Surname Petkov - Meaning and Origin

Petkov: What does the surname Petkov mean?

The surname Petkov is a Slavic patronymic surname, sometimes referred to as a family name. This type of surname is derived from the masculine given name Petro, which is the Bulgarian and Macedonian form of the name Peter.

The name itself literally translates as "son of Peter", with Petro representing the father and the suffix -kov coming from the Slavic word for "son". It is durable as a surname, with records of it being used in the 17th century by various members of noble families in Bulgaria. These records often indicate that the bearers of the name enjoyed considerable privileges and prominence in their society.

The Petkov surname has since spread throughout the world, with members of the family now found in locations such as the United States, Canada, and Nigeria. Many of those who bear the name are of Bulgarian and Macedonian descent and are proud to bear a family name with roots in their ancestral culture.

Though the exact meaning of the name may be somewhat obscure for those unfamiliar with its origin, the surname Petkov is a reminder of both the historical impact of the Slavic peoples and the lasting value of family ties. For those who bear it, it is the source of an enduring identity they can trace across the generations.

Petkov: Where does the name Petkov come from?

The last name Petkov is most commonly found in Eastern-Central Europe, especially in Bulgaria and Serbia. In Bulgaria, according to the National Statistical Institute, it is the 66th most common surname out of a total of 58,000 surnames. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 Bulgarians have the surname Petkov. In Serbia the surname Petkov is much rarer, with around 1,000 bearers of the name living there. The Petkovs are also scattered throughout other parts of the region, including Romania, Macedonia, and Croatia.

The presence of the name Petkov outside of Eastern-Central Europe is not as common, however there are still significant populations of people with the Petkov surname in other countries. For example, in the United States there are approximately 1,300 bearers of the Petkov surname. Other countries with significant numbers of Petkovs include Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia.

Overall, it is most common to find the Petkov surname in Eastern-Central Europe, particularly Bulgaria and Serbia, but it is also present in other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Petkov

The surname Petkov is a patronymic name derived from the given name Petko, which is a diminutive of the male Slavic given name Petar and its cognates Peter, Petro, Piero, Piotr and Pedro. The surname Petkov and its variants are common amongst Eastern European countries, mainly in Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Slovakia and Russia.

The variants of Petkov include Petroff, Petrow, Piotrovski and Pietrowski. All of these variants are derived from the same root name – Petar. In some regions, the Petkov name is also spelled as Petrović, Petrovič and Petrovits.

The surnames Petroff, Petrović, Petrow, Petrovich and Petrovits are derived from the old Slavonic language and developed from the Greek masculine name Peter (Πέτρος). These surnames can also be transliterated into Cyrillic, as Петро, Петров, Петроу, Петрович and Петровиц, respectively.

In some places in Eastern Europe, the surname Petkov is also written as Pyetkov, Petcov, Pyetcharov, Petchera and Petchukov. Petcov is derived from the Czech and Slovak language and Pyetkov and Petchera come from the Russian language.

The variants listed here are spelled differently depending on the language used by the family in different regions. However, the same root name – Petar – remains unchanged.

Famous people with the name Petkov

• Georgi Petkov: Bulgarian entrepreneur and founder of Geotechmin Group, the company that runs several roads and railway projects.
• Metodi Petkov: Bulgarian musician, composer and orchestrator from Burgas.
• Blagoy Petkov: Bulgarian politician and architect from Sofia.
• Hristo Petkov: Bulgarian musician and composer and leader of the Panagyurishte Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Momchil Petkov: Bulgarian athlete, pentathlete and record holder in decathlon and Olympic champion.
• Mihail Petkov: Bulgarian linguist and professor at Sofia University.
• Petko Petkov: Bulgarian singer and songwriter and popular performer of folk and traditional music.
• Petar Petkov: Bulgarian sculptor known for his figurative sculptures.
• Petko Petkov: Bulgarian director and writer known for several movies and documentary films.
• Aliaksei Petkov: Belarusian professional football player who plays for BATE Borisov.

Other surnames

PetkoPetkofPetkovaPetkovicPetkovskaPetkovskiPetkowPetkowitsch

Comments or additions to the name "Petkov"

21.12.2023
Djado Petkov Dolgosevskoje