Surname Petkova - Meaning and Origin
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Petkova: What does the surname Petkova mean?
The last name Petkova is of Bulgarian origin and is derived from the first name "Petko," which is the diminutive of the popular male name "Petar". It is believed that this name carries a great deal of significance in Bulgarian culture and is derived from the Greek name "Petros," meaning "rock" or "stone".
In Bulgarian culture, the name Petkova has a deep meaning and is associated with many cultural legends. For example, in rural areas there is a famous story which tells of a brave warrior named Petko who defeated a group of enemies and saved a small village. In doing so, he won the admiration of the people, and the name Petkova became a symbol of heroism.
The name Petkova may also be derived from an occupational source, as the root of the name implies "he who works with stone." This could be indicative of an individual whose profession was involved in quarrying, masonry or other stone related work.
The name Petkova is quite common in Bulgaria, often found within the top 10 most popular surnames. The current popularity of the name is likely due to the rich cultural symbolism surrounding it, acting as a reminder of its heroic origins.
Order DNA origin analysisPetkova: Where does the name Petkova come from?
The last name Petkova is most common today in Eastern European countries, in particular Bulgaria, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. This last name originates from the personal name Petko, which is common in the southern Slavic countries and is related to the Latin name Petrus. This name was borne by a celebrated 11th century saint of Bulgaria, St Petko the Wonderworker.
The surname Petkova is an occupational surname, deriving from the early occupation of tailor or wool worker. Since these crafts were traditionally undertaken by male artisans, the last name is fairly exclusively borne by males.
Although most prevalent in the countries mentioned above, the name Petkova can have been adopted by migrations to other parts of the world such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. It is also possible to find cultural variations of the name Petkova such as Pechkova, Petrova, Petrač and Petre.
While the Eastern European countries remain the primary source of this last name, it is possible for one bearing this name to come from anywhere in the world.
Variations of the surname Petkova
The surname Petkova has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most prominent spelling and variant of Petkova is Petkov. Other variations include Petkoff, Petkoffe, Petkove, Petkovski, Petko, Patka, and Patko.
Variants of the Petkova surname can be found in numerous Slavic countries such as Bulgaria, Russia, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
In Russia, the Petkova variant of the name is most common. Petkov is a popular spelling in Bulgaria, as is Petkoff. In Northern Macedonia, the surname is spelled Petko or Patko. In Serbia, the Petkova variant is most popular.
The Petkova/Petkov surname originated from the Bulgarian word “petouka”, which means “small” or “short”. This could have been in reference to people of short stature or as a reference to younger family members.
The surname Petkova has many other variations and spellings including Petkvar, Petković, Petkovič, Petkovľv, Petkoff, Petkovski, Petkot, Petkove, Petrova, Petrovic, Petrovits, Petrouka, Petruska, Patka, Patko, and Patkov.
Despite the many variations and spellings of the Petkova surname, all share the same origin and are fairly rare.
Famous people with the name Petkova
- Iliana Petkova: one of the most famous women in chess on an international level.
- Magdalena Petkova: an actress from Bulgaria, well-known for participation in TV series and movies.
- Katya Petkova: a Bulgarian TV presenter and singer from Plovdiv.
- Ani Petkova: a Bulgarian model, crowned Miss Bulgaria in 2014.
- Elena Petkova: a railway engineer from Bulgaria, well-known for her studies in railway infrastructures.
- Neli Petkova: vocalist and actress from Bulgaria.
- Dessislava Petkova: a Bulgarian composer, one of the few female composers in Bulgaria.
- Stela Petkova: a Bulgarian-born journalist in the United States, whose achievements have been recognized by the National Press Club.
- Tsvetelina Petkova: a Bulgarian gymnast who was four-time Balkan champion in rhythmic gymnastics.
- Iasen Petkova: Bulgarian American film director and writer.