The surname Tikhonov (also spelled as Tikhonov) is of Russian origin. It derives from the given name Tikhon, a Slavic name of Greek origin. The name Tikhon means "recaller" or "rememberer," derived from the Greek word tikhos, meaning "memory." The Russian patronymic suffix "-ov" indicates that the surname is derived from the male given name Tikhon. Notable persons with this surname include Sergei Tikhonov, a Russian cosmonaut, and Vladimir Tikhonov, a Soviet ice hockey player who coached the Soviet Union's Olympic gold medal-winning teams in 1984 and 1988.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Tikhonov
The meaning and origin of the last name Tikhonov
The surname Tikhonov is of Russian origin. It derives from the Christian name 'Tikhon', which means 'memory' or 'recollection' in Russian. This name was traditionally given to individuals born on the feast day of Saint Tikhon, a respected figure in the Orthodox Church. The surname Tikhonov is an adaptation of the masculine form of the name Tikhon and is common among Russian-speaking populations, particularly those living in Russia and countries with significant Russian communities. Over time, variations in spelling such as Tikhanov, Tihonov, and others may have emerged due to regional dialects or transcription errors.
Geographical distribution of the last name Tikhonov
The last name Tikhonov is predominantly distributed within Russia and surrounding post-Soviet states, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. It originates from the Russian language, where "Tikhon" means "affectionate" or "compassionate." Historically, it was a common name in Orthodox Christian families, as Tikhon is also the name of several Orthodox saints. Outside of Eastern Europe, smaller populations can be found in other former Soviet republics and diaspora communities, primarily in the United States, Canada, Israel, Germany, and Australia, due to emigration from Russia during various historical periods.
Variants and spellings of the last name Tikhonov
The surname Tikhonov has several variants and spellings due to differences in transliteration from Cyrillic script used in Russian language to Latin characters. Some common variations include Tykhonov, Tykhanov, Tikhonoff, Tykhanoff, and Tykhanow. Additionally, there might be slight differences depending on the region or individual's preference within Russia and other countries with a significant Russian-speaking population. It is important to note that family names in many Slavic languages, including Russian, often end in 'ov' or 'ovich', which indicates patronymic descent from the father's first name. Therefore, you might also encounter Tikhonovich as another variant of this surname.
Famous people with the last name Tikhonov
Notable individuals sharing the surname Tikhonov include:
* Anatoliy Tikhonov (1927-2013), a Soviet and Russian mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of differential equations, particularly in the area of nonlinear analysis. He is known for the Tikhonov regularization method, which is widely used in solving ill-posed problems.
* Vladimir Tikhonov (born 1947), a Russian politician and former member of the State Duma from the LDPR party. He served as Governor of Krasnodar Krai from 2005 to 2010 and as Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 2016 to 2018.
* Andrey Tikhonov (born 1974), a Russian professional ice hockey player who has played for various teams in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and represented Russia at the IIHF World Championship on several occasions.
* Alexander Tikhonov (born 1986), a Russian professional basketball player who currently plays for CSKA Moscow in the VTB United League. He has also represented Russia's national team, including at the EuroBasket tournament and the Olympics.
Genealogical research on the last name Tikhonov
The Tikhonov family lineage originates from Russia, specifically in the northern region of Arkhangelsk. The surname Tikhonov is a patronymic derived from the given name Tikhon, meaning peaceful or quiet. According to genealogical records, one of the earliest known ancestors with the surname Tikhonov was Tikhon Tikhonovich Tikhonov (b. 1680), a peasant in Arkhangelsk. His descendant, Ivan Ivanovich Tikhonov (b. 1750), migrated to Saint Petersburg and served in the Imperial Russian Navy. The Tikhonov lineage continued to expand throughout Russia, with notable figures such as Nikolai Ivanovich Tikhonov (b. 1896), a decorated officer during World War I, and Yuriy Fyodorovich Tikhonov (b. 1937), a Soviet cosmonaut who spent over 200 days in space aboard Soyuz 18 and Salyut 5. Today, the Tikhonov family can be found across Russia and beyond, with numerous branches and descendants worldwide.
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated :
Share the origin of your last name with your friends
The last name "Tika Ram KC" is of Nepalese origin. It is a common surname in Nepal, traditionally used by people belonging to the Chhetri or Khasa ethnic groups. The "KC" in the su...
The last name Tikadar is of Bengali origin. It is derived from the Bengali word "tikadar," which means "accountant" or "bookkeeper." This surname typically denotes someone who work...
The last name "Tikam" is of Indian origin, specifically from the Hindi language. It is a common surname among people of Indian descent, particularly those from the North Indian sta...
The surname "Tikambang" originates from Indonesia. It is derived from the Javanese word for a type of traditional musical instrument called a "tikambang."
The last name "Tikar" is of African origin, specifically from the Tikar people of Cameroon. It is believed to be a surname derived from the name of the ethnic group.
The last name Tikhatari is of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Maharashtra. It is most likely a surname derived from a geographical location, occupation, or community ...
The last name "Tikiri Banda" is of Sinhalese origin from Sri Lanka. It is a combination of the word "Tikiri" meaning "radiant" or "shining" and "Banda" which is a common Sinhalese ...
The origin of the last name "Tikise Koti" is not readily available and may be unique or not widely documented. It is possible that it could have origins in a specific region or cul...
The last name "Tiklo" has its origin in the Philippines. It is a Filipino surname that is believed to have derived from the Visayan word "tiklo," meaning "challenge" or "obstacle."
The last name "Tiklu" has origins in India and is likely derived from the Telugu language. It may be a surname used by people belonging to the Telugu-speaking community in southern...
The last name "Tikochaa" is of Native American origin, specifically Navajo. It is derived from the Navajo word "tó" meaning "water" and "kóos" meaning "long, extended" or "standi...
The last name "Tikor" is of Hungarian origin. It is derived from the Hungarian word "tikor," which means "magpie" in English. The surname likely started as a nickname for someone w...
The last name "Tikouta" is of African origin, specifically from the Bambara ethnic group in Mali. It is a surname commonly found among individuals of Malian descent.
