Surname Volkov - Meaning and Origin

Volkov: What does the surname Volkov mean?

Volkov is a Russian surname derived from the word "volk," which translates to "wolf" in English. The suffix "-ov" is a common ending for Russian surnames, comparable to the "-son" or "-sen" in English or Scandinavian surnames, indicating a patronymic or ancestry. Therefore, the last name Volkov can be interpreted to mean "son of a wolf" or "descendant of a wolf." This surname might hint towards a characteristic associated with wolves, like strength, courage, or ability to survive in tough situations. Just like many other surnames which derive from animals, it could have originally referred to individuals who shared traits with a wolf, or potentially, it may have denoted that the individual was a "wolf hunter" or lived in a location where there were many wolves. Volkov is a relatively common surname in Russia and can also be found among Russian-speaking communities worldwide. Please note that like any surname, its specific meaning can vary based on cultural, historical, and personal interpretations.

Volkov: Where does the name Volkov come from?

The last name Volkov is common among the Slavic cultures of Eastern Europe. It is most commonly found in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. In Russia, Volkov is the 15th most common last name and is derived from the Russian word for “wolf.” In Belarus, it is the 30th most common name, while in Ukraine, it is the 22nd.

In Russia, Volkovs can be found in almost every region of the country. In Moscow, Volkov is the 5th most common last name, while it is the 3rd most common in St. Petersburg. In other central Russian cities such as Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don, it is also among the top 15 last names.

Volkov is also found in smaller numbers in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet states. In total, it is estimated that there are between 600,000 and 900,000 individuals in the world with the last name Volkov.

Volkov is also found in Israel, where a large number of Jews immigrated from Eastern Europe in the early and mid-twentieth century. In Israel, Volkov is a much more common last name than in other countries, with thousands of individuals bearing the last name.

Variations of the surname Volkov

Volkov is a common surname of Slavic origin meaning ‘wolf’, and is found in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other Slavic countries. It is also used in parts of central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bulgaria. Some of the variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Volkov include:

Völk, Volkk, Völker, Folk, Volks, Vollk, Voelk, Völkel, Volkel, Volkert, Vollert, Volkmann, Folco, Folke, Folkes, Falka, Folke, Folken, Volken, Falke, Volken, Folkins, Volksen, Walke, Wolves, Woolf, Woolfe, Wolf, Wolfe, Wolff, Wolph, Wools, and Woelff.

The spelling of the 'Volkov' surname is sometimes changed depending on the language or dialect. For example, ‘Völker’ is a German variation; ‘Volks’ is a Dutch variation and ‘Falka’ is a Polish variation. Most of these variants are derived from the same origin, however, there may be subtle differences in pronunciation and meaning. For example, ‘folks’, ‘woolf’ and ‘woelff’ have similar, but distinct meanings.

Overall, the variants of the surname Volkov are many, ranging from slight variations in spelling to very different surnames of the same origin. It is important to keep in mind, however, that it is not always easy to determine the exact origin of a surname from its spelling alone. As such, it is always a good idea to research the origin of one's own surname, if possible, to gain a better understanding of one's family history.

Famous people with the name Volkov

• Aleksandr Volkov, a retired Soviet ice hockey player
• Anastasiya Volkova, a Russian Instagram star
• Alexey Volkov, a Soviet film and television actor
• Andriy Volkov, a Ukrainian footballer
• Andrey Volkov, a Russian footballer
• Artem Volkov, a Russian political activist
• Denis Volkov, a Russian singer
• Dmitry Volkov, a Russian actor and director
• Gregory Volkov, a Ukrainian political figure
• Igor Volkov, a Soviet and Russian actor
• Ilya Volkov, a Russian footballer
• Kseniya Volkova, a Russian artistic gymnast
• Maria Volkova, a Russian historian
• Natalya Volkova, a Soviet long-distance runner
• Nikolay Volkov, a Soviet actor
• Pavel Volkov, a Russian figure skater
• Sergey Volkov, a Russian cosmonaut
• Yekaterina Volkova, a Russian figure skater
• Yevgeniy Volkov, a Soviet and Russian film actor

Other surnames

Volkoff