Prokofieff

Prokofieff is a surname of Russian origin. It is a transliteration variant of the Cyrillic Прокофьев, from the given name Prokofiy (Prokopiy), itself derived from the Greek name Prokopios. In English-language contexts, the most common spelling is Prokofiev; Prokofieff is encountered in some older or non-English sources, particularly from German and Central European publications, reflecting different transliteration systems such as using -ev vs -eff. The surname is used by several individuals across various fields, including music, academia, and the arts. The best-known bearer is the 20th-century composer Sergei Prokofiev; in some reference works his name appears with alternative spellings, including Prokofieff. When researching, it is helpful to check variant spellings, since library catalogs and encyclopedias may list the same person under different transliterations. The surname also has a feminine form in Russian: Prokofieva. See also Prokofiev, for the most widespread spelling in English-language sources.