Sofonov
/səˈfoʊnɒv/noun
A Russian-language surname, usually interpreted as a patronymic form derived from the personal name Sofon or Sofoniya.
Did you know?Sofonov is generally connected with the biblical prophet-name Zephaniah through the Eastern Christian form Sofoniya, whose Hebrew roots express the idea of being hidden or protected by God.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ṣ-p-n
“A root associated with hiding, concealing, or storing away.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
צְפַנְיָה (Ṣəfanyāh)
“The personal name Zephaniah, traditionally interpreted as “YHWH has hidden” or “YHWH has protected.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σοφονίας (Sophonias)
“The Greek form used for the biblical name Zephaniah in Christian scripture and tradition.”
Church Slavonic
Church Slavonic
Софония (Sofoniya)
“The ecclesiastical Slavic form of the biblical personal name.”
Russian
Russian
Софон (Sofon)
“A shortened or vernacular form associated with Sofoniya.”
Modern Russian
Russian
Софонов (Sofonov)
“A patronymic surname meaning approximately “son or descendant of Sofon.””