Meaning & History
Mihaylov is a Bulgarian patronymic surname, meaning "son of Mihail". Mihail is the Bulgarian form of Michael, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Miḵaʾel which asks the rhetorical question, "who is like God?". The surname is formed by the addition of the Slavic suffix -ov, indicating descent or family affiliation.
Etymology and Historical Context
The root name Michael is derived from the Hebrew elements mi meaning "who," ke meaning "like," and ʾel meaning "God." Michael is one of the archangels in Hebrew tradition, the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible, and appears in the Book of Daniel as a protector of Israel (Daniel 12:1) and in the Book of Revelation as the leader of heaven's armies (Revelation 12:7–9). The name's widespread popularity across Christian cultures led to many derivative surnames.
Notable Bearers
The surname Mihaylov is most common in Bulgaria. Notable figures include Bulgarian football player Nikolay Mihaylov, a goalkeeper who has played for clubs like FC Twente and the Bulgarian national team. The feminine form Mihaylova is also used by women.
Variants and Distribution
Related Bulgarian surnames include Mihov and Minkov. Cognate surnames in other cultures include French Michel, Croatian Mihaljević, Danish Mikkelsen, Flemish Michiels, German Michael, and English Michaels.
- Meaning: "son of Mihail" (son of Michael)
- Origin: Bulgarian, derived from Hebrew Michael
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage regions: Bulgaria
Related Names
Sources: Forebears — mihaylov