Surname Pavel - Meaning and Origin
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Pavel: What does the surname Pavel mean?
The last name Pavel is a Slavic surname of Russian origin. It is derived from “Pavlo”, the Shortened form of either the Greek name “Paulos” or the Latin “Paulus”, both meaning “small or humble”. The name can refer to the biblical figure Saint Paul, who is often referred to as the “Apostle to the Gentiles.”
The surname Pavel often appears throughout Slavic speaking countries, including Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. Pavel is a popular name in Russia, where it is the 8th most common last name. Additionally, it is a common surname in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Belarus.
The surname Pavel is also commonly associated with nobility in many interpretations of history. It is believed some of the earliest members of the Russian aristocracy adopted the name and added their own unique touch to the spelling. During the 18th century, the surname Pavel gradually adopted flattering connotations as it became a symbol of power and influence in the Russian Empire.
Today, the surname Pavel often denotes strength, faith, and perseverance. Pavel is a very common name in many Slavic countries, and its various interpretations make it a special choice, especially when naming children.
Order DNA origin analysisPavel: Where does the name Pavel come from?
The last name Pavel is most common in Eastern European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It is also a popular surname in many former Soviet Union republics such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Pavel is derived from the old Slavic name Paul, which itself is derived from the Latin name Paulus meaning “small” or “humble”.
Within these countries, Pavel is one of the most common last names. It is the 8th most common surname in Russia, the 14th most common surname in Ukraine, and the 22nd most common surname in Belarus. The surname is especially popular among Russian and Ukrainian-speaking populations.
Pavel is not particularly common in other countries, but still is found in places with Slavic immigrants. In some Slavic countries, such as Poland and the Czech Republic, the surname is much less popular. In the United States, Pavel is uncommon, ranking as the 76,390th most common surname in the 2020 census.
Overall, Pavel is a popular surname found mainly in Eastern Europe and in countries with significant Slavic populations. It is derived from the Latin Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble”. In Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, Pavel is among the top 25 most common surnames. Although it is rare in other parts of the world, it is still found in areas with Slavic immigrants.
Variations of the surname Pavel
Pavel is a masculine given name of Slavic origin, derived from the Greek name Paulos. It has many variants and spellings including Pawel, Pawluk, Pawlik, Pavlyk, Pavluk, Pavlik, Pavelko, and Pelka. It is a common surname in many Slavic countries, with the spelling most commonly found in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Ukraine.
In Czech, the surnames Pavel or Pavlík are derived from the given name Pavel, which is derived from the Greek name Paulos. In Polish, the surnames Pawel or Pawlik are derived from the canonical Greek form Paulos. In Russian, the surname Pavel is derived from the Byzantine Greek form Paulos. In Slovak, the surname Pavluk is derived from the canonical Greek form Paulos.
In Germany and Austria, the surnames Pollak or Palach are derived from the given name Pavel. The surname Palach is derived from pale, which means half in Old Slavonic, while Pollak is derived from the Polish word Palik.
Other variations of the surname Pavel are Pável or Pávelko (Czech), Paval, Pavelka, or Pawlica (Polish), Pavalich or Pavlich (Ukrainian), Pavlicek (Czech), Pavvi (Estonian), Pavlyuk (Ukrainian), Pávelus (Hungarian), Pelin or Pellin (Finnish), Palis or Palikk (Slovak), Pallin (Latvian), Paulin (Bulgarian), etc.
The variants and surnames of Pavel are often based on cultural and regional influences as well as geographical locations. Despite the slight variations, these surnames all share the same origin.
Famous people with the name Pavel
- Mishel Pavel: Miss France from 2017
- Henry Pavel: a Venezuelan actor and model
- Alexander Pavel: a Russian director, film producer, and screenwriter
- Maria Pavel: a Russian singer and songwriter
- Viktor Pavel: a Romanian football manager
- Atanas Pavel: a Bulgarian professor of Criminology
- Cornel Pavel: a Romanian architect
- Didier Pavel: a French actor
- Petre Pavel: a Romanian soldier and politician
- Stéphan Pavel: a French actor