Surname Polakovs - Meaning and Origin
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Polakovs: What does the surname Polakovs mean?
The last name Polakovs is of Slavic origin. It likely stems from the masculine given name Polak, which is derived from the Slavic word “polak,” meaning “field.” This suggests that the ancestral home of the Polakovs family was likely in an area filled with farmland. Interestingly, it is possible that the Polakovs family could be related to the Polish people, as the name Polak is a common given name in the region.
The suffix “-ovs” is believed to be derived from the Proto-Slavic word “-ovьsь,” which was a possessive ending. Therefore, the suffix “-ovs” makes the last name Polakovs a patronymic, meaning that it is derived from the name of a person’s father or ancestor. It is common for people to take the name of their father or ancestor and add the suffix “-ovs” to create their own familial surname, hence the last name Polakovs.
Overall, the last name Polakovs has a deep and rich Slavic history that can be traced back to the origins of the name Polak and the suffix “-ovs.” It is very likely that the Polakovs family likely originated in an area abundant with farmland and likely has roots in Polish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisPolakovs: Where does the name Polakovs come from?
The last name Polakovs is most commonly found in Russia and Ukraine. This family name can also be found in Belarus, Kazakhstan, and in some parts of Latvia and Lithuania.
In Russia, the last name Polakovs (Полаковс) was first found concentrated in the historic city of Veliky Novgorod. Its presence in this region extended to the nearby districts of Leningrad, Novgorod, and Pskov oblasts today. Polakovs is also found in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions of eastern Ukraine.
The Polakovs family name appears to have originated from the Russian father name 'Polak' or 'Poliak', which has several possible origin stories. In some cases, the name derived from being a descendant of a Polovtsian or Cossack nobleman. It can also be linked to the biblical Magi, since the Russian language 'Poliak' (piligrim) resembles the Hebrew word 'peliham' which translates to 'ivory'. The name may also be derived from the Latvian word 'papuls' which translates to 'ancient'.
Records of last name Polakovs can also be found in various Jewish communities around the world. The family name appears prominently in 19th century documents in the historic Jewish shtetls of Slomiva, Lancut, and Zamosc in what is now Ukraine and Poland. These records list individuals with the name Polakovs as merchant traders and business owners.
Today, the Polakovs surname has spread to other countries such as the United States, Canada, and Israel. Immigration records from the early 1900s help to attest to this movement. In the US in particular, the last name Polakovs can be found across many states such as New York, California, and Illinois.
Variations of the surname Polakovs
Polakovs is an uncommon surname of Slavic origin. Also spelled Polakovich, Polakovitch and Polyakovich, variants of this name are mainly found in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. It is thought to be derived from the name Polka, which is an old Slavic word for "a girl from the meadows".
The common variants of the surname Polakovs are as follows:
Polakovsky - It is one of the most well-known variations of Polakovs and is also found in States of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.
Polakovitch - Another variation of the name, this is mostly seen among Russian-speaking Jews. It is also spelled as Polakovich.
Polyakovich - This is a Ukrainian variation of the Polakovs. It is also the most common spelling and is found in western Ukraine.
Polakow - A variation of Polakovs that is derived from the Polish spelling. It is mainly found in eastern Ukraine and western Belarus.
Polakof - The most common variation of the surname in Belarus. It is also found in Russia and Ukraine, but the spelling is slightly different.
Polokov - A Russian variation of the name, mainly found in northern Russia.
Polky - A diminutive form of the name that is mostly seen among Russian-speaking Jews.
There are also several lesser-known variants, such as Polka, Polkov, Polkovs,Polko, Polkaoff, Polkoow, Polkoov, Polkovski, Polokowski, Polyakoff, and many more.
Famous people with the name Polakovs
- Roman Polák: Slovakian ice hockey player
- Oleg Polakovs: Russian mixed martial artist
- Mischa Polakovs: Slovenian footballer
- Nikita Polakovs: Russian ice hockey player
- Alise Polakovs: Latvian female race walker
- Natalia Polakovs: Russian rhythmic gymnast
- Yevgen Polakovs: Ukrainian football coach
- Svetlana Polakovs: Russian rower
- Vladimir Polakovs: Russian race walker
- Irina Polakovs: Russian judoka