Surname Prokopev - Meaning and Origin
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Prokopev: What does the surname Prokopev mean?
The last name Prokopev is of Russian origin. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Prokop, which in turn was derived from the Greek name Prokopios. The name Prokopios itself is a combination of the Greek words “pros” (forwards) and “kopos” (strike or cut). Thus, the surname Prokopev literally translates to "forward-striker" or "one who strikes forward."
The given name Prokopios has an interesting and ancient origin in the traditional lore of ancient Greeks. According to the story, Prokopios was a soldier who fought for the goddess Isis, the goddess of motherhood and helper of the lost. In combat, Prokopios’ sword struck a boulder, causing it to split down the middle. After this act, he was honored by the goddess and granted the name Prokopios, or “he who strikes forward.”
Although the meaning of the surname Prokopev is rooted in the ancient past, its modern usage likely stems from the Slavic elements that underlie the associated given name. Today, it is a common name in many Slavic countries, such as Russia, where it is still seen as a strong and courageous surname. It is a name that is perfect for families that are proud of their rich heritage and wish to honor the accomplishments of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisProkopev: Where does the name Prokopev come from?
The last name Prokopev is most common in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union. The name Prokopev or Prokopyev is a patronymic derived from the given name Prokopiy or Prokopii, which is the Russian form of the Greek name Procopius. The name is believed to derive from the Greek Kōnops (which means gnat) and the Slavic ї pro (which means looking ahead).
The last name Prokopev is mostly found in central and eastern Europe, from Belarus eastwards to Ukraine and Russia. According to the 2010 census, it is the 832nd most common surname in Russia and the 337th most common in Ukraine. It would appear to be particularly popular in the regions of the former Soviet Union, such as Siberia, where there is an especially high concentration of Prokopev and variants of the name.
It is especially popular in the Russian-speaking cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, although there are also a fair number of Prokopevs in western European countries like Germany, France, England and Spain. According to the Spanish source Etimoloxia, this name is most commonly found in Madrid.
In the United States, the surname Prokopev is quite rare, although it does appear occasionally. According to the US Census Bureau, there were only 34 people with this last name in the US as of the year 2000. Most of these people are immigrants from Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, and likely have ancestors who bore the name Prokopev centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Prokopev
The surname Prokopev is derived from a patronymic and occupational Slavic origin. Its literal meaning is “son of Prokop (the religious savior)”. It is derived from the root word “Prokop” plus the Slavic suffix “ev” meaning “son of”. It can also be spelled Prokopov, Prokopeff, and Prokopovich.
Variants of this surname include Prokopchuk, Prokopchukov, Prokopchikov, Prokopchenko, Prokopec, Prokopetz, Prokopchukova, Prokopovich, and Prokopov.
The surname Prokopev is also spelled in different ways due to its regional origin. In Russia, it is spelled Prokopov and Prokopeva. In the Ukraine, it is spelled Prokopovych and Prokopiv. Other geographical varieties are Prokopovíc (Slovakia), Prokopović (Croatia), Procopiuc (Romania), Prokopaitis (Lithuania), Prokopowicz (Poland) and Prokopis (Greece).
There are also variations in popular spelling, which include Prokopchuk, Prokhorov, Prokoph, Prokop and Prokoff.
The Prokopev surname is a classic Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian, Slavic, and East European surname. It has also been found in North and South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Portugal and the United States.
Famous people with the name Prokopev
- Anton Prokopev: former powerlifter who competed in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
- Maria Prokopev: actress and director who was a recipient of the Golden Eagle Award for her directing work in Russian films.
- Aleksandr Prokopev: Tibetan Studies professor at Harvard University.
- Nikolay Prokopev: Russian physicist, professor of thermal physics at the Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer in Moscow, Russia.
- Sergey Prokopev: Russian-American businessman and billionaire who founded the online retail company ProKopev.
- Aleksandr Prokopev: Russian politician who was the leader of the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party of Russia from 1993 to 1996.
- Anna Prokopev: Russian figure skater and world champion.
- Elena Prokopev: Russian diver who won two gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
- Genrikh Prokopev: Russian ballet dancer and choreographer who was the prima ballerina at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
- Igor Prokopev: Russian poet and playwright who was awarded the Russian Booker Prize for his literary debut in 2002.