The surname HRISTOVA originated in Bulgaria during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Bulgarian word "hrist", meaning "Christ". The suffix "-ova" was commonly added to form a patronymic surname, indicating that the bearer was the child or descendant of someone named Hrist.

HRISTOVA can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various manuscripts and records from the Second Bulgarian Empire. One of the earliest known bearers was a nobleman named Hristova Dragomir, who served as a military commander under Tsar Ivan Asen II in the late 13th century.

During the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria, the HRISTOVA surname was often found in the regions of Thrace and Macedonia. It was particularly prevalent in the towns of Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, and Varna, where many families bearing this name were recorded in church registers and tax records.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Hristova Dimitrov (1732-1807) was a prominent merchant and philanthropist from the city of Gabrovo. He funded the construction of several churches and schools in the region and was recognized for his contributions to the local community.

Another historical figure was Hristova Vasilev (1820-1892), a Bulgarian revolutionary who participated in the struggle for national liberation against the Ottoman Empire. He was a member of the Internal Revolutionary Organization and played a significant role in the April Uprising of 1876.

In the 19th century, the HRISTOVA surname was also found among Bulgarian immigrants who settled in parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, particularly in the regions of Banat and Bessarabia. One such individual was Hristova Petrov (1845-1912), a prominent writer and educator who published several books on Bulgarian language and literature.

During the early 20th century, Hristova Stoyanova (1885-1964) was a notable figure in the women's rights movement in Bulgaria. She advocated for gender equality, women's suffrage, and access to education for girls.

Another significant bearer of the HRISTOVA surname was Hristova Georgiev (1901-1979), a renowned Bulgarian artist and painter who was celebrated for his landscape and portrait works, which captured the essence of rural life in Bulgaria.