Surname Ivan - Meaning and Origin
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Ivan: What does the surname Ivan mean?
The last name Ivan is of Slavic origin and is derived from the personal name Ivan, meaning “God has been gracious.” The name is found in many countries around the world.
Ivan is a given name commonly used in Bulgaria,Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine, Belarus, Macedonia, Croatia, and other Slavic countries. Ivan was a popular name among medieval Slavic warriors and, in some cases, was used as a nickname for a particularly brave or loyal soldier.
The surname related to Ivan also originates from the personal name. In some cases, it means that one of those soldiers adopted the name and passed it on to future generations. Other times, 'Ivan' is derived from land or geographical features, such as mountain ranges, rivers, and other natural reference points.
The variation 'Ivankov' is a patronymic form of Ivan, meaning 'son of Ivan.'
In the United States, Ivan is the 44th most common last name for Americans of Slavic ancestry.
The last name Ivan is a reminder of the bravery, loyalty, and hard work of the Slavic people. It is a reminder of a history of courage and resilience that echoes through time and tells the story of centuries gone by. Ivan is more than just a name, it is a legacy, and one that should be celebrated and remembered.
Order DNA origin analysisIvan: Where does the name Ivan come from?
The last name Ivan is common today primarily in Eastern European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic. The name is ancient and has been used by many rulers, artists, and famous people throughout history.
In Russia, the surname Ivan is extremely common and is among the top five most popular surnames. It has also been popular in the Ukraine,where it is ranked at number 17. Additionally, the name Ivan is also the fifth most popular surname in the Czech Republic.
The origin of the surname Ivan is commonly thought to have come from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious". However, there are other theories that the name may have come from the Greek Ioannes, the Latin Johannes, or the Welsh variant of John.
Given its popularity in Eastern Europe, it is not surprising to see Ivan as a common last name in some other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. For instance, in the United States, the name Ivan is ranked at number 1,767 in terms of popularity. In these other locations, the name is more often seen as a first name—although there are a few families in the United States that have adopted it as a surname.
Overall, the last name Ivan is most common in Eastern European countries and can be seen in various locations throughout the world in both first and last name form.
Variations of the surname Ivan
The surname Ivan is derived from a Slavic word meaning ‘God is gracious’. It has many variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Iwan, Iven, Ivon, Ivane, Ivo, and Ivano.
The Russian spelling is Iwan or Iván. The cognates Ivanovich and Ivanov are the most common patronymic forms of the name in Russia. The Polish spelling is Iwan. Other variants include Ivantsoff, Ivantsov, Ivanevsky, Ivanets, Ivanenko, Ivantchik, and Ivankovych.
In the Ukraine, the surname is spelled Iwan or Ivan. Patronymic forms include Ivaniv, Ivanich, and Ivanenko. In the Czech Republic, the surname is spelled Ivan or Iwan. Derivative surnames include Ivanek, Ivana and Iwanov.
In the Vatican, the name is spelled Ivo, while in Catalonia, Spain, it is spelled Ivó. The Croatian spelling is Ivo, while the Serbian spelling is Iva or Iván. In Armenia, the name is spelled Iven or Ivonne.
In Romania, the name is spelled Ivan or Ivean. Common variations include Ivoae, Ivaio and Ivanka. In Montenegro, the name is spelled Ivancevic or Ivancic.
In Bulgaria, the name is spelled Ivo or Ivanov. Patronymic derivatives include Ivanova, Ivanovski and Ivantsoff. The English spelling is Ivan, while in Hungary it is spelled Ivin. In Germany, the name is spelled Iwan or Iven.
Common derivative surnames include Iwanowski and Ivenack. In Finland, the name is spelled Ivo. In France, the name is spelled Ivon or Ivoan. Common surnames derived from the name include Ivonnet, Ivar and Yvanoff.
Famous people with the name Ivan
- Ivan Turgenev: Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was a Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright. He is regarded as the father of Russian realism and one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century.
- Ivan Reysky: Ivan Stepanovich Reysky was a prominent Soviet war hero, a twice-Hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal of the Soviet Union, and the last commander in chief of the Soviet Air Force.
- Ivan Lendl: Ivan Lendl is a Czech-American former professional tennis player and great champion. He is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the father of professional players Isabelle and Marika Lendl.
- Ivan Zaytsev: Ivan Zaytsev is an Italian professional volleyball player of Russian origin lauded as one of the greatest Italian volleyball players of all time.
- Ivan Aivazovsky: Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky was a Russian painter of Armenian origin and ultimately considered one of the greatest seascape painters of all time.
- Ivan Aurélio: Ivan Aurélio was a Brazilian singer-songwriter and actor who was popular in Brazil from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
- Ivan Graziani: Ivan Graziani was an Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist from Perugia, Italy. He was best-known for his track "Mongolfier" which topped the Italian charts in 1977.
- Ivan Rakitic: Ivan Rakitić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Croatian national team.
- Ivan Stoyanov: Ivan Stoyanov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Arda Kardzhali.
- Ivan Maisky: Ivan Maisky was a Soviet diplomat and ambassador to Britain, 1933–43. He was one of Joseph Stalin's envoys.