Tarakanov, feminine Tarakanova () is a Russian surname belonging to the extinct Russian noble family of . Although the surname superficially looks like derived from the word "", "cockroach", turkologist Nikolai Baskakov suggests that it is derived from the Turkic "tar agan" (tar-aqan) , "fugitive", "wanderer", "pilgrim". (Similar etymologies are suggested for the word "tarakan" as well.)
Notable people with the surname include: