Popovic

Popovic is a South Slavic patronymic surname derived from the given name Pop, a form associated with Popa, meaning priest. The suffix -ović means "son of," so Popovic roughly denotes "son of Pop." The diacritic form Popović is common in Serbo-Croatian languages; in English-language contexts the name is often rendered as Popovic.

Geographic distribution: The name is especially common in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia, and among their diaspora communities. It is also found in neighboring countries and in communities abroad, notably in Germany, the United States, Canada, and Australia, where the non-diacritic form Popovic is frequently used.

Variants and related forms: In English-speaking contexts the spelling Popovich is common; Popovic with no diacritics is widely used elsewhere. The name should not be confused with Romanian-sourced surnames such as Popa, which have different roots.

Notable people: Gregg Popovich (born 1949) is an American basketball coach and former player; his surname is the Anglicized variant Popovich. The Popovic/Popović surname is borne by many individuals across the Balkans and in the diaspora, including people in sports, academia, and the arts.