Surname Popoff - Meaning and Origin

Popoff: What does the surname Popoff mean?

The last name Popoff is of Russian origin. It is derived from the Russian word “papa,” which translates to “priest.” Popoff is an occupational name typically given to priests and members of the clergy. This surname is believed to have been used to describe a member of the Russian Orthodox Church who was the head of a congregation or parish.

A person with the last name Popoff could be descended from a priestly line, indicating that religion may have been an important part of their family heritage. This name might be passed down through multiple generations, or it could have been adopted by someone as theirname at some point in their ancestry. The popularity of the surname may also have been influenced by areas where Russian Orthodoxy is present.

Popoff is a rather rare surname in the United States, but it is fairly common in places such as Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Russia. It is a testament to the family’s faith and heritage, and it is sure to be a source of pride for many. There are plenty of famous people with the last name Popoff, suitably enough including priests, scholars, and even politicians.

Popoff: Where does the name Popoff come from?

The last name Popoff is most commonly found in Russia and other parts of Eastern and Central Europe. It is believed to derive from the Old Russian word "pap", which means either priest or father and is used as a term of respect. In Russia, Popoff is one of the top 50 surnames; according to various internet sources, around 0.11% of the Russian population carries it today.

The surname is also quite prevalent in Bulgaria and Ukraine, where it is usually spelled as either "Popov" or "Popovych". In Bulgaria, it is one of the top 20 surnames. The Belarusian spelling is "Popov", and again, it is one of the most common surnames there.

Other countries where Popoff is found include Romania, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Serbia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and even the United States. In Britain, one can find records of the name as early as the 16th century – it is believed that British namesakes are descended from Russian medical students who came to study in Britain during the 1800s.

In North America, it is quite uncommon; however, there are a few notable individuals who bear the name, including Canadian professional wrestler Alexander Popoff and consumer advocate and author Martin Popoff.

Overall, Popoff is a relatively common surname in Eastern and Central Europe and slightly less common in other parts of the world. Given its old-world origins, many people who carry this name may find comfort in the knowledge that it has a long and distinguished history.

Variations of the surname Popoff

Popoff is a surname with multiple spellings and variants stemming from Slavic and Eastern European origins. The root word, Pop, is derived from the Latin papa, meaning father, which also takes many forms from many different languages, such as pope, papa, and papas, each of which have different iterations within the Slavic languages.

Variants of the surname Popoff include: Popof, Popoff, Popov, Popovs, Popovski, Popovska, Popovic, Popovici, Popow, Popowiak, Popowick, Popowicz, Popowycz, Popowka, Papa, Papaz, Papazian, Puppo, Pupo, and Ppoppoff.

The spellings of Popoff may also vary greatly, depending on the native language of the ancestral homeland. For instance, the Russian spelling would be Попов.

Surnames derived from the same root are also popular in various other Slavic languages, including Czech, Polish, and Ukrainian. Variants of Popoff in these languages include Popovych, Popovič, and Popov.

In non-Slavic languages, such as Italian, the surname can be written as il Papa or il Popoff.

Despite the many variants and spellings, all iterations of the surname Popoff are historically derived from the Latin papa, and can be interchanged between languages and regions.

Famous people with the name Popoff

• George Popoff: He was a Bulgarian revolutionary, a member of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) and a close associate of leader of the organization, Gotse Delchev.
• Alexander Popoff: He was a successful Russian-American entomologist and botanist.
• Alexander Popoff: A former lawyer and member of the Supreme Court of Russia.
• Frederick Popoff: A German-born American artist best known for his nineteenth century New York street scenes.
• Edward Popoff: Was the leader of the Singer corporation, a manufacturer of sewing machines.
• Modest Popoff: President and CEO of the international Saint-Gobain corporation
• Paul Popoff: A Bolivian-American aviator who holds the world record for the longest solo flight from the United States to South America.
• Gus Popoff: An American cinematographer known for his work on National Geographic documentaries such as 'Operation: Phoenix' and 'Earthrise'.
• Velco Popoff: A Canadian anthropologist and filmmaker specializing in the cultural practices of the Greeks and Romans.
• Vladimir Popoff: A Russian historian and writer who published works on the history and culture of the Russian intelligentsia.

Other surnames

Popofsky