Surname Petrow - Meaning and Origin
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Petrow: What does the surname Petrow mean?
The last name Petrow is an occupational name, derived from the Russian word “petrovsky”, meaning “maker of leather goods”. Many people with this name come from Eastern Europe, particularly Belarus and Russia, however there are also records of people with this name in other countries such as Sweden, Germany and even Finland.
The earliest record of the surname appears in the seventeenth century, when a certain Peter Petrov is mentioned in official documents from the city of Voronezh. It is likely that this individual was the ancestor of many people bearing the Petrow surname today. During this time, the making of leather goods occupied a large part of the economy in many areas of Eastern Europe. Thus, Petrows were likely to be skilled leather workers who specialized in the art of creating clothing, footwear and other objects made from leather.
Though the exact origins of the name remain uncertain, Petrow was likely used originally as an occupational byname, referring to those who specialized in the craft of making leather goods. This is supported by the fact that Petrow is a common surname in many parts of Eastern Europe where this craft was once prevalent. Today, the name continues to be associated with those who still practice the art of making leather products.
Order DNA origin analysisPetrow: Where does the name Petrow come from?
The last name Petrow is most commonly found today in the United States, although its origins may lead to other areas of the world. It is derived from the Slavic-language element "petr", meaning "stone". Petrow likely originated in Eastern Europe and then migrated to the United States at some point. The name appears to have been most popular in the Eastern Europe region of Russia and Belarus, as well as other countries formerly part of the Soviet Union. Petrow is currently a comparatively rare surname: according to the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey statistics for 2010, fewer than 1,000 individuals bore the name Petrow.
In the United States, Petrow is most prevalent in Florida and New York, followed closely by California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Other states that have recognizable Petrow populations include Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The majority of these states had populations that were predominantly Slavic or descendants of Slavic immigrants at the time of migration.
Still, for a relatively rare surname, Petrow families can be scattered across a wide area. Through further research and genealogical investigation, more information can be found on the prevalence and migration patterns of the name Petrow over time.
Variations of the surname Petrow
The surname Petrow, a surname of Slavic origin, has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Petroff, Petrov, Petrowich, Petrovsky, Petrowski, and Petrowsky. The spelling of the surname can often vary from region to region and from country to country. In Russia, for example, the spelling would be more likely to be Petrov, while in Ukraine it would be Petrowsky or Petrovsky.
The other origins of the surname Petrow include the German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Polish and Czech languages. In Germany, it would be spelled as Peterer or Petroff; in Denmark, as Petrer, Petkov or Peterensen; in the Dutch language, as van Petre; in Swedish, as Petterson; in Polish, as Petrowski or Petrowsky; and finally, in Czech, as Petru.
The surnames of the same origin include Petricev, Petrishev, Petritch, Petrichenko, Petrikov, and Petrinets. The Petricev and Petrishev surnames were derived from the Russian name ‘Petrick’, while the Petritch and Petrichenko surnames originated from Ukrainian variants of the Russian name 'Petrick'. The Petrikov and Petrinets surnames are derived from a combination of the Russian names ‘Petrik’ and ‘Petrin’.
In sum, the surname Petrow has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The other origins of the surname Petrow are mainly German, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Polish and Czech. The surnames of the same origin include Petricev, Petrishev, Petritch, Petrichenko, Petrikov, and Petrinets.
Famous people with the name Petrow
- Aliaksandr Petrow: Belarusian ice hockey goaltender who has played in the KHL and Belarusian Extraliga
- Anastasiya Petrowa: Russian fashion model
- Alexander Petrow: Austrian physicist
- Dietmar Petrowsky: German politician from the Social Democratic Party
- Georgi Petrow: Bulgarian politician and activist
- Leonid Petrow: German footballer
- Lev Petrow: Russian impressionist painter
- Liudmila Petrushevskaya: Russian writer and playwright
- Mikhail Petrow: Russian actor
- Peter Petrowski: Ukrainian gymnast
- Petar Petrow: Bulgarian and Macedonian composer, musical theorist and writer
- Sergej Petrow: Belarusian international footballer
- Stephanie Petrow: American journalist
- Velmar Petrowski: Yugoslav and Serbian singer and composer
- Yevgeni Petrow: Russian writer and short story writer