Potemkin (Russian: Потёмкин, Potyomkin; or Potyomkina/Potemkina Feminine; Потёмкина) is a Russian surname which derives from the word Потёмка Potyomka meaning "dark". Persons bearing the name Potemkin rose to prominence in Muscovy from the 16th century onwards. The name may refer to
Alexander Potemkin (1675–1746), Russian nobleman, father of Grigory
Grigory Potemkin (1739–1791), statesman and lover of Catherine the Great
Károly Potemkin (born 1977), Hungarian football player
Pavel Potemkin (1743–1796), a Russian diplomat and military leader, cousin of Grigory Potemkin
Pyotr Potemkin (1617–1700), a Russian diplomat and voivode
Valeriya Reznik (born Valeriya Potemkina in 1985), Russian short-track speed-skater
