Gavrilovi

Gavrilovi is a surname of South Slavic origin used in parts of the Balkans, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It is patronymic in form, derived from the given name Gavrilo or Gavril (the local forms of Gabriel), with the suffix -ovi signaling a family or lineage.

Meaning and origin: The name denotes “descendants of Gavrilo” or “the Gavrils” and is part of a broader tradition of Christian name–based surnames in the region. It reflects a lineage-based naming pattern common in Serbo-Croatian and related languages.

Distribution: Historically concentrated in the Western Balkans, Gavrilovi is found across urban and rural communities in the mentioned countries. With migration in the 19th and 20th centuries, bearers are now also present in diaspora communities in North America and Western Europe.

Variants and related names: Closely related surnames include Gavrilović, Gavrić, and other patronymics derived from Gavrilo. Orthographic and transliteration differences across languages can influence endings, such as shifts between -ović and -ovi in different contexts.

Notable bearers: The surname is carried by individuals across various fields, including sports, academia, and business, particularly within the Balkans and in diaspora communities. As with many surnames of patronymic origin, bearers span multiple generations and national contexts.