Surname Galabov - Meaning and Origin

Galabov: What does the surname Galabov mean?

Galabov is a surname originating from the Bulgaro-Slavic language. It has a number of variations, including Galaboff, Galabof, Galabova and Galabova. It is derived from the ancient Slavic word “galab”, meaning “hare,” likely indicating an ancestor of the family as a hunter of hares. It is also believed that the name may be derived from the Turkish word “galab”, which means “purse” and may be a reference to an ancestor involved in trading.

The Galabov surname is most commonly found in Bulgaria, although it is also found in other areas of southeast Europe such as Romania, Ukraine and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The surname is common throughout modern day Bulgaria, however small numbers have also migrated to other countries such as Canada, USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The Galabov surname is closely associated with the city of Lovech in central Bulgaria. The Galabov family claim to be descendants of Ivan Galabov, who was a princes of Lovech during the 15th century. The Galabov family continue to be influential in the city and are widely known for their philanthropy and contributions to local culture.

Though originally used by hunters and traders, today the Galabov surname is still historically associated with strength and hospitality. This connection remains strong throughout the modern age and is shared by many people who share the same family name.

Galabov: Where does the name Galabov come from?

The last name Galabov is most commonly found in Eastern European countries like Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Other countries where the last name Galabov is present include Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Montenegro, as well as Turkey, which has historically had strong ties with Eastern Europe.

In the Republic of Bulgaria, the last name Galabov is estimated to be among the 120 most common last names in the country. It is thought to have originated somewhere in the Rhodope mountain range in southwestern Bulgaria near the city of Plovdiv, where Galabov is the most common surname. The surname has an estimated 1,700 bearers living in Bulgaria today.

In the Republic of Macedonia, the surname Galabov is estimated to be among the top 250 most common last names in the country. Here, the last name is believed to have derived from the Galabodes, an early Christian community of Bulgarians that lived on the northern border of the country. The surname is estimated to have around 800 bearers today.

The Galabov name can also be found in other countries around the world as a result of migration in recent centuries. Communities of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the Balkans can be found in Turkey, Western Europe, North America, and Australia, many of whom bring the last name Galabov with them.

Variations of the surname Galabov

The surname Galabov is a Slavic-origin name from Bulgaria. It is a spelling variation of the Bulgarian word galaba, meaning "hen quickly flocking together"—a reference to the galabovi that is, a group of peasants that worked together to complete agricultural tasks in medieval Bulgaria. Here, Galabov is one of the many spellings and variants of the same surname. Other spellings can include Galabova, Galaboff, Gallabov, Gallabova, Galabovski and many more.

Variants of the surname Galabov can also be found in different countries where aspects of Bulgarian have been adopted through migration. For example, in Russian the surname Galabov can be spelled as Galabov or Galabova, while in the United States, variations of the spelling include Golabov/Golaboff and Golabovski.

Surnames with similar origins may also exist in other Slavic countries, such as the Polish-origin Glab or Glabek. In some cases, Galabov can also be a shortened variation of other longer Bulgarian surnames ending in -abov/aboff; for example, the surname Mladenov can be shortened to Galabov.

Finally, variant surnames can also occur through generations of the same family. For example, Galabov can be changed to Galabova by daughters (similarly, Galabovski can be changed to Galabovska by daughters). This is because the suffix -ova is a popular feminization of Slavic surnames.

Famous people with the name Galabov

• Zdravko Galabov: Bulgarian footballer who has represented FC Barcelona and FC Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
• Donka Galabova: Bulgarian volleyball player who represented Bulgarian National Team.
• Svetoslav Galabov: former broadcast journalist and television presenter from Bulgaria.
• Milen Galabov: Bulgarian footballer who played for FC CSKA Sofia.
• Dimitar Galabrov: Bulgarian footballer who played for Litex Lovech, CSKA Sofia, and FC Pirin.
• Zoran Galabov: legendary Bulgarian football manager who managed Litex Lovech and the Bulgarian national team.
• Stefan Galabov: Bulgarian rugby union player who represented the national team.
• Aleksandar Galabov: Bulgarian footballer who represented CSKA Sofia and CF Fuenlabrada in Spain.
• Georgi Galabov: Bulgarian footballer who played for Lokomotiv Plovdiv and Septemvri Sofia.
• Toni Galabov: former Bulgarian volleyball player who represented the Bulgarian national team.

Other surnames

GalaboffGalabova