Volkov: the origin of the family name and famous noble families

Each of us at least once in his life was interested in the origin or meaning of his name. The history of the origin of the name Volkov is curious and fascinating. Not only the name gives the person special features, but also a surname. This is one of the reasons why it is necessary to know the origin and meaning of your surname. Also believe that in the beginning and the end of the twentieth century on the 22nd place among the most popular was Volkov's surname. We shall consider the origin and its significance below.

Version # 1

There are several theories about the origin of this family name. Many people are interested in the genus Volkov. The origin of the name will be considered in two versions. So, it consists of a subgroup formed from the names of animals. In many countries there are male names that carry the word "wolf" in their meaning. For example, in Germany there is the name Wolf, in Serbia - Wook. Think randomness? This is not so and is connected with the fact that the predator is familiar to man since ancient times. Our ancestors gave the wolf such qualities as rage, insatiability, greed and cruelty. Also our ancestors believed that the wolf is the mediator between the worlds of the living and the dead, magicians and ordinary people.

There is such a legend. The wolf molded the devil out of the clay, or wove it out of the wood, but failed to revive it. When God endowed this creature with life, the wolf rushed to the devil and grabbed him by the hoof. Slavs especially believed in the magical abilities of this animal, therefore, as a defense against various diseases, they carried a tail of a wolf with them. Also as the amulet was the name of the predator himself. Some documentary sources confirm that at the time of Ancient Rus Volk could call an unfriendly and lonely person. The name Volkov first met researchers in the documents of the XVI century. Analysis of the name of Volkov gave ground for the existence of another version.

Version # 2

The German lexicographer Max Fasmer writes in his Etymological dictionary of the Russian language that the name of the animal - the wolf - originated from the verb "drag", and specifies that this predator "drags" its prey or sacrifice. But this version for onomastics (a section of the language that studies the origin of names and names) sounds unconvincing, because not only this predator, but many others, "drags out" its victim. Also in the dictionary of Max Fasmer, the specific etymology of the verb "drag" is not specified. It turns out that the German "Wolf" originated from the Slavic "wolf".

The origin of the name of the predator was restored on the basis of the ancient and little-known Nakh language. "Wolf" consists of two onomatopoeic words "in" - howl, and "lakh" - up. Having combined the Nakh words, we get a "volach", which literally translates as "howling up". In this language, from the image of howling howling to the moon of the wolf, one more meaning of the verb "lakh" - to sing - was formed.

There are a few more unreliable versions of the origin of the name Volkov. But to consider them no longer makes sense.

Rod Volkov: the origin of the name

In the Russian Empire was recorded about seventy noble families with this name. Among them there are several ancient ones. The very first Volkovs believe that their kind was founded by the noble Lithuanian Wolf Gregory who came to Russia in the beginning of the 16th century. In the following centuries the Volkovs were recorded in the ranks of the governor, the cronies, ambassadors and clerks. Grandchildren-great-grandsons of Grigory the Wolf were awarded in 1618 with lands (at that time they were called patrimonies) in Yaroslavl district. According to the herbarium of the first volume, it is known that this branch of the Volkovs is one of the oldest. It came from Volkov Vasily Ivanovich, which was recorded in the sixth part of the genealogical books of Kostroma, Novgorod, Vologda and other provinces.

Great grandson of Grigory Volk - Ivan Fedorovich Volkov - among his contemporaries he was known as a heroic personality, was awarded the rank of major general, showed himself especially during the storming of the Izmaylovskaya fortress, for which he was awarded patrimonies in Mosalsky and Meshchovsk districts. This genus is recorded in the seventh part of the genealogical books of Simbirsk, Moscow, Novgorod, Chersonesos and Tambov.

Volkovs - noble family, which belongs to a new and well-deserved nobility, they are included in the second and third part of the genealogical books of twenty-two provinces! The permission of his Imperial Highness was confirmed that the founder of the Russian theater Fedor Grigoryevich Volkov (the origin of the family name has a common source) was also awarded the title of hereditary nobleman.

Let's sum up the results

The origin of the name Volkov has several versions. It is also established that during the times of the Russian Empire 72 noble families were recorded. The oldest of them was founded by the Lithuanian Grigory Volk at the beginning of the 16th century. They say that Volkov was harsh. The origin of the surname, of course, is connected with the predatory animal.