Meaning & History
Pavlović is a common South Slavic surname, particularly prevalent in Serbia and Croatia. It is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Pavle," formed by adding the suffix -ović to the given name Pavle. Pavle itself is a Slavic form of Paul, which ultimately derives from the Latin family name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The name Paul holds significant Christian importance, associated with the apostle Paul, a key figure in the early Christian church. This religious connection contributed to the widespread adoption of related names across various cultures.
Distribution and Frequency
Pavlović ranks as the ninth most frequent surname in Serbia, reflecting its deep roots in the region. In Croatia, it is among the most common surnames in three counties, indicating a concentrated presence in certain areas. The surname is also found in smaller numbers among the Serbian diaspora worldwide.
Related Surnames and Variants
The patronymic formation method yields various cognate surnames across different Slavic languages. Related Croatian variants include Pavić and Pavletić. In Serbian, a parallel variant is Pavlić. Outside of the South Slavic sphere, equivalent surnames formed from Paulinclude the Russian Pavlov (masculine) and Pavlova (feminine), as well as the Slovak Pavlík. In Armenian, the surnames Boghosian and Poghosyan are derived from Boghos, the Armenian form of Paul.
Historical and Notable Bearers
The Pavlović noble family served the Kingdom of Bosnia from the late 14th to the mid-15th century, playing a prominent role in medieval Bosnia. In more recent times, the surname is carried by numerous athletes including Serbian basketball player Aleksandar Pavlović (born 1983) and German footballer Aleksandar Pavlović (born 2004), as well as a number of Croatian and Serbian footballers, such as Ante Pavlović and Bojan Pavlović. Other notable individuals include Croatian Franciscan writer Bernardin Pavlović (18th century) and Serbian politician and lawyer Branko Pavlović (born 1960).
- Meaning: "son of Pavle"
- Origin: South Slavic (Serbian, Croatian)
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Pavlović