Surname Volkoff - Meaning and Origin
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Volkoff: What does the surname Volkoff mean?
The surname Volkoff is of Russian origin and belongs to the Slavic category of names. It is derived from the Slavic word "Volk", which means "wolf". Traditionally, names in Slavic cultures were often associated with some form of nature or animal to symbolize certain strengths or particular character traits. Thus, if a person was named Volkoff, it could have originally meant one who is like a wolf - portraying characteristics such as intelligence, cunning, courage or fierceness. It’s important to note that the meanings of surnames can vary and depend on regional influences and interpretations over time. There may also be other variations of the name as it travelled across countries, such as Volkov, Volkovski, Volkovsky, and other forms with similar roots.
Order DNA origin analysisVolkoff: Where does the name Volkoff come from?
The last name Volkoff is not especially common today, though it may still be found in various countries around the world. Generally speaking, Volkoff is a surname of Russian or East European origin.
Within the Russian Federation, Volkoff is concentrated mainly in Yakutia, Tomsk Oblast, Khabarovsk Krai, Primorsky Krai, and the islands of Sakhalin and Kurils.
Outside of Russia, people with the family name Volkoff may be found in small numbers in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, United States, Canada, and other countries in Europe and the Americas.
Overall, it is safe to say that the last name is not particularly common in any one country, but in fact has been slightly dispersed across many. Those who are interested in researching more of their cultural and ethnic heritage should be encouraged to investigate further to learn more about the possible distribution of their family name.
Variations of the surname Volkoff
The surname Volkoff is of Slavic origin, deriving from the word volk, which means "wolf". It is particularly common among people of Russian descent. There are several variants and alternate spellings of this surname, including Volkov, Volckov, Wolff, Wolffowitz, Wolfe, Wolfowitz, Wolfish and Wolffish.
The Volkoff surname may also be found in some other Orthodox countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Romania and Serbia. In some cases, the surname is spelled with a different ending, such as Volkovskis, Volkoviskis, Volkovish, Volkovis and others.
In addition to these variations in spelling, the Volkoff surname can be found with other surnames, based on various cultural influences and other factors such as migration and patrilineal descent. These surnames include Voelk, Volkov,Volckov, Volkova, Volf and Wolff.
Another variation of the Volkoff surname is the Russian surname Volkovoy, meaning "son of the wolf". Although related to the Volkoff surname, this surname is of a different origin, as the suffix -oy indicates a patronymic ancestry rather than a descriptive one. It is particularly common in Eastern Europe.
The surname Volkoff may also be found as a given name, typically as a shortened form of Volodymyr. This is common in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and other Eastern European countries.
Famous people with the name Volkoff
- Mark Volkoff: an American physicist and professor at Stanford University who researches the electrical, optical, and thermal properties of nanostructures.
- Mikhail Volkoff: a Russian professional wrestler and former Russian ambassador to the United Nations.
- Helena Volkoff: a Russian novelist, poet, and playwright.
- Oleg Volkoff: a Russian actor, best known for his work in Russian films and television series.
- Evgeniya Volkova: a Russian actress best known for her roles in Russian films and television.
- Igor Volkoff: a Russian-American physicist and professor of physics at Northwestern University.
- Andrei Volkov: a Russian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
- Alexey Volkov: a Russian actor, director, and screenwriter.
- Vladimir Volkoff: a French novelist and journalist.
- Natalya Volkova: a Russian soprano opera singer and actress best known for her roles in operas such as Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Verdi's Nabucco.