We are used to the fact that surnames that end in -in and -ov are considered Russian by default. But in fact, their carriers may be representatives of the most different peoples: from Bulgarians and Macedonians in the west to Buryats and Yakuts in the east. Among Ukrainians, there are also many people whose last names have such endings. Affects general history and numerous ties between fraternal peoples. So, which Ukrainian surnames are easy to confuse with Russians?
Original Ukrainian surnames
Due to a number of factors, Ukrainians acquired surnames earlier than most Russians. Both the geographical location of the country and the influence of its western neighbors, mainly Poles, had an effect. This process in Ukraine took place in the XIV-XVI centuries. First, the surnames appeared among the nobles, then they spread to the merchants and the clergy. And although the peasants changed their family nicknames to official surnames a little later, still in the 17th century there was not a single Ukrainian left without this obligatory attribute of citizenship.
However, over time, the names of Ukrainians could change. So, when entering the Zaporizhzhya Sich, becoming a Cossack, a man often took a new name and surname to emphasize that he had finally broken with his former life.
Sometimes the son of a man known in Podolia as Petro Pavlyuk, after moving to the Dnieper region, could be recorded there as Pavlo Pavlyuchenko. The process of formation of Ukrainian surnames ended in the 19th century, when they were all officially assigned to each person.
And although the endings in -yuk (-uk) and -enko are the most common in this country, some of the native surnames for Ukraine end with the suffixes -ov (-ev) and -in. For example, Shinkarev, Pankov, Shugaev, Drahomanov, Khrushchev, Kostomarov, Brezhnev, Turchinov. It is quite easy to distinguish them from Russians. It is enough, as they say, to look at the root of the word. If the blacksmith in Ukraine was called "koval", then the surname Kovalev could originally come only from here. Although this is not a reason to consider all its carriers as Ukrainians. Over the centuries there have been various events: from the banal adoption of children to attempts to hide, lost in neighboring country and "corrected" the surname.
If we talk about the ending -in, then on Ukrainian origin indicates a more expansive form - ishin. Such surnames were formed from female names or nicknames of the inhabitants of Transcarpathia and Galicia. For example, the son of a woman Fedorikha could get the surname Fedoryshin, and the offspring of Yatsikha could become Yatsishin. In the same way, if an unmarried Vasilina gave birth to a baby, and the father did not recognize him as his son, then the boy was recorded under the surname Vasilishin, formed on behalf of the mother.
Often female nicknames came from the names of their husbands: Danilo - Danilikha - Danylyshyn; Pavlo - Pavlikha - Pavlishin; Roman - Romanikha - Romanishin, etc.
ancient surnames
Since the stories of two fraternal peoples are closely intertwined, some Ukrainian surnames ending in -ov and -in were formed in the era Kievan Rus when the ethnic division had not yet begun Eastern Slavs. It's about about representatives of the highest nobility, who already had surnames in the 10th century.
For example, a peace treaty between byzantine empire and Kievan Rus, concluded in 944, contains a complete enumeration specific persons who signed it together with the legendary Prince Igor (son of Rurik). Among the well-born and influential people who acted as guarantors of peace on the Kyiv side, this historical document indicated: Karshev, Svirkov, Koloklekov, Voikov, Utin, Vuzlev and Gudov.
To which of the two peoples did their descendants later classify themselves? The exact answer to this question is no longer found. However, it can be said with certainty that the surnames formed in the era of Kievan Rus may well be considered Ukrainian.
Forced Russified surnames
It should be recognized that some Ukrainian surnames were forcibly Russified. So, Romaniv could become Romanov, and Ivankiv - Ivankov. This process also took place in neighboring Belarus. At times Russian Empire some literate person - a county deacon who processed the documents - easily changed Ukrainian surnames just like that, without any malicious intent. Just so that the surname sounds “correct” in the opinion of a scribe transferred to some Kherson office from some Ryazan.
The well-known Ukrainian philologist Academician Oleksandr Ponomariv often notes in his publicistic speeches that in pre-revolutionary Russia mass Russification of Ukrainian surnames was carried out. And the historian Alexander Paly writes that they were often rewritten in the army, including the Soviet one.
If a person lost his passport, for example, then when replacing it, only one or two letters were corrected. Often, in response to complaints in official instances, people were told that this spelling of their surnames was more accurate, but earlier it was spelled with an error. So thousands of natives of Galicia, whose last names are characterized by the ending -iv, lost their national identity.
And in neighboring Belarus, some Ivashevichs became Ivashevs, Lukashevichs became Lukashevs, and so on.
"Altered" surnames
Sometimes the process of Russification took place voluntarily. Usually, after moving to our country, many Ukrainians added the letter “v” to their surnames so as not to stand out from the main mass of the population. Porechenkov, Mishchenkov, Petrenkov, Dmitrenkov, Kovalenkov and other surnames similar to them retain the Ukrainian flavor, they are distinguished by the characteristic suffix "-enko".
This was done both during the time of the Russian Empire and in the era of the USSR, it was convenient for people to be considered Russian for many reasons: starting from advancing career ladder and ending with the gossip of neighbors in the communal kitchen.
It is noteworthy that during the time of the Commonwealth, when part of Ukraine was part of this Polish-Lithuanian state, some people remade their surnames, adding the ending -sky to them. So the Ukrainians wanted to emphasize their belonging to the gentry - the privileged class of that time.
Many families, after several generations of life in Russia, inevitably acquired Russian surname endings. For example, the grandfather of the great writer Anton Chekhov bore the surname Chekh. However, this happened to almost everyone who moved to our country, because the owners of the surname Repa here became Repins, and Deineks became Denikins.
Each person is special in their own way. Some have an unusual appearance, others - beautiful voice, and some interesting last name. The surname is part of a person's life. She can be admired by others, but at the same time be an occasion for ridicule. It is very easy to determine the roots by the surname, it is enough to hear the ending. In the past, people chose their surname according to their profession, so most surnames are consonant with the types of work.
Each nation has the characteristics of its own culture, as well as a difference in the suffixes of the surname. A few examples of different nationalities:
- Russians have the endings -ev, -ov. Popular types: Smirnov, Ivanov.
- Ukrainian ones end in -ko, -uk, -yuk. Popular: Shevchenko, Nazarchuk, Serdyuk.
- Belarusians differ in the ending -ov, -ko, -ich. Examples: Rabkov, Kuzmich, Vladyko.
- Moldovans use the ending -u, -an. For example, Rotaru, Marian.
You can list nationalities for a long time, but each will have its own special approach. Slavic surnames may have the same ending, but will sound completely different.
Ukrainian Cossacks
The Cossacks played a huge role in the way of life of the Ukrainian people. It was in the 15th century that the emergence of the Cossacks led to the strengthening of the national spirit.
Most of the surnames found their origin precisely from the Cossack times. Men's options purchased big success, since the Cossacks meant only the presence of men. Women's options did not gain the popularity it deserved.
There was the Don Cossacks, where the nobles were present. Surname options:
In addition to Ukrainian surnames, there were many other Slavic variants in the Don Cossacks.
Dictionary of Ukrainian surnames
The Ukrainian language is famous for its pleasant sound, as well as unusualness. It is closely related to Russian and Polish, so some words are easy to remember.
Each one needs to be considered:
Surnames are completely different. The list is filled with some fun options. For Ukrainian language this is a common thing. Except funny options, there are popular female surnames, such as:
- Timoshenko.
- Tkachenko.
- Avramenko.
- Kornienko.
The country is famous for its Cossack traditions, as well as the beauty of Ukrainian women. Some of the surnames have a patronymic root:
- Grigorenko.
- Panasenko.
- Romanchenko.
Khokhlyatsky language can be spread in any field. It sounds nice and is unusual to use. If a person wants to change his surname to Ukrainian, then this list will help you find out approximate options.
Attention, only TODAY!
Surnames beginning with "enko" are known to be considered typically "Ukrainian".
Although they are also common in Belarus, where the number of their carriers is 1 million people, that is, every tenth. However, they are mostly residents of Mozyr, Rechitsa, Gomel, etc. that is, where Ukraine is not far away. It has become an influence Ukrainian factor undoubtedly.
In Russia, the Baltic states, etc. all the more so, almost all carriers of the surname on "enko" are somehow connected with Ukraine.
Where did they come from in Ukraine? Why exactly this form has become characteristic for Ukraine? But for Russia and Belarus, analogues are still rare (-yonok, -onok)
The fact is that, in fact, it was not originally a surname in the current sense of the word, that is, a generic name (nomen in the Roman tradition), that is, a certain proper name, which is passed from father to son identifying the genus as such.
In fact, the form "on enko" is something like modern concept"patronymic" is just the opposite of "sonship" if I may say so.
That is, someone came to sign up by the nickname Ugrin - it was written by Old Ugrin. And the son was written to Ugrinenko. That is, "ugrenenok" in the vocative case. The letter ё in Russian of the 17th century also did not exist. Even in the time of Pushkin, there were disputes about how to correctly say "immortal" or "immortal".
That is, Ugrenenko is a vocative case from Ugrenenko. In modern Russian for the Magyars, the Polish version of "Hungarians" is used. In traditional Russian - Ugrians, and Hungarian, respectively, Ugrin. That is, "Ugrinenko" is the son of a Hungarian, Ugrin. Moskalenko, respectively, is the son of a Muscovite (Moscow Rusyn). Lyashenko, respectively, the son of a Pole (Pole) Litvinenko, respectively, the son of a Litvin (Belarusian). It is characteristic that the surname "Ukrainchenko" somehow does not occur here. Well, this is so clear.
But the absence of the “Rusinenko” option is much more curious, however, this is quite understandable because the Rusyns were either Muscovites or Litvins. In principle, no other Rusyns existed. Because the names "Litvinenko" and "Moskalenko" are, but "Rusinenko" is not. Zhidenka is also absent for obvious reasons. No one recorded them anywhere in any military registers.
For reasons other than military registers, there was no reason at all to keep records.
That is, when in Ukraine, which was then part of the Commonwealth, they began to register in the register, for example, registered Cossacks, etc. in the 17th century, father and sons often came. Accordingly, the father was recorded "as is" while the sons were recorded by adding the traditional diminutive suffix "enk". (by the way, it is in this form that it is traditionally in Russian, in modern Ukrainian it would be "enk"). The ending "-o" is due to the fact that it is a vocative case.
By type Cook - a cook, Leo - a lion cub. Malets - little boy, etc.
Moreover, for modern literary Ukrainian, this suffix, even in the form of "enk" in given value not very typical. For example, instead of "fox" - "fox" instead of "elephant" - "elephant", etc. However, there is a “richenka”, “pisenka”, etc.
Thus it is a traditional Russian suffix, but spread as "sonship" in Ukraine in the 17th century. Especially in the Bratslov Voivodeship, that is, the Podolia region.
However, as a "surname" in modern sense of this word, it began to spread massively exclusively in the 30s of the XX century during the period of mass Soviet passartization. Most of the peasants did not have any surnames at all in principle.
That is why the passport offices of the Ukrainian SSR, to which such a "tradition" was recommended, without further ado, cling to the nickname or name of the father or grandfather, just this very "enko".
Hence all these Nikolaenki, Efimenki, Fomenki, Pivovarenki and so on. Because it is clear that if these were traditional Ukrainian surnames and not a remake Soviet power, it would be Mykolenko, Yohimenko, Khomenko, Brovarenko, etc.
It is with this Stalinist passportization that the fact is connected that on the territory of the former Ukrainian SSR, which was part of the USSR in the 30s, there is a completely prohibitive number of people bearing the surname "enko". And not by any tradition of the 17th century. In that part of Ukraine that was not part of the USSR, that is, Galicia, Volyn, etc. surnames beginning with "enko" are almost exclusively migrants from more eastern regions.
This explains the incident why the form on "enko" without soft sign(enko), which is absolutely not typical for just the modern literary Ukrainian language.
There was nothing like this in Belarus. There was no order to write down all Belarusian peasants in the form of a patronymic, that is, in "ovich". Therefore, in Belarus, surnames with "ovich" are about one and a half million people, which is about 15 percent of the population. Basically, in Belarus, surnames are formed according to the same scheme as in Russia, that is, from male possessive suffix "ov" "ev" from feminine "in".
Well, that is, from "oak" there will be "oaks" from "birch" - birch.
Another thing is that since the Belarusian language was still different from Russian, then, for example, Bochkarev and Kuznetsov are by no means Belarusian surnames. Unlike Kovalev and Bondarev. However, in Russian cooper, too, may well be. As it is possible for a forger, from the word forge and not from the word forge.
Initially, this form is just a middle name. That is, Ivanov is a patronymic, that is, Ivanov's son. While "ovich" is both a patronymic and here is "sonship". "ich" is one of the oldest Slavic suffixes for "sonship".
Example. Tsarevich. That is, the son of the Tsar = the Tsar's son + ich, that is, it is shown that it is the son and not the servant, etc.
However, later the patronymic turned into a surname, and the category of sonship in combination with the patronymic became just a patronymic.
That is, Ivan-ov from a patronymic became a surname, that is generic name(nomen)
While Ivan-ov-ich became just a patronymic.
That is, if a person has a surname in "enko", this only indicates that one of his male ancestors most likely lived on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR at least in the 30s of the 20th century. It is clear that ethnically it could be anyone, just as the rest of the ancestors of this person can also be anyone.
Where did such surnames as Yushchenko, Khmelnitsky, Gavrilyuk and Shevchenko come from? What do Tyagnibok and Zhuiboroda have in common?
This unique "-enko"
Surnames ending with the suffix "-enko" are considered the most typical for Ukrainians, and not because they constitute the largest group, but because they practically do not occur among others. Slavic peoples. The fact that such surnames became widespread in Russia is explained by the fact that the Ukrainians, after joining the Muscovite state in 1654, constituted the second largest ethnic group after the Russians.
It should be noted that Ukrainian surnames came into use earlier than Russian ones. The very first mention of a surname with the suffix "-enko" refers to XVI century. Their localization was typical for Podolia, a little less often for the Kiev region, Zhytomyr region and Galicia. Later, they began to actively spread to Eastern Ukraine.
Researcher Stepan Bevzenko, who studied the register of the Kyiv regiment of the middle XVII century, notes that surnames ending in "-enko" accounted for approximately 60% of the entire list of family names of the regiment. The suffix "-enko" is a diminutive, emphasizing the connection with the father, which literally meant "small", "young man", "son". For example, Petrenko is the son of Peter or Yushchenko is the son of Yusk.
Later, the ancient suffix lost its direct meaning and began to be used as a family component. In particular, it became an addition not only for patronymics, but also for nicknames and professions - Zubchenko, Melnichenko.
Polish influence
For a long time most of today's Ukraine was part of the Commonwealth, which left its mark on the process of forming surnames. Surnames in the form of adjectives ending in "-sky" and "-tsky" were especially popular. They were mainly based on toponyms - the names of territories, settlements, water objects.
Initially, surnames with similar endings were worn exclusively by the Polish aristocracy, as a designation of the rights to own a particular territory - Potocki, Zamoyski. Later, such suffixes also spread to Ukrainian surnames, adding to the names and nicknames - Artemovsky, Khmelnitsky.
Historian Valentin Bendyug notes that from the beginning XVIII century « noble families”began to be assigned to those who had an education, first of all it concerned priests. Thus, according to the researcher's calculations, over 70% of the clergy of the Volyn diocese bore surnames with the suffixes "-tsky" and "-sky".
phenomenon in Western Ukraine surnames with endings in "-uk", "-chuk", "-yuk", "-ak" also occurred during the period of the Commonwealth. Baptismal names became the basis for such surnames, but later any others. This helped to solve the problem of identification - selection specific person from society and the separation of the Ukrainian from the gentry. This is how Gavrilyuk, Ivanyuk, Zakharchuk, Kondratyuk appeared, although over time these suffixes became more widely used - Popelnyuk, Kostelnyuk.
Eastern trail
Linguists have established that there are at least 4,000 Turkic words in the Ukrainian language. This is due to the active resettlement of some Turkic and other Eastern peoples in the area of the Black Sea and the Dnieper region due to the increased Islamization of the Caucasus and Central Asian regions.
All this directly affected the formation of Ukrainian surnames. In particular, the Russian ethnologist L. G. Lopatinsky argued that common in Ukraine family ending"-ko" comes from the Adyghe "ko" ("kue"), meaning "descendant" or "son".
For example, the frequently encountered surname Shevchenko, according to the researcher, goes back to the word "sheudzhen", which the Circassians called Christian priests. The descendants of the “sheudzhen” who moved to the Ukrainian lands began to add the ending “-ko” - this is how they turned into Shevchenko.
It is curious that surnames ending in "-ko" are still found among some Caucasian peoples and Tatars, and many of them are very similar to Ukrainian ones: Gerko, Zanko, Kushko, Khatko.
Lopatinsky also attributes Ukrainian surnames ending in "-uk" and "-yuk" to Turkic roots. So, as evidence, he cites the names of the Tatar khans - Kuchuk, Tayuk, Payuk. The researcher of Ukrainian onomastics G. A. Borisenko supplements the list with Ukrainian surnames with a wide variety of endings, which, in his opinion, are of Adyghe origin - Babiy, Bogma, Zigura, Kekukh, Legeza, Prykhno, Shakhray.
for example, the surname Dzhigurda - an example of Ukrainian-Circassian anthroponymic correspondence - consists of two words: Dzhikur - the name of the Zikh governor of Georgia and David - the Georgian king. In other words, Dzhigurda is Dzhikur under David.
Cossack nicknames
The environment of the Zaporizhzhya Cossacks contributed to the formation a large number a wide variety of nicknames, behind which serfs and representatives of other classes who had escaped from dependence hid their origin for security reasons.
“According to the rules of the Sich, the newcomers had to leave their names behind the outer walls and enter the Cossack world with the name that would best describe them,” writes researcher V. Sorokopud.
Many of the bright and colorful nicknames, consisting of two parts - a verb in imperative mood and a noun subsequently, without any suffixes, turned into surnames: Zaderykhvist, Zhuiboroda, Lupybatko, Nezdiiminoga.
Some of the surnames can be found even now - Tyagnibok, Sorokopud, Vernigora, Krivonos. Whole line modern surnames went from one-part Cossack nicknames - Mace, Gorobets, Birch.
ethnic diversity
The diversity of Ukrainian surnames is the result of the influence of those states and peoples, under whose influence Ukraine has been for centuries. It's interesting that for a long time Ukrainian surnames were the product of free word creation and could change several times. Only in late XVIII centuries, in connection with the decree of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, all surnames acquired a legal status, including in the territories of Ukraine, which were part of Austria-Hungary.
Professor Pavel Chuchka points out that one should distinguish between a “Ukrainian surname” and a surname belonging to a Ukrainian. For example, the surname Schwartz, which is still found in Ukraine, has German roots, but its derivative Shvartsyuk (son of Schwartz) is already typically Ukrainian.
Due to foreign influence, Ukrainian surnames often acquire a very specific sound. So, for example, the surname Yovban, according to Chuchka, has always been prestigious, since it comes from the name of St. Job, which is pronounced Yovb in Hungarian. But the researcher sees the surname Penzenik in the Polish word "penzit", which translates as how to scare
Factors of education, traditions
The origin of Ukrainian surnames is deeply rooted in the history of the Slavic peoples, so they are often consonant with Russian surnames. Despite this, the formation of Ukrainian surnames has a number of distinctive features. The main one is the role of suffixes in word formation.
Few people know that the Ukrainian surname is one of the oldest in Europe. In any case, in the 17th century, almost all Ukrainians had surnames. Some of them had surnames that were given to their ancestors in princely times. For comparison, French commoners received surnames only at the beginning of the 19th century thanks to the decree of Emperor Napoleon the First. Russian peasants received surnames only after the Reform of 1861. This is one of the reasons why Russians have so many surnames Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov. It is known that when they issued "free" to yesterday's serfs, they were given surnames by the name of their father. The names Ivan, Peter, Sidor at that time were the most common in Russian villages and villages. On occasion, I would like to point out that the only people Europe, which still does not have permanent surnames, are the Icelanders. With them, the name of the father automatically becomes the surname for the child. Therefore, men have surnames like Petersen (Peter's son), and women Peterdottir (Peter's daughter).
The Ukrainian surname, like the surnames of most Europeans, was formed from the name, nickname or profession of the father, very rarely from the name of the mother. Numerous Petrenki, Ivanenki, Romanenki, Luchenki, Lutsenki, Ulyanenki are vivid confirmation of this. In Western Ukraine, patronymic surnames were formed using the suffix "iv": Ivaniv, Illiv, Ivantsiv, unfortunately, the female suffix (ova) did not take root in Ukraine, therefore a modern Ukrainian woman wears male version these surnames. The only exceptions are surnames with suffixes –sky, -tsky, -ov-sky, -ev-sky, which have a feminine form.
Surname groups by origin
Enough large group Ukrainian surnames are formed using the suffix "-enko". For example: Tymoshenko, Shevchenko, Tkachenko, Bondarenko, Kovalenko, Kirilenko, Ivanenko, Petrenko, Pavlenko, Kravchenko, Zakharenko. No less popular in the formation of Ukrainian surnames are suffixes: “-eyko”, “-point”, “-ko”, for example: Andreiko, Butko, Boreiko, Semochko, Marochko, Klitschko, Shumeiko.
The suffixes "-evsky", "-ovsky" are somewhat less common. This way of word formation is clearly illustrated by the surnames: Kotovsky, Alchevsky, Grinevsky Petrovsky, Maslovsky, Mogilevsky.
It is extremely rare that Ukrainian surnames are formed using the Old Slavonic suffix "-ich": Davydovich, Germanovich, Shufrich. But the suffixes "-ik" and "-nik", on the contrary, are quite common. Examples are Ukrainian surnames Petrik, Berdnik, Pasichnik, Linnik.
Here are some more examples of the participation of suffixes in the formation of Ukrainian surnames, for example, the surnames Bondarchuk, Kravchuk, Savchuk, Khitruk, Polishchuk, Tarasyuk, Serdyuk, which were born with the help of the suffixes "-uk", "-yuk" and "-chuk". It is also worth mentioning the surnames: Shcherbak (formed with the suffix "-ak"), Durnovo (suffix "-vo"), Taranets (suffix "-ets"), sadly famous surname Chikatilo (suffix "-lo"), well, famous surname Makhno, formed with the suffix "-no".
A significant part of Ukrainian surnames originates from given names. For example, Zakharchenko, Zakharenko (on behalf of Zakhar), Yuschak, Yushchenko (on behalf of Yushko, Yuri), Klim, Klimenko (on behalf of Kliment), Makarenko, Makarchenko (on behalf of Makar), Nikolenko, Nikolchuk (on behalf of Mykol).
source of origin next group Ukrainian surnames have become popular on
Ukraine profession. For example:
Ukrainian surnames Bondar, Bondarenko, Bondarchuk - from the profession of a cooper, that is. barrel manufacturer;
Ukrainian surnames Gonchar, Goncharenko, Goncharuk - from pottery;
Ukrainian surnames Koval, Kovalenko, Kovalchuk - from the blacksmith business;
Ukrainian surnames Kravets, Kravchenko, Kravchuk - from the profession of a tailor.
Ukrainian surnames formed from the names of animals deserve special attention. For example: Gogol (that is, a bird), Gorobets (more specifically, a sparrow), Mosquito, Komarovsky (respectively, a mosquito), Leshchinsky, Leshchenko (thanks to the bream), Khrushch, Khrushchev (meaning - May beetle). Most interesting group represent such Ukrainian surnames as Beloshtan, Krasnoshapka, Sinebryukh, Ryabokon, Kryvonos, Podoprigora, Nepiyvoda, Zabeyvorota and others formed from two parts (noun + adjective or verb + noun).
Some of the Ukrainian surnames were formed by combining two parts. It could be a bunch: an adjective and a noun, for example, Ukrainian surnames: Beloshtan, Krasnoshapka, Sinebryukh, Ryabokon, Krivonos. Or a combination of a verb and a noun was used: Podoprigora, Nepiyvoda, Zabeyvorota and others.
Thus, Ukrainian surnames have both common and distinctive features compared to the names of other peoples. General information about the origin of surnames can be found in the surname history section for free, posted on our website. The secrets of surnames will be revealed for you by the section of surnames and their meanings, dedicated to the interpretation of surnames.
Summing up the analysis of the ways of formation of Ukrainian surnames, it should be noted that the original Ukrainian surnames were distorted either by the carriers themselves or by clerks. Such surnames as Minyailov, Shumilov, Pluzhnikov, Ryzhkov, formed by adding the Russian suffix "-ov" either by the carriers themselves, who switched from Little Russians to Great Russians, or by clerks.
It is necessary to touch upon the distortion of Ukrainian surnames. Such currently Russian surnames as Shevchenkov, Luchenkov, Ivanenkov, Kolesnichenkov were created during the time of general passportization during the reform of 1861. They were provided to the children of Ukrainian immigrants who did not live compactly on the territory of Great Russia. In Siberia, the local population also rebaptized Ukrainians. This is how the names of Savitsky, Romanenkov, Chernetsky were formed.
Ukrainian surnames in their origin and meaning, they have much in common with Russian surnames, since both are closely connected with the history of the Slavic peoples. At the same time, Ukrainian surnames have their own characteristics, which will be discussed in this review.
Suffixes of Ukrainian surnames
One of the most common suffixes in Ukrainian surnames is the suffix "-enko" meaning "someone's son". Examples of such Ukrainian surnames: Shevchenko, Tkachenko, Tymoshenko, Kovalenko, Bondarenko, Kirilenko, Ivanenko, Petrenko, Pavlenko, Kravchenko, Zakharenko, etc. This list of Ukrainian surnames can be quite large, since the most common suffix is used here. Also among Ukrainian surnames, suffixes are often found: “-eyko”, “-point”, “-ko”, for example, surnames: Shumeiko, Boreyko, Semochko, Marochko, Butko, Klitschko, Andreyko. The suffixes "-ovsky", "-evsky" are used a little less often. This, for example, is the following list of Ukrainian surnames: Kotovsky, Petrovsky, Maslovsky, Mogilevsky, Alchevsky, Grinevsky. Sometimes among Ukrainian surnames you can find the Old Slavonic suffix "-ich": Davydovich, Germanovich, Shufrich. Quite often among Ukrainian surnames there are suffixes "-ik" and "-nik". These are, for example, the Ukrainian surnames Petrik, Berdnik, Pasichnik, Linnik. The suffixes "-uk", "-yuk", "-chuk" in Ukrainian surnames mean "someone's servant", for example: Bondarchuk, Kravchuk, Savchuk, Khitruk, Polishchuk, Tarasyuk, Serdyuk, etc.
Among Ukrainian surnames, there are other suffixes, for example, "-vo" - the surname Durnovo, "-ak" - the surname Shcherbak, "-ets" - the surname Taranets, "-lo" - Chikatilo, "-no" - Makhno, etc. ., who also participate in the formation of Ukrainian surnames.
Ukrainian surnames descended from professions
Similar to the surnames of other peoples, the origin of many Ukrainian surnames is associated with crafts and professions. For example:
Ukrainian surnames Bondar, Bondarenko, Bondarchuk - from the profession of a cooper, i.e. barrel manufacturer;
Ukrainian surnames Gonchar, Goncharenko, Goncharuk - from pottery;
Ukrainian surnames Koval, Kovalenko, Kovalchuk - from the blacksmith business;
Ukrainian surnames Kravets, Kravchenko, Kravchuk - from the profession of a tailor.
Obviously, the meaning of all these Ukrainian surnames will correspond to the profession, the name of which became the source for the origin of the surname.
Ukrainian surnames derived from given names
Probably, most peoples have a significant part of surnames formed from given names. Ukrainian surnames are no exception here, the origin of which is associated with names. Such surnames include, for example: Zakharchenko, Zakharenko (on behalf of Zakhar), Yushchak, Yushchenko (on behalf of Yushko, Yuri), Klim, Klimenko (on behalf of Kliment), Makarenko, Makarchenko (on behalf of Makar), Nikolenko, Nikolchuk (from named after Mikola), etc. Of course, the meaning of this type of Ukrainian surnames is determined by the meaning of the names from which they originated.
Ukrainian surnames descended from animals
Among Ukrainian surnames there are some surnames formed from the names of animals. These include the following Ukrainian surnames: Gogol (meaning bird), Gorobets (meaning sparrow), Komar, Komarovsky (meaning mosquito), Leshchinsky, Leshchenko (meaning bream), Khrushch, Khrushchov (meaning Maybug), etc.
Compound Ukrainian surnames
Some of the Ukrainian surnames were formed by combining two parts. It could be a bunch: an adjective and a noun, for example, Ukrainian surnames: Beloshtan, Krasnoshapka, Sinebryukh, Ryabokon, Krivonos, etc. Or a combination of a verb and a noun was used: Podoprigora, Nepiyvoda, Zabeyvorota and others.
