Surname Polakoff - Meaning and Origin
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Polakoff: What does the surname Polakoff mean?
The last name Polakoff is a habitational name which is derived from places in the former USSR and in Poland called Polaków, a toponym, derived from the Polish noun polak meaning “Polish (person)”. It is initially recorded in documents from Poland from the 14th century. Polakoff is thought to be a patronymic name, created from the father’s first name, and is, therefore, a form of a hereditary surname.
The surname Polakoff suggests that those who have this name are derived from Polish Russians and/or Poles. This suggests that the Polakoff family was likely established relatively recently, given the frequent changes on the political division of the region as a result of various historical events. The family likely moved from Poland to the Russian province around the 18th century and possibly earlier.
The surname Polakoff is a perfect reflection of the region’s dynamic history and suggests a diverse Polish Russian heritage. It is likely that the origin of this last name is universally recognizable amongst those with a strong Polish Russian background. As a result, this last name not only carries a rich cultural history but is widely known in the region and beyond.
Order DNA origin analysisPolakoff: Where does the name Polakoff come from?
The last name Polakoff is most commonly found in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union. It can also be found in other Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, and is sometimes used as a given name.
The Polakoff name has also spread to Western countries, primarily the United States. The surname is most likely derived from the Polish name Polak, which can be translated to mean "a Pole". According to records of immigration to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Polakoff family likely began migrating to the US from Russia and the parts of the former Soviet Union in the late 1800s.
Today, many variations of the Polakoff surname can be found in the US. Some examples include Polakoff, Polakof, Polikoff, and Polivka. While the majority of the Polakoff name is concentrated around cities in the Eastern United States, it can be found across the United States as well as in other parts of the world, primarily in countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The Polakoff name has been carried down through the generations and is one that many Polakoff descendants in the United States proudly share.
Variations of the surname Polakoff
The Polakoff surname is of Eastern European Jewish descent. Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include:
1) Polakov: This variant spelling is of Russian origin and means 'little Pole'. It can also appear as Polakovi or Polakovitch in some cases.
2) Polagoff: This is another spelling of the same name of Russian-Jewish origin.
3) Poliakoff: This is a spelling variant of the same name with a different orthography, and may have origins in either Russia or Ukraine. It can also appear as Poliakov, Poliakova, or Poliakovich.
4) Polanko: Often spelled as either Polanko or Polankoff, this surname is another version of Polakoff and of the same Eastern European Jewish origin.
5) Poloncoff: This spelling of the same surname is of Jewish-Yiddish origin.
6) Polonsky/Polonski: Downloaded of either spelling are of Jewish-Yiddish descent.
7) Poplavsky/Poplavski: These spellings are of Russian or Ukrainian origin.
8) Poplevka: This spelling is of Russian or Ukrainian origin.
9) Poplavok: This spelling of the same surname is of Slavic origin.
10) Poplavskoi: This spelling originates from Russia or Ukraine.
Regardless of the spelling, this surname is of Eastern European Jewish origin, and comes from the word 'Polka', which referred to the people from Poland. With immigration to new countries over the centuries, the spelling of this surname has evolved and changed; however, no matter the spelling, this surname can be traced back to its Jewish-Yiddish roots.
Famous people with the name Polakoff
- Philip Polakoff: Social activist, writer and editor.
- Sergei Polakoff: Russian-born American artist.
- George Polakoff: American composer.
- Morris Polakoff: American film director and producer.
- Stephen Polakoff: American photographer.
- John Polakoff: American actor.
- Douglas Polakoff: American musician.
- Mark Polakoff: American filmmaker.
- Elliott Polakoff: American lawyer.
- Eric Polakoff: American judge.
- Pamela Polakoff: American film producer.
- Sarah Polakoff: American poet and folklorist.
- Zach Polakoff: American entrepreneur.
- Michael Polakoff: Political consultant and professor.
- Daniel Polakoff: American composer.
- Howard Polakoff: American sculptor.
- Marc Polakoff: American television producer.
- Natalia Polakoff: Russian author.
- Heather Polakoff: American writer.
- Joshua Polakoff: American diplomat.