Surname Romanov - Meaning and Origin

Romanov: What does the surname Romanov mean?

The surname Romanov means "son of Roman" and originates from Russia. The name "Roman" itself originates from the Latin term "Romanus," which means "of Rome" or "from Rome." The Romanovs were the last dynasty to rule over Russia. From 1613 until the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Romanovs had total control over Russia's political system. This royal family was internationally known for its wealth and power. The turbulent end of the Romanov family, including the execution of Nicholas II - the last Tsar - and his immediate family during the revolution, is a major part of the anecdotal history surrounding the name. Today, the name is linked with historical grandeur, tragedy, and romantic images of imperial Russia. Nonetheless, it's not limited to royalty alone; common people in Russia and other Slavic countries also bear the name.

Romanov: Where does the name Romanov come from?

The Romanovs were a Russian Imperial dynasty that ruled from the late 17th century until the Revolution of 1917. Today, the last name Romanov is most common in Russia and other former Soviet countries. It is also found in significant numbers in the United States, particularly on the West Coast and in Canada.

The Romanovs’ rule came to an end in the early twentieth century due to the Russian Revolution. Many of the Romanovs went into exile in Europe, with some settling in other countries such as Britain, France, or the United States. The last acknowledged member of the Romanov dynasty, Grand Duke Nicholas Romanov, died in exile in Paris in 1929.

In the decades since, some former members of the family have re-emerged in different parts of the world, mostly in Russia and other former Soviet countries. Today, there are said to be over a thousand people of Romanov ancestry living all over the world.

In Russia, the surname Romanov is the third most common surname in the country. In other former Soviet countries, it is one of the most common names. In the United States, it is the 836th most common name in the country. In Canada, the surname Romanov ranks in the top thousand most common surnames.

Although the Romanov dynasty is no longer in power, it continues to have an influential legacy. Many people still bear the surname Romanov in honor of the once-powerful Russian dynasty.

Variations of the surname Romanov

The surname Romanov is one of the most prominent and powerful Russian dynasties from the 17th century to the early 20th century. It is derived from the Latin root "Romanus," meaning "Roman," and is most commonly associated with the Romanov imperial family, who ruled Russia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many variants, spellings, and surnames of Romanov origin exist today.

The most common variant spelling of Romanov is the Russian Romanov or Románov. Other Russian variants, such as Romanoff, Romannisov, and Romanovskaya, also exist, as do various alternate Russian spellings and stylized forms, including Romanoffe and Rumanoff.

Many other surname variants associated with Romanov are also found in other regions and countries, such as Romania, where the Latinized spelling Romani is found, and other regions of Eastern Europe, such as the Slavic Romaniuk, Romanchuk, and Rumjancuk.

Surname variants found in Finland include Romonoff, Romanoff, Ruomonoff, Romanoffsky, and Romantsov, and variant spellings of the name have also been observed in Belarusian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and Georgian contexts. Among Jewish families of Russian extraction, the name Romanov may be spelled as Roman, Romano, Romaner, Romanure, Romlin, and Roeman.

Finally, there are hybrid spellings of Romanov and its variants, including the Polish Rumanowicz, the Czech Rumík and Rumlík, and the Austrian-German Romann or Romanner.

Famous people with the name Romanov

• Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia: Grandson of Tsar Alexander III and nephew of Tsar Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.
• Princess Anastasia Romanov: Granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas II and youngest sister of Tsar Alexander III.
• Tsar Nicholas II: The last Emperor of Russia from 1894-1917.
• Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanov: Youngest daughter of Tsar Alexander III and first cousin to Tsar Nicholas II.
• Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanova: Eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and eldest sister of Tsar Alexander III.
• Tsar Alexander III: Reigning Tsar of Russia from 1881-1894.
• Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia: Son of Tsar Alexander III and first cousin once removed of Tsar Nicholas II.
• Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanova: Second daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and second sister of Tsar Alexander III.
• Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna Romanova: Third daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and third sister of Tsar Alexander III.
• Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova: Fourth daughter of Tsar Nicholas II and fourth sister of Tsar Alexander III.
• Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich of Russia: Younger cousin of Tsar Nicholas II and second cousin of Tsar Alexander III.
• Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna Romanov: Eldest daughter of Tsar Alexander III and second cousin of Tsar Nicholas II.

Other surnames

RomanRomanelliRomanelloRomaniRomanielloRomanoRomansRomanskiRomanusRomanyk