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Petrov Family History

Petrov Surname Meaning

Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, and Slovak (eastern Slovakia): patronymic from the personal names Pyotr (Russian), Petr (Bulgarian), Petar (Macedonian, Serbian, and Croatian), or Peter (Slovak).

In some cases, it may also be an American shortened form of patronymics and derivatives like Croatian and Serbian Petrović, Slovenian and Slovak Petrovič (see Petrovic).

Compare Petroff and Petrow.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Petrov family from?

You can see how Petrov families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Petrov family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there were 4 Petrov families living in Michigan. This was about 22% of all the recorded Petrov's in USA. Michigan and 1 other state had the highest population of Petrov families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Petrov surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Petrov ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Petrov. 43% of Petrov men worked as a Laborer.

View Census Data for Petrov | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    43%
  • Cook
    29%
  • Foreman
    29%

What Petrov family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 930 census records available for the last name Petrov. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Petrov census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Petrov

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Petrov. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Petrov immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 120 military records available for the last name Petrov. For the veterans among your Petrov ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Petrov military records

You've only scratched the surface of Petrov family history

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What is the average Petrov lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Petrov life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Petrov in 1960 was 49, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Petrov

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Petrov ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Petrov family tree

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