Mihailova

Mihailova is a feminine Slavic surname used in several Eastern European languages. It is derived from the masculine given name Mihail or Mihailo (the Slavic form of Michael) and the feminine surname suffix -ova, a common pattern that indicates a patronymic or family relationship such as “belonging to Mihail” or “Mihailo’s.”

The surname is found in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Russia, Ukraine, and other Slavic-speaking communities. In Russian and Ukrainian contexts, the form is often transliterated as Mikhailova or Mihaylova, while in Bulgarian and Macedonian contexts Mihailova is common. As with other -ova surnames, Mihailova is the feminine form; the corresponding masculine form is typically Mihailov (or Mihailov/Mihaylov, depending on language).

In use today, Mihailova functions as a standard family name for women; men in the same family would typically bear the masculine form Mihailov (or its language-specific variant). The surname occurs across various professional fields and may be carried by individuals of Bulgarian, Serbian, Russian, or other Slavic backgrounds.

Notable bearers of the surname exist in scholarly, artistic, and athletic circles, reflecting the name’s broad geographic and cultural spread. Related surnames include Mihailov, Mihaylov, and Mikhailova, which share the same root given name Michael in different linguistic traditions.