Surname Timofejeff - Meaning and Origin
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Timofejeff: What does the surname Timofejeff mean?
The last name Timofejeff is of Russian/Slavic origin. It is derived from the personal name ‘Timofey’ which combines the Greek word ‘timé’ meaning honor or respect and the Old Slavic word ‘fej',' faith, honor, and respect'. In this instance, the reference name would mean ‘respected faith.’
The origin of the name suggests it to have belonged to individuals of loyal and honorable character, admired by their peers and respected in their traditions. It is very likely that a common ancestor of this surname was very influential in his time and thus was bestowed the epithet.
The last name Timofejeff has been adopted by many different people throughout the centuries, and its use is seen in many Slavic countries like Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and also further afield in places like Sweden, Poland, and Germany.
Today, adolescents and young adults who carry this name are proud of their historical heritage and that the name still carries its traditional connotations of loyal respect and honor. This bind to heritage still remains strong for modern-day Timofejeff families, and is likely to continue in the years to come as the bloodline continues to endure over time.
Order DNA origin analysisTimofejeff: Where does the name Timofejeff come from?
The origin of the last name Timofejeff dates back to the era of Russian Tsars, around the 18th Century. Its original spelling was Timofeev, though the name now has various spellings and appears in many places around the world.
In Russia today, the last name Timofejeff is still commonly seen. Timofeev is also occasionally used as a first name in the country, making the last name even more prevalent.
Timofeeff, as it is spelled in some countries, is also quite common in Russian-speaking countries of the former Soviet Union, such as Estonia and Ukraine. In Estonia, the Timofejeffs are often descendants of those who were granted nobles titles in the late 1700s, while in Ukraine, they are usually descended from peasants who were given the surname during the 19th century.
The last name is also relatively widespread in the United States, especially in places with large Ukrainian-American and Russian-American immigrant populations. Most likely, many of the last name bearers in the US descended from European immigrants who brought the name with them when they immigrated in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Although the spelling of the last name might have changed over the years, the idea that a family could give its children a noble name is still celebrated and captures the spirit of the original immigrants who bore the name. Today, the name of Timofejeff has come to represent a sense of pride, tradition, and success to many who still bear the name.
Variations of the surname Timofejeff
Timofejeff is a family name of Russian origin that is derived from the given name Timofey. It can also be seen spelled as Timofejew, Timofeyev, Timofeev, Timofeyenko, and Timofeeff. While the surname Timofejeff is most common in Russia, its variants can be found in many countries around the world. It is common among ethnic Russians and Eastern Slavic countries such as Ukraine and Belarus.
The earliest known recording of a variant of the name is recorded as Тимофий Щербратович in the mid-16th century in a court document in Novgorod. The earliest of variants have been recorded with slight variations in spelling through several centuries. Most commonly, the variants used either a patronymic -ev, -off or -enko, with -jeff being the most recent variant recorded.
The surname Timofejeff is of patronymic origin, meaning that it is created from the first name of a father or other senior male ancestor. For example, the Timofeyev surname would be derived from the given name Timofey and the suffix -ev. Patronymic surnames were commonly found throughout Russia during medieval times and continue to be used in modern times.
Timofejeff is a common name in many variants in Russia. The variants of the name are seen primarily among those of Eastern Slavic descent, though the surname is found sparingly in other countries. Variants of the name are rare but can be found in court documents, military rosters, immigration records, and other historical records. Those with the Timofejeff surname should be able to trace their roots back to Russia and the Eastern Slavic countries, though some may have migrated from those countries to other countries.
Famous people with the name Timofejeff
- Natalya Timofeeva: Natalya Timofeeva is a Russian-born swimmer and Olympic athlete. She represented her native country in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Aleksei Timofejeff: Aleksei Timofejeff is a Russian actor who is best known for his roles in such films as Anna Karenina (1993) and Missing in Action (2000).
- Arto Timofejeff: Arto Timofejeff is a Finnish musician and traditional folk singer. He is a master of traditional folk singing in both the Finnish and Swedish languages.
- Janne Timofejeff: Janne Timofejeff is a Finnish guitarist and composer. He is best known for his work with the metal band Amorphis.
- Anna Timofejeff: Anna Timofejeff is a Swedish actress, best known for her roles in such films as Dalecarlians (1980) and Fanny and Alexander (1981).
- Egor Timofejeff: Egor Timofejeff is a Russian-born actor best known for his roles in such films as True Friends (1998) and Don't Open Your Eyes (2006).
- Alexei Timofejeff: Alexei Timofejeff is a Russian-born painter known for his abstract expressionist and neo-expressionist works.
- Vera Timofejeff: Vera Timofejeff is a Russian-born singer and pianist. She was a member of the Soviet Union's National Symphony Orchestra from 1941- 1945.
- Daniil Timofeejev: Daniil Timofeejev is a Russian-born architect and artist, best known for his work in the fields of cybernetics, robotics, and digital manufacturing. 10. Svetlana Timofejeff: Svetlana Timofejeff is a Russian-born cellist and classical musician. She is the current principal cellist of the Russian National Philharmonic.