Bobrinsky (surname)

The surname Bobrinsky (Russian: Бобринский) is a Russian noble family descended from Count Grigory Grigoryevich Orlov, a favorite of Empress Catherine II of Russia, and Catherine herself.

The name "Bobrinsky" was derived from the name of the village of Bobriki, located in the Tula Governorate, which was granted to Catherine's illegitimate son, Count Aleksey Grigoryevich, at his birth.

The Bobrinsky family was officially recognized as nobility by Emperor Paul I, Catherine's successor, in 1796. Paul I also granted Aleksey Grigoryevich the title of Count.

The Bobrinsky family became known for their involvement in various aspects of Russian society, including military service, government, and patronage of the arts and sciences. They owned significant landholdings and played a role in the economic development of Russia, particularly in the sugar industry.

Notable members of the Bobrinsky family include:

• Count Aleksey Grigoryevich Bobrinsky (1762–1813), illegitimate son of Catherine II and Grigory Orlov, founder of the Bobrinsky dynasty.
• Count Pavel Alekseyevich Bobrinsky (1801–1868), Russian statesman and a founder of the Russian sugar industry.
• Count Aleksey Pavlovich Bobrinsky (1826–1894), Russian statesman, son of Pavel Alekseyevich Bobrinsky, and a key figure in the development of railways in Russia.
• Count Georgy Aleksandrovich Bobrinsky (1863-1928), a Russian general and politician.

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the Bobrinsky family, like many other noble families, faced persecution and expropriation of their property. Many family members emigrated from Russia.