My last name is Sterloff and my grandfather was Greek, does anyone know if STERLOFF is Greek or Russian??

Question

My great grandfather came from Greece in the late 1800 s to Costa Rica where we currently live. We have family in the USA and apparently in Canada, none back in Greece as far as we know. We do not have a record of any other Sterloffs anywhere else. Sterloff sounds Russian, people say that it might have been Stergios and they changed it. Anyone knows where I can find out more about it????

Answer 1

More than likely your grandfather left asia minor as it was not safe for christians especially greeks.  many Greeks left and to escape the Ottomans fled to Russia. A greek name in Russia wont get you far, so many have changed their names.  There was a large Greek diaspora in Russia, and in the Caucus.  Usually at this time, many people fled, most followed family to there new homes.  It is not uncommon to find whole villages in certain cities.  You might want to check the ellis island database, as many immigrants first came to America before they went anywhere else in the western hemisphere.  My mothers family are pontic greeks, who fled, some went via russia, others were forced with the population exchange, others were unaccounted for and presumed dead due to the ethnic cleansing done by the turks.  

Answer 2

Sterloff is German

Answer 3

There are people with the last name Cтерлов (Sterloff) in Russia, but I think it is more of a Polish origin, because it doesn't sound like totally Russian.  

Answer 4

russian

Answer 5

Definitely not Greek. Could be any of the Slavic countries - Russia, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, etc. Whatever it is, definitely Slavic.

Answer 6

My own grandfather had a greek last name but he changed it when he lived in England.  it was easier to come to to the US and Canada in those days if you had a common english sounding name.

So it is probable that his real name was Stergios but he changed it to suit the location he live in.

Answer 7

STERLOFF/STERLOV is definitely Russian. Could be shortened from, STOLAROFF/OV ...   Your Great Grandfather's family might have moved to Greece to get away from the painfully severe Russian Winters ... Or to avoid Religeous persecution, or maybe they just liked healthy women who could cook, but wore less clothing ...   Maybe whatever took them there in the first place gave them the opportunity to see the beauty of Greece, and they liked it and stayed ... Russia is a beautiful place also, but the beauty is vastly different from the Greek Isles, even though the Cultures are not really that far removed from one another ... And unlike Costa Rica, neither Russians nor Greeks drink their Beer poured over ice .......