What is "shakhovskoy"

Shakhovskoy (alt. Shahovskoy, Shahovskoi, , , , ) is the name of a princely Russian family descending from the Rurik Dynasty, and as such, one of the oldest noble families of Russia. Most members of the family fled Russia in 1917 during the Russian Revolution.

In the 19th century, and especially after the abolition of serfdom, the "'Shakhovskoy" surname began to appear among peasants who adopted their employers' name but were not themselves descendants of the princely family.