Totleben

Totleben is a surname of German origin. It is believed to be a habitational name derived from a place name, although the exact location or meaning of "Totleben" as a place is not widely documented. Surnames often originated from the village or town where a person lived, their occupation, or a physical characteristic. As a surname, Totleben would have been adopted by individuals residing in or associated with such a place. The distribution of the surname is primarily in German-speaking countries.

The most notable individual bearing the surname Totleben was Eduard Ivanovich Totleben, a prominent Russian military engineer of German descent. He was born in the Kingdom of Saxony and later served in the Imperial Russian Army. Totleben gained considerable fame for his exceptional skills in siege warfare and fortification during the Crimean War. His defensive strategies at Sevastopol were instrumental in prolonging the siege and inflicting heavy casualties on the Allied forces. He later played a significant role in military engineering projects and advised on fortifications for the Russian Empire. His military career and engineering prowess made him a celebrated figure in Russian military history.