The Origins of my Family Name

I have always dreaded my name. Luise. Nora. Christov. Bakargiev. What a mouthful. Regardless, the name carries so much history, and with that, family pride. My name comes solely from my dad’s side of the family, who immigrated here through Ellis Island from Germany and Italy in the early 1900’s. Luise, my first name, was the name of my great grandmother, my paternal grandmother’s mother from Germany. Nora, my middle name, was the name of my great grandmother, my paternal grandfather's mother from Italy.

In contrast, my surnames carry much more history that date many decades further back. My family’s original last name is Bakargiev, a name that is often cut off of my official records, passports, and transcripts, yet this is the name that has been carried for generations. My commonly known last name, Christov, is just an adopted name that originated as an adopted name from one of my relatives paternal figure. For example, one of my distant great grandfather's name was Chis, and his son adopted a secondary surname Chistov, with the additional -ov meaning “son of.”  If this continued I would have an adopted surname of Michaelov—as my fathers first name is Michael. However, this trend failed to reach the recent few generations and Christov has been passed down without adjustment.

Although I have not received any of my name from my mother’s side of the family, the majority of my physical appearance stem from her genes. Her family immigrated her from Sweden and England. Many of my Scandinavian relatives have given me the blonde hair and blue eyes that I have today.

In the past, I cannot admit that I’ve liked having such a uncommon name, yet as I grow up I have learned to appreciate the beautiful family history behind it that makes me the person I am today, and as for now I cherish that past.