Surname Markoff - Meaning and Origin
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Markoff: What does the surname Markoff mean?
The last name Markoff is of Russian and Ukrainian origin. It derives from the Russian and Ukrainian first name Marko or Mark, which has its roots in the Latin name Marcus. Markoff typically refers to descendants of Marko, and was traditionally given to families of nobility or those with high social standing.
The name could also be derived from the root word marka, which means “border” or “operation” in Russian and is often used in a figurative sense to refer to a line that should not be crossed. This, too, was likely embodied in families with a higher social standing that was traditionally known to be better not crossed.
Markoff denotes an old-world lineage from a long historical legacy of Russian and Ukrainian culture. It can usually be found in those with Eastern European ancestry, particularly of royal descent. Those who carry the Markoff name may have a tendency to be particularly protective of their family heritage and traditions, and to stay true to them no matter how far generations have gone. This name can also bring to mind images of tradition, and loyalty to generations past.
Order DNA origin analysisMarkoff: Where does the name Markoff come from?
The last name Markoff is most commonly found in or around Russian-speaking countries today; the two countries with the highest concentrations of the name are the Russian Federation and Belarus. That being said, there are Markoffs living in countries all over the world. In the United States, for example, it is particularly prominent in Texas, with a large presence in New York, California, Illinois, and Florida. Similarly, Markoff can also be found in Brazil, Argentina, and throughout the other nations of South America. In Europe, Markoff is most commonly found in countries like Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Due to the migratory movements of the last hundred years, Markoff can also be found in countries as far away as Australia and China, where there are concentrations in the major population centers.
In sum, Markoff is a relatively common surname in Russian-speaking countries and in many other places around the world. While the Markoff family history is usually traced back to eastern Europe, the name can now be found almost anywhere.
Variations of the surname Markoff
The surname Markoff is an East Slavic surname, originating from the male name ‘Marek’. Markoff has variants including Markov, Markova, Markovych, Makovey, Makovets, Makoviy, Markovka, Makarov, and Makarevich. Spellings of Markoff include Markow, Makarow, Makarov, Makaroff, and Marcow.
Markoff can also lead to various surname spellings and variants which come from other languages and cultures. These include Markovic (Croatian), Markovici (Romanian), Markovics (Hungarian), Markovitch (Yiddish-Ashkenazi Jewish), and Markowicz (Polish).
The name Markoff can also be found as a prefix for surname double-barreled names. Variations such as Lipman-Markoff, Novik-Markoff, and Zholob-Markoff are names derived from combining the Markoff surname with the root of another surname as a connected compound surname.
In some regions, it is possible to encounter a variant spelling of the surname where the letter “k” reflects the language and culture. These include Maroff, Marov, Marovski, Marovsky, Marovitch, Marovic, and Marovits.
Surnames derived from the same origin as the Markoff surname include Makovskiy, Makovsky, Markevich, Markinyuk, Makarenko, and Marko. Many of these surnames have evolved over time and have become different from one another. It is important to understand the etymology of the surnames to discover the origin.
Famous people with the name Markoff
- Chris Markoff: Grammy-winning American sound engineer, record producer, and musician who has worked on numerous Grammy-winning albums for artists including Louis Armstrong, The Temptations, and Barry Manilow.
- Irina Markoff: Russian fashion designer whose designs have been featured in various fashion magazines including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Marie Claire.
- Jeff Markoff: American film producer and director who produced major films such as The Dark Knight and Life of Pi.
- Lee Markoff: American business executive best known for his role as senior vice president and interim CFO of biopharmaceuticals firm Regeneron.
- Nick Markoff: American painter, sculptor, and illustrator known for his textured abstract paintings.
- Paul Markoff: American entrepreneur and CEO of Markoff Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in innovative technology companies.
- Vera Markoff: Russian-born American sculptor and artist whose work has been featured in galleries, museums, and solo exhibitions across the United States and Europe.
- Xandra Markoff: American interior designer who has created and designed interiors for countless high end firms, including New York City's Waldorf-Astoria.
- Gabie Markoff: a young artist and art historian from San Francisco, and one of the first to launch an ethical art practice during the 2020 pandemic.