Harkavy
Harkavy is a Jewish surname. Variants in Russian language include Garkavy/Garkavyi and Gorkavy. The Dictionary of American Family Names suggests that the surname is derived from the Belarusian word 'harkavyj' for a person who pronounces uvular R instead of voiced alveolar trill R In fact a derogatory epithet for a Jew is "гаркавы", or "burry". Another meaning of the Belarusian word "гаркавы" is "slightly bitter".
Notable people with the surname include:
- Abraham Harkavy, Russian Jewish historian and orientalist
- Alexander Harkavy, Russian Jewish writer and lexicographer, known for his Jewish-English Dictionary
- Harold Harkavy, American bridge player
- Ilya Garkavyi, Soviet Red Army commander
- Juliana Harkavy, American Jewish actress
- Yehoshafat Harkabi, head of Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, military historian, and recipient of the first Israel Prize for political science
- Shlomo Harkavy, Orthodox rabbi in Belarus