Surname Orlov - Meaning and Origin
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Orlov: What does the surname Orlov mean?
The last name Orlov is of Slavic origin and is believed to have originated from the ancient Rus. The name is thought to have been derived from the old Slavonic word “orloi”, which referred to an eagle. In early times, the surname was associated with the personal name Eagle, which was used to denote a nobleman or an official of high rank. Historically, the name Orlov is associated with the famous Russian noble family of Counts Orlov, which was prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The emblem of the Orlov Family was an eagle in heraldry, which was later used by other renowned families, as well as by the military. The eagle was believed to have the power to see and overcome far away obstacles, giving the wearer an advantage in battle. The eagle could also be seen as a symbol of knowledge, power, or protection.
The surname Orlov remains relatively prominent in today’s Russia as well as in other countries throughout the world. It is often associated with strength, loyalty, greatness, and endurance. It is also a reminder of the powerful and influential historical family of the same name.
Order DNA origin analysisOrlov: Where does the name Orlov come from?
The last name Orlov is most commonly found in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia and Belarus. It is also found in some parts of Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
The root of the Orlov surname has been traced back to the East Slavic word “orol” which was used to describe a bald eagle or eagle-like bird. It is thought that the family name was originally given to someone who had an eagle-like physical characteristic or perhaps someone who resembled an eagle in behavior.
Outside of Eastern Europe, the surname is found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union.
The name is fairly uncommon in the United States, where it is mainly found among people of Russian descent. It is estimated that about 1,000 people in the United States have the last name Orlov. Similarly, the name Orlov is sparsely distributed throughout the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In recent years, the Orlov surname has become increasingly popular in Russia, with an estimated 200,000 people bearing that name. It is the 81st most common surname in Russia.
Overall, Orlov is not an overly common name, but it is most commonly found in Eastern Europe and countries with a strong Russian influence.
Variations of the surname Orlov
The surname Orlov is mostly associated with countries like Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. It is believed to come from the ancient Russian word “or.” This word has different meanings, such as mountain, edge, border or limit. It is also related to the word “slav,” meaning glory. As a result, the meaning of the surname Orlov is "being of the mountain border or of the glory."
Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Orloff, Orlovsky, Orlowski, Orlovskyi, Orlovskaya, Orlovska, and Orlova.
In Russia, the surname Orlov is one of the twenty most common surnames. It is also quite popular in the countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as in North America among Russian immigrants.
Orlov can also be found in other countries like Israel, Germany, Austria, Latin America, Bulgaria, and Canada, where it is often spelled differently. The spelling and pronunciation in these countries, as well as the version of the letter “o,” may vary a lot. For example, in Bulgarian it is spelled Орлов and in Latin America it is often pronounced as “Orlo.”
Regardless of the spellings, all surnames with the same origin are connected to the Russian word “Or” and “Slav” and derive from the same meaning.
Famous people with the name Orlov
- Alexander Orlov: Russian General in World War II
- Gregory Orlov: Russian Admiral
- Vladislav Orlov: Russian pianist
- Yegor Orlov: Russian painter
- Pavel Orlov: Russian sculptor
- Andrey Orlov: Russian football player
- Nikolay Orlov: Russian ice-hockey player
- Aleksandr Orlov: Russian politician
- Yury Orlov: Russian mathematician
- Yuri Orlov: Russian physicist
- Aleksandr Orlov: Soviet Navy Admiral
- Ilya Orlov: Russian aquanaut
- Sergey Orlov: Soviet Air Force Colonel
- Roman Orlov: Russian sport shooter
- Yury Orlov: Russian cosmonaut
- Mikhail Orlov: Russian swimmer
- Ivan Orlov: Russian explorer
- Tatiana Orlova: Russian rhythmic gymnast
- Yevgeny Orlov: Russian photographer
- Andrey Orlov: Soviet Air Force Colonel