The Russian surname Ivanov is a patronymic derived from the given name Ivan, which is the Russian form of John. It is the most common surname in Russia, and is also common in other Slavic countries. The pronunciation of Ivanov in Russian is straightforward: the stress falls on the second syllable, and the “v” is pronounced as a “w”.
The name Ivanov has a long history in Russia, and has been borne by many notable figures, including tsars, generals, and writers. The most famous Ivanov is probably Ivan the Terrible, who ruled Russia from 1547 to 1584.