor or ancestors who was/were a teacher or tutor at some point in his family’s history.

The surname Teslov is a rare name, but with the growth of the internet, it can be found throughout the world. The name has spread, possibly, with the diaspora of Russian immigrants. It is now found in much of North America, parts of Europe, and the Middle East.

Despite the spread of the name, the original meaning of Teslov remains the same; descendents of those who bear the surname Teslov feel proud to be linked to their old teacher ancestors, carrying on the knowledge and wisdom of their forefathers.

Teslov: Where does the name Teslov come from?

The last name Teslov is generally found to be most common in Estonia and Russia today. Teslov is a patronymic name, derived from the given name Teslo, and is a variation of the surname Tesloff.

In Estonia, it is found in every part of the country, displaying a particular concentration in the south-eastern county of Valgamaa. There are more than a hundred who bear the surname living in Estonia today.

In Russia, Teslov is more broadly spread throughout Finland, where it is ranked as the 77th most common surname. It is most densely populated in the Republic of Tatarstan, the articulate region in the central area of Russia. There are almost 500 people bearing this surname in Russia today.

A handful of Teslov surname-bearers have been found elsewhere across Europe, particularly in Germany and Scandinavian regions. It is also present in the United States of America, with individuals bearing the surname being of Russian and Estonian heritage. A single 'Teslov' was documented in America's 2019 census.

Teslov is an uncommon surname, but the name can still be found in Estonia, Russia, Finland, and parts of Europe, as well as in the United States.

Variations of the surname Teslov

The Teslov surname is of Slavic origin and is associated with the following variants, spellings and surnames:

Tesslow, Teschloff, Tessloff, Tessler, Tersloff, Tesslau, Taesslow, Teische, Tesche, Teschel, Teschlau.

The name Teslov originated in Eastern Europe and is thought to derive from the German word “teich” meaning pond or water feature, which could be an indication of the family living near such a location. Alternatively, it may be derived from “teslom” which was Eastern European for “hammer”. This second interpretation could hint at a blacksmith or artisan profession in the family’s past.

The Teslov coat of arms features a gold shield with two silver wolves, each with a red paw, and a silver cross between them. This may hint at a past affiliation with a religious order.

The Teslov surname can be found throughout Europe, and has numerous spellings and variants found in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Ukraine. For example, Tessler is a variant found in Germany and Tersloff is a frequent spelling in Slovakia.

Over time, the Teslov name was adapted as families moved to different countries. For instance, Teschloff is a common variant spelling in the Czech Republic, as are Tesch and Tesslau. In Hungary the surnames found include Taesslow and Teische.

In conclusion, the Teslovname is associated with a variety of spelling variants throughout Europe, hinting at the family’s journey as they moved and adapted to different countries.

Famous people with the name Teslov

• Sergei Witte: A Russian Financier and statesman best known for his reforms in the early years of the Russian Empire, his appointment as Minister of Finance in 1892 under Tsar Alexander III, and the formation of the Russian stable currency, the Ruble.
• Ivor Teslov: A musician and interpreter who was a member of the Metropole Orchestra, one of the most celebrated jazz bands in the UK.
• Vadim Teslov: Russian volleyball player, who merited the silver medal in the European Champions League 2012/2013.
• Boris Teslov: An actor and filmmaker best known for his breakthrough role as Ivan in the 2012 Russian film, Strelkovoy Rytsar.
• Alexander Teslov: A famous Russian artist, author and performer, best known for his own grapes and cameo appearances in the popular Russian comedy sitcom, Vatnaya malchik.
• Vladimir Teslov: A leading Soviet figure in psychology and psychoanalysis, who is acknowledged as the first to introduce the concepts of psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy into the Soviet Union.
• Semyon Teslov: A famous Russian composer, musician and arranger, best known for his contribution to the soundtrack of the popular Russian comedy series, Kvartet.
• Vladimir Teslov: A sculptor and master jeweller, best known for his works of jewellery in the form of realistic animal sculptures.
• Georg Pavlovich Teslov: A prominent physicist with a specialization in thermoelectricity, best known for his ground-breaking work in thermoelectric studies of semiconductors.
• Alexander Teslov: A renowned Russian artist, historian, author and curator, best known for his works on iconography and cultural history of the Middle East.

Other surnames

Teslof