Rostislavich

Rostislavich is a patronymic surname of East Slavic origin, meaning "son of Rostislav." The name Rostislav itself is composed of two Old Church Slavonic elements: "rost," meaning "growth" or "flourishing," and "slav," meaning "glory" or "fame." Therefore, Rostislavich can be interpreted as "son of the glorious one" or "son of one who brings growth and glory."

This patronymic was common among the medieval East Slavic nobility, particularly in Kievan Rus' and later principalities. Several historical figures bore the name Rostislav, and their descendants often adopted Rostislavich as a surname. The most prominent among these was Rostislav I of Kyiv, a Grand Prince of Kyiv in the 11th century. His descendants, and those of other individuals named Rostislav, likely contributed to the wider dissemination of the surname.

Over centuries, as surnames became more formalized, Rostislavich evolved into a distinct family name. It is found today among people of Ukrainian, Russian, Belarusian, and other East Slavic ancestries. Variations in spelling can occur due to transliteration and regional differences in pronunciation. The surname signifies a connection to a lineage tracing back to an ancestor named Rostislav.