Surname Smirnovs - Meaning and Origin
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Smirnovs: What does the surname Smirnovs mean?
The last name Smirnovs is a Slavic patronymic surname derived from the given name Smirnov. It likely originated from the Russian word smirnyi, meaning ‘gentle’ or ‘meek’. The surname is quite common, likely due to its simple spelling and pronunciation. It is believed to have been created in the 16th century, when Russians began to adopt surnames.
The Smirnovs family can be found in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other Slavic countries, as well as in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, France and Germany. It is most popular in Russia and Ukraine, with over 30,000 bearers of the name in each country.
The Smirnovs family has been prominent in Russia and Ukraine throughout the centuries, particularly in the military, politics, and the Orthodox Church. Members of the Smirnovs family have held prominent roles in the Russian military and politics, with some even influencing the course of Russian history.
More recently, the Smirnovs name has been adopted as a business name, and it is also a popular brand of vodka in Russia. In fact, the Smirnovs were once a vodka-producing dynasty. They eventually sold off their rights to another vodka-producing family, and the Smirnov name is still connected to the product today.
Order DNA origin analysisSmirnovs: Where does the name Smirnovs come from?
The surname Smirnov is most commonly found in Russia and former Soviet bloc countries. It is one of the most common surnames in Russia, coming in at 40th place in 2017. It is also commonly found in Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Lithuania. It is believed to derive from the masculine given name Smirn, which is itself derived from the Old Slavic word smir, meaning "peace."
In Russia, the name is mostly found in the central and northwest parts of the country, in cities such as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yakutsk, Nizhny Novgorod and others. Additionally, there is a concentration of the surname in the Far East Federal District, where many of the people with this surname were sent to during Stalin's rule.
Outside of Russia, the surname is also found in the United States and Canada, particularly in the states of New York, New Jersey, Florida, and California. It is also seen in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland where people of Russian descent come from, particularly the areas around Aberdeen, Perth, and Dundee.
In short, the surname Smirnovs is most commonly found in Russia and other former Soviet bloc countries, with a growing presence in the United States and Canada. Scotland also has an influential Russian population with a significant concentration of this surname.
Variations of the surname Smirnovs
The surname Smirnovs is derived from the Russian patronymic nickname Smirenny. This nickname originates from the Slavic word “smirennyi” which means ‘meek and humble’. The surname and its variants exist in many forms in different parts of the world.
Variants of the surname Smirnovs include the Russian surname Smirnov, the Polish Smereka, the Ukrainain Smirnova, the Slovenian Smirnik, the Czech Smírek, and others. The most common variants are Smirnov, Smirnova, and Smirnoff. The most common Russian variants are Smirnov, Smirnova, and Smirnovs.
In addition to the variants that come from the same root, Smirnovs has other spellings and surnames that come from the same origin. These include Smirnoff (Russian spelling), Smirnovsky (Bulgarian spelling), and Smereka (Slovak spelling). Other related surnames are Sm appointed to Smirnov (Bulgarian and Croatian), Smerenovski (Macedonian), Smirnik (Slovenian), Smírek (Czech), Smirgen (Irish), and Smirka (Hungarian).
The meaning of this surname is consistent across all its spellings and variants - it is derived from the Slavic word smirennyi, meaning ‘meek and humble’. The popularity of the name is testament to its long-standing heritage and to the importance of being kind, gentle, and humble in all aspects of life.
Famous people with the name Smirnovs
- Aleksandr Smirnov: Actor and public figure in Russia who held the title of People's Artist of Russia.
- Alexander V. Smirnov: Russian film director who has collaborated with major production companies across the world, especially in Europe.
- Ilia Smirnov: Singer and songwriter based in St. Petersburg, Russia who is known for his melodic pop songs.
- Dmitry Smirnov: Former professional ice hockey goaltender from Moscow, Russia who played in the Kontinental Hockey League.
- Vladimir Smirnov: Former cross-country skier from Belarus who won gold at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, in the 4x10km relay.
- Alexander Nikolaevich Smirnov: Former Soviet cosmonaut and the first person to fly into open space.
- Sergey Smirnov: Professional ice hockey player from Moscow, Russia who debuted in the Kontinental Hockey League in 2019.
- Alexander Smirnov: Former hammer thrower from Belarus who won seven medals at major international championships.
- Lyudmila Smirnova: Russian figure skater who won gold and bronze medals at the 2008 and 2009 European Championships.
- Ekaterina Smirnova: Russian classical pianist who is especially known for her interpretations of Franz Liszt.