Itkinov

Itkinov is a Slavic surname found primarily in Russia and Ukraine, with a small diaspora in Belarus and Poland. The name is of patronymic origin, derived from the diminutive *Itkin* which itself is a diminutive of the given name **Ilya** or the old Russian *Itan*. The suffix –ov indicates “son of” or “belonging to,” a common pattern in Russian naming conventions. Variation of the surname includes Itkinova for feminine forms and Itkinovich as a patronymic.

The surname first appears in written records in the late 17th century in the region of the Southern Russian Empire, where it was associated with small villages in what is now the Kursk Oblast. By the 19th century, bearers of the name were engaged in agriculture, trade, and civil service. The 20th century saw a number of Itkinovs enter the fields of science and the arts. Notable individuals include Alexander Itkinov, a Soviet chemist known for his work on catalytic processes; Maria Itkinova, a Soviet athlete who won medals in the 800-metre race during the 1950s; and Ilya Itkinov, a contemporary Russian historian who has published extensively on Eastern European migration patterns.

Demographic data from the 2010 Russian census indicate that the surname occurs most frequently in the Volgograd, Rostov, and Donetsk regions, where it is also present among Ukrainian communities. In Ukrainian usage, the surname is spelled Іткінов. Among diaspora communities, Itkinov can be found in Canada, the United States, and Australia, often among descendants of mid‑20th century emigrants. The name remains relatively rare, with fewer than 5,000 bearers in the Russian Federation as of the latest statistical reports.