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 GrigoryGrigory Potemkin (1739–1791), statesman and lover of Catherine the GreatKároly Potemkin (born 1977), Hungarian football playerPavel Potemkin (1743–1796), a Russian diplomat and military leader, cousin of Grigory PotemkinPyotr Potemkin (1617–1700), a Russian diplomat and voivodeValeriya Reznik (born Valeriya Potemkina in 1985), Russian short-track speed-skater