Kostov

Kostov is a Bulgarian surname. It is a patronymic derived from a given name such as Kost or Kostadin, with the suffix -ov indicating lineage, roughly meaning “son of Kost” or “descendant of Kostadin.” The feminine form is Kostova. The name is widespread in Bulgaria and among Bulgarian communities abroad and has appeared in Bulgarian records since at least the 19th century.

In Bulgarian, surnames are gendered, so female bearers use Kostova. Transcriptions into other languages may preserve the Kostov form in official documents or adapt to local spelling. The surname is commonly found across Bulgarian-speaking populations and is associated with a wide range of professions, including sports, academia, and the arts, reflecting its broad distribution in Bulgarian society.