Bogdanova

Bogdanova is the feminine form of the common Bulgarian and Russian surname Bogdanov.

Etymology

The surname Bogdanov (feminine Bogdanova) is derived from the given name Bogdan, which means “given by God” in Slavic, from the elements bogŭ “god” and danŭ “given.” This name was originally pre-Christian, but later it was used as a translation of the Greek name Theodotus (meaning “given to god”). In the Russian Empire, the surname Bogdanov was sometimes given to illegitimate children, interpreting its literal meaning “given by God” to imply that the child was a gift from God regardless of his parents’ marital status.

Related surnames

Patronymic-derived surnames analogous to Bogdanov exist in other Slavic cultures. For example, Croatian has Bogdanić, Serbian has Bogdanović, and Hungarian has Bogdán.

Notable bearers

Notable female bearers include Yelena Bogdanova, a Russian rhythmic gymnast, and Olga Bogdanova, a Soviet/Bulgarian mathematician. The surname is also common among male notable figures such as the twin brothers Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff (French TV hosts), the British theatre director Michael Bogdanov, and the Soviet geologist Alexei Alexeivich Bogdanov.

Distribution

Bogdanova is particularly common in Russia, Bulgaria, and other countries with Slavic populations, ranking among the top surnames in these regions. Its frequency outside the Slavic world largely reflects the emigration of individuals from these countries.

• Meaning: Female “son of Bogdan,” ultimately “given by God”
• Origin: Russian and Bulgaria
• Type: Patronymic surname
• Related forms: Bogdanov, Bogdanić, Bogdanović, Bogdán