Surname Iwanov - Meaning and Origin
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Iwanov: What does the surname Iwanov mean?
The patronymic surname Iwanov (Иванов) is derived from the given name Ivan (Иван). It means “son of Ivan” and is the most common last name in Russia and Ukraine.
The oldest origins of the name Iwanov are steeped in myth and legend. In Slavonic folklore, the name first appears in the form of the semi-mythical hero “Iwan Krasniy” or “Beautiful Ivan”. He is described as having courage and being strong and brave. He also shown to have something of a moral code. This moral code would go on to become the morality which is associated with the name Iwanov today.
There are also various other stories which would become associated with the Iwanov name. One particular story which was cherished was that of Hero Ivan-father of Morning, who was regarded as the fore bearer of those with the Iwanov name. This was held in high esteem by Slavic communities who believed that Hero Ivan-father of Morning had earned for them the reputation of being hardworking and honourable people.
Today, those with the last name Iwanov are seen as reliable, independent and strong willed people who are determined to reach their goals. Regardless of the family’s noble origins, Iwanov’s are often seen as friendly, reliable and good-natured people although they can have a quick temper when provoked.
Order DNA origin analysisIwanov: Where does the name Iwanov come from?
The last name Iwanov is most commonly found in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union. It is a patronymic derived from the given name Ivan, which is the Russian version of John. The name is widely found in Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Central Asia, as well as large areas of Eastern Europe such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Bulgaria.
In Russia, the name is especially common since it was popular during the Soviet times, when a large number of people were given the name Ivan. Iwanov is also fairly popular in Northern and Western Europe, particularly in Germany and Finland, due to the influx of Russian immigrants into those countries. Additionally, Iwanov has been adopted as a surname in countries such as the United Kingdom, Israel, and the United States, where it is likely to be found among the large Russian-speaking communities in these countries.
The name Iwanov may also be found in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, and Latin American countries, as many Russian Jews emigrated to these countries during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Additionally, the vast Russian diaspora which took place due to the fall of the Soviet Union also helped spread the name beyond its original borders.
Variations of the surname Iwanov
Ivanov (Иванов), Iwano (Ивано) and Ivanović (Ивановић), are the most common variants and spellings of the surname Iwanov (Иванов). Additionally, the surnames Ivanovi (Иванови), Iwanowicz (Иванович) and Ivanovych (Іванович) are also variants or spellings of the same origin.
Ivanov is the most common variant of the Iwanov name and is used in countries in Eastern Europe which include Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Serbia. It is believed to have originated from the masculine given name Ivan (Иван), although some families use the feminine form Yana (Яна) as an origin. The surname may also signify the name of a father (otêc) ‘Ivan’.
The Ukrainian Ivanovych is derived from the same given name Ivan or Yevan (Єван), as is the Belarusian Iwanowicz and the Croatian Ivanović. The Ivanovi surname is derived from the given name Ivan or Yevan (Иван) and the suffix -ovi which is added to the name to signify ‘son of’.
Finally, the alternate Polish form Iwano is most likely derived from the given name Iwan and may or may not be derived from the original Russian or Ukrainian variants.
In total, there are seven variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for Iwanov: Ivanov (Иванов), Ivanovi (Иванови), Iwanowicz (Иванович), Ivanovych (Іванович), Ivanović (Ивановић), Iwano (Ивано) and Iwanov (Иванов).
Famous people with the name Iwanov
- Alexander Iwanov: Russian ice hockey player who has played for HC Sibir Novosibirsk, HC Severstal Cherepovets, and KHL Medvescak Zagreb.
- Grigori Iwanov: Russian actor and singer who is known for films and television such as the comedy Once Upon a Time in Odessa and the six-segment television drama series, The Desperate Road.
- Ivan Iwanov: former Soviet Olympic champion gymnast who is the only athlete to have won an Olympic all-around title twice.
- Alexander Markovic Yvanov: Russian entrepreneur and owner of the Russian football club Shinnik Yaroslavl since 2005.
- Dmitriy Iwanov: lieutenant general in the Russian Army and commander of the Southern Military District.
- Alexander Iwanov: Russian volleyball player who is the current captain of staff of the Russian volleyball club Zenit Kazan.
- Alexander Fyodorovich Iwanov: Soviet Army lieutenant general who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for his heroism during World War II.
- Prokopy Iwanov: Russian air force colonel who helped to organise the first World War II air attack on the German city of Augsburg
- Oleg Iwanov: Russian composer and poet who is a member of the Russian Union of Composers and winner of the Grand Prix of the St. Petersburg Festival of Contemporary Music.
- Sergey Iwanov: Russian footballer who plays for FC Tambov in the Russian Premier League as a defender.