Researchers claim that in 50 cases out of 100, the surname Belov has Russian roots, in 30 cases - Tatar, Bashkir, Mordovian, Buryat and other similar ones (that is, nationalities and republics of the former Soviet Union), in 10 - Belarusian, in 6 - Ukrainian and in 5 - Serbian or Bulgarian. Be that as it may, it is clear that the surname is formed from the nickname, first name, geographical name of the place of stay or occupation of men who lived a long time ago.
On a note! By the way, surnames of this kind and sound can be found in the culture of other peoples of the world. For example, in Great Britain Belov will sound like White, in Germany - Weiss, in Italy - Bianco, and in France - Blanc. Yes, and in Russia you can find names that have a similar origin: Belyakov, Belyak, Belyanchikov, Belykh or Belyaev.
According to the statistics of B. Unbegaun, in 1910 this surname occupied 74th place in terms of frequency of use, and in 1974 it already moved to 43rd place (according to V.A. Nikonov's calculations). She currently holds the same position.
Origin and meaning
The surname Belov, which, according to experts, has rather ancient roots, came from such a Slavic adjective as “white”. It is it that is so often found in Old Russian folklore and texts dating back to that time. According to the interpretation of Tupikov’s dictionary, the name Bilyai (or Belaya), which was not mentioned in the Orthodox name-list, was quite popular in Russia right up to the 17th century. There are several versions of the origin of the name Belov.
Version 1
A person who is distinguished by white skin or having blond hair could well have received the nickname White or White, from which the name Belov came from. But the linguist M. Selishchev does not agree with this point of view and holds a different opinion. So he believes that in Russia a person who received such a surname did not have to be fair-haired and white-faced: he could well have been a brunette. Why not!
By the way, when discussing the origin and significance of Belov’s surname, one should not forget the fact that cleanly and neatly dressed people were also called “whites, ” no matter what color their hair and facial skin were.
Version 2
In the Middle Ages, people who were exempted from compulsory taxes were popularly called "whites." Initially, this “favor of the sovereign” was exclusively awarded to the nobles who were in the service of the royal person. Later, not only small nobles, but also merchants were released from taxes and other duties. The desire of such "lucky ones" to pass on such a privilege to the next generation through the name Belov is fully justified.
Version 3
Such a nickname could become a reflection of such human qualities as kindness, responsiveness, neatness and cleanliness. That is, the origin of the name Belov could indicate not only the purity of the physical, but also moral.
Version 4
Some historians believe that people with the surname Belov could belong to the upper spiritual class. It was believed that their way of life is distinguished by righteousness and modesty. A similar version of the origin of the name Belov is unlikely, but it has a right to exist.
Version 5
Or, perhaps, this surname comes from the word “whitewash”, which also means lupus erythematosus (it has a wrinkled hat; causes people to have red spots on the skin that look like burns; and in animals - rabies), and the butterfly cabbage found in Europe (it multiplied tremendously during the period when they began to cultivate cabbage en masse). It is also likely that everything came from a hare with a white coat in the winter, that is, a white hare.
Version 6
Some adhere to the geographical version of the origin of the name Belov. Why not! Their version is as follows: in the Kemerovo region there is a small town of Belovo and any resident born in it could get a surname that has a common root with the name of the area.
Version 7
Some found a connection between the English word "bell" (translated into Russian - "bell") and the name Belov. After all, bell ringing is often called white. And, therefore, the ringer could have either the name Belov or the name Bely. There is logic. True, the story of the name Belov is silent about this.
