Zdravkov

Zdravkov is a Bulgarian and Macedonian patronymic surname meaning "son of Zdravko." The root name Zdravko derives from the South Slavic word zdrav meaning "healthy," which itself originates from the Old Slavic sŭdorvŭ.

Distribution and Variants

The surname is most common in Bulgaria and North Macedonia, with strong concentrations in regions where the given name Zdravko has historically been popular. Its feminine form in Macedonian is Zdravkova.

Notable Bearers

The name appears across sports and music. In football, notable bearers include Bulgarian players Antoni Zdravkov (born 1964), Radoslav Zdravkov (born 1956), and Zdravko Zdravkov (born 1970), as well as Macedonian player Gordan Zdravkov (born 1959). In music, Bulgarian singer Toma Zdravkov (born 1987) has carried the name into popular culture.

Cultural Significance

Typical of Slavic naming conventions, the -ov suffix denotes a patronymic, linking familial identity directly to male lineage. The meaning "healthy" reflects especially common Slavic naming practices that invoke positive attributes as wishes for a child. In this case, Zdravkov thus carries the connotation of "son of the healthy one," linking bearers as descendants of a man named Zdravko who embodied good health.

Etymology

The root name Zdravko traces back to Old Slavic sŭdorvŭ through the South Slavic adjective zdrav. Over centuries, this root spread as both a given name and a base for surnames like Zdravkov, Zdravkova, and similar forms (Zdravko).