Surname Nicoloff - Meaning and Origin
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Nicoloff: What does the surname Nicoloff mean?
Nicoloff is a primarily Bulgarian surname that has seen usage in other parts of Eastern Europe, particularly in countries like Romania, Ukraine and Russia. The meaning of the surname is uncertain, but it is thought to have originated from the Slavic name Nikolay, which means “victory of the people”.
In Bulgaria, the Nicoloff surname is mostly found in the Blagoevgrad region, which was part of the larger Ottoman Vilayet of Bitola in the 19th century. During this time, many Bulgarians living in the area were given names like Nicoloff as a result of Ottoman occupation.
As far as the meaning behind the Nicoloff surname is concerned, there are a few theories. One possible origin is that it derives from the words nickos (smile) and lofos (brightness). Another possibility is that it comes from the Turkish word Nike (victory). In either case, the name is often associated with strength and victory and was likely given to Bulgarians who achieved something great in the eyes of their peers.
The Nicoloff surname is also associated with the Bulgarian region of Pirin, a mountainous area that has seen a long history of Bulgarian cultural and linguistic identity. It is believed that many of the people living in Pirin were given this name in the early 19th century, when the region was also part of the Ottoman Empire.
Overall, the Nicoloff surname is a traditional Bulgarian name that has various meanings, but is linked to victory and strength. It was likely given to Bulgarians residing in Pirin or the Blagoevgrad region who achieved something great in the eyes of their peers and has come to symbolize success and resilience to Bulgarians living today.
Order DNA origin analysisNicoloff: Where does the name Nicoloff come from?
The last name Nicoloff is often associated with countries belonging to the former Soviet Union, particularly Bulgaria and Russia. In Russia, Nicoloff is a fairly common last name, with more than 12,000 instances recorded in the All-Russian Population Census of 2002. Similarly, in Bulgaria it is a fairly common surname, estimating to be the 39th most frequent name in the country.
Today, the Russian and Bulgarian diasporas have spread the Nicoloff last name to English-speaking countries in North America and Europe. In the United States, for instance, Nicoloff was the 2,748th most common surname in 2000, with a total population of 4,094. Similarly, in Canada, the statistics of Canada’s 2011 Census reported that 312 people lived in homes bearing the Nicoloff surname, ranking it as the 8,239th most common name in the country.
In terms of the frequency of where Nicoloff is found today, it is most common in the countries of origin – Russia and Bulgaria – as well as the English-speaking countries of the United States and Canada, where Russian and Bulgarian immigrants primarily reside.
Variations of the surname Nicoloff
Nicoloff is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Nikolai, which is the Russian form of the name Nicholas. It is also spelled Niculoff, Nikulov, Nikolov, Nikoloff, Nikuloff, and Nikoulf. The female form of the surname is Nikoloff, which can also be spelled Nicolaoff, Niculoff, Nikulova, Nikolova, Nikulova, or Nikolova.
Nicoloff is a common surname among Slavic-speaking countries, and is most prevalent in Bulgaria and Russia. In Bulgaria, this same surname can be spelled Nicolova or Njulova, and is common among older generations. In other European countries, such as Greece, Italy and Poland, this last name can also be found.
In the United States and Canada, the spelling of Nicoloff is more common. It is increasingly used by people of Serbian, Bulgarian, and Russian descendants. A variant of the original Nicoloff surname is Nikas, which is a popular name in the Caribbean, especially among the varioous Jamaican eras, and can be seen in Latin America.
Nicoloff is also sometimes used as a middle name in Eastern Europe. Other variants include Nikulansky, Nikiforov, Nikolsky, and Nikolskyy. Some families also have a distinct way of spelling this name to distinguish themselves from others, which includes Nkeuloff, Nikloff, and Nicholoff.
Famous people with the name Nicoloff
- Natasha Lytess: Actress, singing coach and choir director.
- Dimitri Nicoloff: Actor.
- Alina Nicoloff: Poet, writer, and model.
- Thomas Nicoloff: Actor, singer, musician, and songwriter.
- Karah Nicoloff: Model, lifestyle and wellness expert, and yoga instructor.
- Devin Nicoloff: Actor.
- Luka Nicoloff: Actor.
- Valeri Nikoloff: Bulgarian actor.
- Vladislav Nikolov: Bulgarian professor of international law and public international law.
- Nikola Nikolov: Bulgarian boxer.
- Bistra Nikolova: Bulgarian actress.
- Jiří Nikolov: Czech car racer and engineer.
- Vlado Nikolov: Bulgarian former ice hockey player.
- Andrey Nikolov: Bulgarian politician.
- Mark Nicoloff: American film director and writer.
- Bojidar Nikolov: Bulgarian politician.
- Polina Nikolova: Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast.
- Alex Nicoloff: Canadian film producer.
- Paul Nicoloff: American actor.
- Gorazd Nikolov: Bulgarian footballer.