Type Surname
Usage Russian
Scripts Азимов, Озимов(Russian)
Other Forms FormsAsimova (f), Azimov, Azimova (f)
Meaning & History
A notable bearer was author Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) whose name was derived from Russian озимый хлеб (ozímyj khleb) "winter grain" combined with the patronymic suffix -ov. His family name was originally spelled Азимов (Azimov), but it got anglicized to Asimov with an S instead of Z when the family immigrated to the United States. Other etymologies have been suggested. For example, it could be taken from various nicknames all derived from Russian озимый (ozímyj) "late autumn before early winter", or it could be derived from the given name Azim (see Əzimov).