NameCensus.

UK surname

Petrov

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Pyotr, the Russian form of Peter, meaning "stone" or "rock."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Paisley North, Newham and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petrov is 682 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

682

2016, ranked #7,860

Peak year

2016

682 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016, ranked #7,860.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Petrov surname distribution map

The map shows where the Petrov surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Petrov surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Petrov over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1997 modern 13 #36,672
1998 modern 16 #36,361
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 32 #34,705
2001 modern 29 #34,839
2002 modern 41 #34,032
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 418 #11,582
2011 modern 444 #10,902
2012 modern 534 #9,391
2013 modern 581 #8,945
2014 modern 627 #8,500
2015 modern 655 #8,145
2016 modern 682 #7,860

Geography

Back to top

Where Petrovs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Paisley North, Newham, Waltham Forest, Wrexham and Barking and Dagenham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Paisley North Renfrewshire
2 Newham 012 Newham
3 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
4 Wrexham 011 Wrexham
5 Barking and Dagenham 015 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Petrov

These lists show first names that appear often with the Petrov surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Petrov

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Petrov, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Petrov surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Petrov household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Petrov is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Petrov is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Petrov falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petrov is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Petrov, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Petrov

The surname Petrov originated in Russia and is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Petr". The name can be traced back to the early medieval period, likely derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone". It became a popular name in Russia after the Christianization of the region in the 10th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Petrov can be found in various Russian chronicles and manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the Novgorod Chronicle, which mentions several individuals with the surname Petrov who were prominent citizens and officials in the city of Novgorod during that time.

Over the centuries, the surname Petrov has been associated with several notable figures in Russian history. One of the earliest was Afanasy Petrov, a 16th-century Russian diplomat and ambassador to various European courts. Another notable bearer of the name was Vasily Petrov, a famous 17th-century Russian explorer who led expeditions to Siberia and the Far East.

In the 19th century, the Petrov surname gained further prominence with individuals such as Andrey Petrov, a renowned Russian painter and portraitist who lived from 1837 to 1888. Another noteworthy figure was Grigory Petrov, a prominent Russian composer and music theorist who lived from 1835 to 1889.

One of the most famous Petrovs in recent history was Viktor Petrov, a Soviet spy who defected to Australia in the 1950s. His defection and subsequent testimony provided valuable insights into Soviet espionage activities during the Cold War era.

It is worth mentioning that the surname Petrov has also been associated with various place names in Russia, such as Petrovsk, Petrovskoe, and Petrovka, among others. These place names often derived from the name Petr or were named after individuals with the surname Petrov who were influential in the founding or development of those settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Petrov surname: questions and answers

How common is the Petrov surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 682 in 2016. That gives Petrov a modern rank of #7,860.

What does the Petrov surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Pyotr, the Russian form of Peter, meaning "stone" or "rock."

What does the Petrov map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Petrov bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.