Surname Dimitrieff - Meaning and Origin
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Dimitrieff: What does the surname Dimitrieff mean?
The last name Dimitrieff is a patronymic surname of Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, and other Slavic origins. It is derived from the given name Dimitar, which is a form of the Greek name Demetrius, and expresses the meaning of "son of Dimitar" or "follower of Demetrius". In some Slavic languages the name is also commonly found in its short form of Dimitrov or Mitrov. It is most often associated with Bulgarians and Macedonians but is also commonly found among Slavic populations in Romania as well as other parts of Europe, especially in former countries of Yugoslavia, such as Serbia.
The surname is often seen in an Anglicized form of Dimitry, Dmitriyev, Dmitriev, Dmitrity, Dimitiss, Dimitrieff, and Dimitt. Dimitriev is the more common form in Russia, and Dimitriyev is the patriarchal form.
The Dimitrieff surname is a sign of a long-standing Slavic tradition, having remained unchanged for centuries. As a result, the name is still associated with the Christian meaning of Demetrius, which is derived from the Greek "Demeter", which means “of the Earth". It is often interpreted to describe someone who is deeply connected to the land and the earth itself. As such, it is today a quite popular surname among those of Eastern European descent.
Order DNA origin analysisDimitrieff: Where does the name Dimitrieff come from?
The last name Dimitrieff is most commonly found today in countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union. This includes Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. It is also found in ethnic Bulgarian communities living in other countries, particularly in Turkey.
Dimitrieff is a patronymic surname, derived from the male given name Dimitar (or ‘Dimitri’ in Russian). Dimitar is derived from the ancient Greek name Demetrius, meaning ‘follower of Demeter’. Dimitar was introduced to the Slavs by the Eastern Orthodox faith, in which it was quite popular.
Dimitrieff is a rather uncommon surname, however not exactly rare. Names such as Dimitrieff, Dimitriev, Dmitriyev, and Dmitrievich are all related, usually connected by their ancestry from the same place and/or family.
The surname is often associated with the old Slavic tradition of tracing heritage through the paternal line. Dimitrieff was also used as a title of nobility among the nobility of the old Slavic and Russian empires. Thus, Dimitrieff is a surname often passed down through generations of the same family.
It is worth noting that the spelling of surnames like Dimitrieff can be influenced by the country in which the person lives, as the Cyrillic alphabet is used to transliterate the name in many Slavic countries, while the more Latin alphabet is used in countries like Turkey. As a result, spellings may vary slightly.
Variations of the surname Dimitrieff
The Dimitrieff surname is derived from the Greek words ‘dimitros’ and ‘theos’ meaning ‘devoted to God’. It is an old Greek name believed to have originated in the Medieval period. Variants of the surname generally include alternate spellings such as Dimitriev, Dimitrov, Dimitrieve, Dimitroff, and Dimitriou. Additional surnames of the same origin include the Greek last name Dimitriadi, the Bulgarian Dimitrova and the Macedonian Dimitrovski.
Dimitriadi is a form of the surname used in mainland Greece, while Dimitrova is used mainly in Bulgaria. It is mostly been documented as a Bulgarian name, though other Balkan countries like Hungary and Romania may occasionally use this spelling as well. Dimitrovski is a variant of the surname used mainly in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, though also in areas where the Greek language has been historically spoken.
The surnames Dimitriev, Dimitrov, Dimitrieve, and Dimitroff are all interchangeable and used in different parts of the world from Bulgaria to Ukraine. Dimitriev is the most widely used spelling of the Dimitrieff name, with the Dimitrov surname being the second most common. The Dimitrieve surname is used mainly in Bulgaria, while Dimitroff is reserved for those with Balkan and Eastern European ancestry. Meanwhile, Dimitriou is the oldest, most traditional Greek version of the surname.
The Dimitrieff surname can thus be seen to denote many different versions derived from countries where Greek language has been historically present. The use of suffixes like -ov, -eva, -evich, -evas, -evski, have all been derived from the Greek language, adding a cultural colour to the name and making it a proud part of heritage.
Famous people with the name Dimitrieff
- Alex Dimitrieff: Alex is a retired Austrian football goalkeeper who played for a number of clubs throughout his career, including Rapid Vienna and Galatasaray.
- Dimitrieff Yankov: Dimitrieff is a Bulgarian boxer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Aleksandr Dimitrieff: Aleksandr is a Russian swimmer who won gold at the 2004 European Championships.
- Roy Dimitrieff: Roy is a Canadian ice hockey player who has played for teams in the Western Hockey League and in Europe.
- Stanislav Dimitrieff: Stanislav is a Bulgarian sprint canoeist who has represented Bulgaria at the Summer Olympics.
- Dimitrieff Vranceanu: Dimitrieff is a Romanian rower who won gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Nikolay Dimitrieff: Nikolay is a Bulgarian weightlifter who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.
- Danielle Dimitrieff: Danielle is an American actress known for appearing in films such as ‘The Pirate Movie’ and ‘Gigli’.
- Pantelis Dimitrieff: Pantelis is a former Greek football player who earned 32 caps for his country.
- Sophie Dimitrieff: Sophie is an Australian actress who has appeared in the television series ‘Neighbours’.