The first Russian surnames appeared in the 13th century, but most remained “nicknameless” for another 600 years. All you needed was your first name, patronymic and profession.

When did surnames appear in Rus'?

The fashion for surnames came to Rus' from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Back in the 12th century, Veliky Novgorod established close contacts with this state. Noble Novgorodians can be considered the first official owners of surnames in Rus'.

The earliest known list of the dead with the names: “Novgorodets that fall: Kostyantin Lugotinits, Gyurata Pineshchinich, Namst, Drochilo Nezdylov son of a tanner...” (First Novgorod chronicle of the older edition, 1240). Surnames helped in diplomacy and in recording troops. This made it easier to distinguish one Ivan from another.

Boyar and princely families

In the XIV-XV centuries, Russian princes and boyars began to take surnames. Surnames were often formed from the names of the lands. Thus, the owners of the estate on the Shuya River became the Shuiskys, on Vyazma - the Vyazemskys, on Meshchera - the Meshcherskys, the same story with the Tverskys, Obolenskys, Vorotynskys and other -skys.

It must be said that -sk- is a common Slavic suffix; it can be found in Czech surnames (Komensky), and in Polish (Zapototsky), and in Ukrainian (Artemovsky).

Boyars also often received their surnames from the baptismal name of the ancestor or his nickname: such surnames literally answered the question “whose?” (implied “whose son?”, “what kind?”) and included possessive suffixes.

The suffix -ov- was added to worldly names ending in hard consonants: Smirnoy - Smirnov, Ignat - Ignatov, Petr - Petrov.

The suffix -Ev- was added to names and nicknames that had a soft sign at the end, -iy, -ey or h: Bear - Medvedev, Yuri - Yuryev, Begich - Begichev.

The suffix -in- received surnames formed from names with the vowels “a” and “ya”: Apukhta -Apukhtin, Gavrila - Gavrilin, Ilya -Ilyin.

Why are the Romanovs - Romanovs?

The most famous surname in Russian history is the Romanovs. Their ancestor Andrei Kobyla (a boyar from the time of Ivan Kalita) had three sons: Semyon Zherebets, Alexander Elka Kobylin and Fyodor Koshka. From them descended the Zherebtsovs, Kobylins and Koshkins, respectively.

After several generations, descendants decided that a surname from a nickname was not noble. Then they first became the Yakovlevs (after the great-grandson of Fyodor Koshka) and the Zakharyins-Yuryevs (after the names of his grandson and another great-grandson), and remained in history as the Romanovs (after the great-great-grandson of Fyodor Koshka).

Aristocratic surnames

The Russian aristocracy initially had noble roots, and among the nobles there were many people who came to Russian service from abroad. It all started with surnames of Greek and Polish-Lithuanian origin at the end of the 15th century, and in the 17th century they were joined by the Fonvizins (German von Wiesen), the Lermontovs (Scottish Lermont) and other surnames with Western roots.

Also, the surnames that were given to illegitimate children of noble people have foreign language bases: Sherov (French cher “dear”), Amantov (French amant “beloved”), Oksov (German Ochs “bull”), Herzen (German Herz “heart” ").

By-product children generally “suffered” a lot from their parents’ imagination. Some of them did not bother to come up with a new surname, but simply shortened the old one: this is how Pnin was born from Repnin, Betskoy from Trubetskoy, Agin from Elagin, and the “Koreans” Go and Te came from Golitsyn and Tenishev. The Tatars also left a significant mark on Russian surnames. This is exactly how the Yusupovs (descendants of Murza Yusup), the Akhmatovs (Khan Akhmat), the Karamzins (Tatar punishment “black”, Murza “lord, prince”), the Kudinovs (distorted Kaz.-Tatar. Kudai “God, Allah”) and other.

Surnames of servicemen

Following the nobility, ordinary service people began to receive surnames. They, like the princes, were also often called by their place of residence, only with “simpler” suffixes: families living in Tambov became Tambovtsevs, in Vologda - Vologzhaninovs, in Moscow - Moskvichevs and Moskvitinovs. Some were satisfied with the “non-family” suffix, denoting a resident of a given territory in general: Belomorets, Kostromich, Chernomorets, while others received the nickname without any changes - hence Tatyana Dunay, Alexander Galich, Olga Poltava and others.

Surnames of clergy

The surnames of the priests were formed from the names of churches and Christian holidays (Rozhdestvensky, Uspensky), and were also artificially formed from Church Slavonic, Latin and Greek words. The most interesting of them were those that were translated from Russian into Latin and received the “princely” suffix -sk-. Thus, Bobrov became Kastorsky (Latin castor “beaver”), Skvortsov became Sturnitsky (Latin sturnus “starling”), and Orlov became Aquilev (Latin aquila “eagle”).

When the peasants began to acquire surnames, for superstitious reasons, from the evil eye, they gave their children surnames that were not the most pleasant: Nelyub, Nenash, Nekhoroshiy, Blockhead, Kruchina. After the revolution, queues began to form at passport offices from those who wanted to change their surname to a more euphonious one.

Nowadays, every person has a surname. Just as a name is given, a surname is “assigned.” Most people live with their own surname all their lives, and girls live until marriage, after which they change their maiden name to the surname of their husband. There are cases where men take their wives' surnames, but such cases are less common. Have you ever wondered where your last name came from, how old it is, centuries, thousands of years old? After all, you can change your surname, but then the dynasty of kinship may end, and no one guarantees that there are still people on Earth with a surname like yours. We offer you a directory of surnames in which you can try to find yours.

There are such a huge number of surnames that we are simply not able to collect information about all surnames. The directory contains more than 40,000 Russian surnames.

Dictionary of Russian surnames

The surname dictionary can be used as a reference book; free surnames are grouped by letter. The list of surnames is quite detailed, more than 40,000. The history of the surname can go back many centuries. During its existence, a surname can undergo quite significant changes, with the loss of both individual letters and entire syllables, which can radically change the original meaning of the surname. Finding out about the origin of a surname and what it actually means, in some cases, can be quite simple. Usually, it is easy to guess the meaning of a simple surname and without hints, for complex surnames this may not be possible at all.

It can be assumed that the origins of any surname lie either in a craft or in the personal characteristics of people, which were later transformed into the now known surnames. No genealogy is able to trace the real state of affairs. At best, you can find mention of your last name in historical documents and in this way determine how old it is. The maximum that we have today is a family tree that can be traced back no more than 10 generations.

How to find out the meaning of a surname? Unfortunately, only the very first bearers of the surname knew the original meaning of their surname, maybe direct relatives and that’s it. Then it’s just guesswork and fortune telling on coffee grounds. Let's be realistic, if you do not have reliable and detailed information about your ancestors, who they were, where they lived, then your secret surname may never be solved. Therefore, information about the places of residence of all your ancestors can be of great help in finding the origin of a surname. This is very important, because the same word underlying a surname can have completely different meanings among different peoples and in different dialects. Moreover, even familiar words in the old days had meanings different from modern ones.

In this encyclopedia of surnames you will find both common and very rare surnames, of course there are also the most beautiful surnames. Naturally, the concept of beauty is very subjective and everyone will have their own opinion on this matter. Look at the common last names of visitors. Pay attention to the funniest surnames that real people have to live with. The most interesting thing is that they came down from time immemorial in exactly this form. It turns out that before, people didn’t see anything funny or shameful in their surnames. Only in this case could they be preserved.

Maria Soboleva

What does the surname mean? How to find out

What does a surname mean? Everyone is interested in learning about its origin, about the history of its family. Is it possible to find such information on your own or is it better to turn to specialists?

The secret of the surname

What does a surname mean? This question can be answered by a special science called anthroponymy.

And the surname itself, what it is, is the personal name of each of us, which passes from generation to generation, our family name. Your distant ancestors were also Smirnovs or Kovalenkos, and now you proudly bear this surname.

Specialists in the field of anthroponymy are akin to archaeologists; they try to get to the bottom of the origins of family names and find out the history of their origin. Answering the question of what the surname means, scientists learn many interesting facts from history, ethnography, and geography.

Origin of the surname

There are surnames that are simple and understandable, not requiring special explanations - it is already clear to everyone that the family name Kuznetsov comes from the once in demand craft of a blacksmith (and Ukraine has its own variations of surnames that arose due to the profession: Koval, Kovalchuk, Kovalko).

But if you are the owner of a surname that is not entirely clear to the ear and mind, then, of course, quite reasonable questions arise: what does the surname mean and how to find out?

Today on the Internet there are many sites that offer dictionaries of surnames, opened, read and ordered. But how accurate is this information and what to do if your generic name is not there?

You can go in two ways: searching for the truth on your own and posing such a task to specialists.

Your older relatives can tell you what the surname means. Some families carefully preserve the history of their family, they know about their ancestors up to the fifth or seventh generation.

You can look through books on anthroponymy, various reference books and dictionaries. They also turn to archives for information.

But this path is not for everyone - you need to be very meticulous, scrupulous and persistent.

There are sites on the Internet that help you create chronicles of your family, search for relatives, find out what a surname means and what its origin is.

Enthusiasts collect information about family names, perhaps in this way you will find out what interests you. For example, the GenWAY resource, whose motto is “More than a family,” or the Internet project “All-Russian Family Tree.”

Creating a chronicle of your kind is a great way to bring your family together.

It’s easier, of course, to seek help from specialists who will help you find out what the surname means. Firms that conduct such research have access to an extensive database - they use information from registry offices, parish archives, historical documents: military lists, merchant books, legal codes from tsarist times.


The only question is whether you have the funds to pay for such services, because finding out what a last name means is sometimes not easy, and searching for the truth takes a lot of time.

But on the other hand, you will not only learn about the origin of the surname, but you will also be able to order a family tree, draw up your own pedigree, and receive a family diploma.

Last name meaning

At first, representatives of noble families acquired surnames, starting from the end of the 14th century. Following the nobles, princes and boyars, artisans, merchants, and service people began to receive family names. They entered into transactions, took on various obligations, and the document had to have a signature confirming ownership.

But people of lower social status did not have a surname as such. Even the leader of the people's militia of 1611-1612, Minin, does not have a surname, but a designation that he is the son of Mina. It was the descendants who inherited the hero’s surname.

People of low class during their lives could be renamed by boyars, governors, and clerks at their will. He was Fedotov (by his father), became Krivoshein (by his appearance).

Even the reforms of Peter I, who introduced the word “surname” into the Russian language and ordered “audits” - population censuses - did not make the surname of a simple peasant permanent and inheritable.

It was only with the introduction of passports in Soviet times that hereditary surnames were finally established. Although many ancient surnames have survived to our times. For example, Streltsov - from the name “strelets” (a soldier of the Streltsy army).

More examples: what does the surname Ordyntsev mean - that’s what people were called by belonging to the Golden Horde, Tolmachev - from the word “interpreter” (translator).

Some surnames come from borrowed names. If Ivanov, Lukin and Fomin are familiar to our ears, then hardly anyone would guess about the origin of the heroically renowned surname Susanin from the Western European name Susanna.

But the common surname Laktionov comes from Galaktion (the first syllable was simply cut off for ease of pronunciation).

What a surname means, in some cases it’s easy to guess for yourself:

• from the names of animals - Zaitsev, Sokolov, Shchukin;

• from geographical names - Muromov, Dnieper, Shuisky;

• in honor of religious holidays - Assumption, Vozdvizhensky;

• according to external signs: Sukhorukov, Krivtsov, Shcherbak (lost front teeth);

• from family nicknames - Malyshev (from baby), Menshikov (from menshik - the youngest in the family);

• in accordance with character traits - Molchanov, Shustrikov, Zlenko;

• by occupation - Melnikov, Rybakov, Kravchenko (from “kravets” - cutter);

• derivatives from craft objects - Shapkin, Shilov;

• from nicknames of people from other places - Nemchinov, Karelin, Tatarenko;

• “everyday” surnames - Kuleshov, Pirogov, Ovsyannikov, Kochergin.

What a surname means is not only interesting, but also useful to know, because it encodes the history of your family.


Find out the meaning of your last name, create a family tree of your family (a great birthday gift for mom) so that the memory of your ancestors is passed on to the next generation. Everyone should know their roots.

Take it for yourself and tell your friends!

Read also on our website:

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Ushakov's Dictionary

Surname

surname, last names, wives (lat. familia).

1. A hereditary family name, added to a personal name and passed from father (or mother) to children, and also (before the revolution, now optional) from husband to wife. State your first and last name. Change your last name. Keep your maiden name.

2. Same as in 2 meaning Pushkin belonged to an old noble family.

3. Family, family members ( decomposition outdated). - Observe your illness. “Besides, your last name has now come to you, remember about it.” Dostoevsky.

Political Science: Dictionary-Reference Book

Surname

(lat. familia)

1) in Dr. In Rome, a family economic and legal unit, which, in addition to blood relatives, included slaves.

2) family, clan A generic name acquired at birth, change of the original surname, adoption, in marriage and passed on by inheritance.

Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language

Surname

French - famille.

German – Familie (family).

Latin - familia (household).

The word “surname” came into Russian at the beginning of the 18th century. from Latin through Western European languages.

“Last name” is “a family name, received from parents, which is added to a personal name,” and also (obsolete meaning) “family.”

Related are:

Ukrainian – surname and nickname.

Bulgarian – surname (family).

Czech – familie (family).

Polish – familia (relatives, clan).

Derivatives: family (ancestral), family.

Dictionary of forgotten and difficult words of the 18th-19th centuries

Surname

, And , and

1. Family, family members.

* The princely family is leaving and Zagoretsky too. // Griboyedov. Woe from Wit //. *

2. A series of generations bearing one hereditary name and having one ancestor; genus.

* The elderly lady bore the name of Princess Trubetskoy, one of the best surnames in Russia. // Lev Tolstoy. War and Peace // *

Gasparov. Records and extracts

Surname

♦ Colonel Chebotarev in “The Players” became Chemodanov in the censorship, otherwise his surname was not a noble one (S. Aksakov to Gogol, February 6, 1843).

♦ I dreamed that my name was Mikhail Leonovich Rava-Russkaya.

Historical and etymological dictionary of Latin borrowings

Surname

1) The hereditary family (clan) or acquired name of a person, as opposed to a personal name;

2) a series of generations bearing one hereditary name and having one ancestor; clan, family;

3) outdated family, family members;

4) clan, generation descended from one ancestor.

lat. familia“1) family, family, relatives; 2) part of a clan bearing the same name.” Borrowing from Polish familia"clan, family" or German Family"household members" at the beginning of the 18th century. (Fasm., IV, 184).

Fixed in Lex. Polik. (144) in the meaning of “genus”, in L.v.n. (381) meaning “family, relatives.” By the end of the 18th century. the word surname had the meaning “1) calling, designation, name that someone’s entire family had from time immemorial; 2) family, family, household members; 3) house, clan, breed, generation” (Sl. Yanovsk., III, 405). From the second third of the 19th century. the word surname meant “haberdashery politeness the name of a spouse, wife” (Dal’s Sl., IV, 458). However, by the beginning of the next century, this use was de-actualized along with the meaning “family, family, household members.”

║ Family. Formed using suf. - n-. Fixed in Sl.Geyma (III, 324).

Thesaurus of Russian business vocabulary

Surname

Syn: family, family (book, informal), house (arr.)

encyclopedic Dictionary

Surname

(lat. familia),..

1. family, clan...
2. In Dr. In Rome, a family economic and legal unit, which, in addition to blood relatives, included slaves...
3. A generic name acquired at birth, change of the original surname, adoption, in marriage and passed on by inheritance.

Ozhegov's Dictionary

FAM AND LIYA, And, and.

1. An inherited family name added to a personal name. F., first and patronymic. How is your personal name? Maiden f. (before marriage). F. husband(accepted by the wife upon marriage).

Russian surnames. The scientist’s work serves as evidence of how rich and diverse the world of this category of anthroponyms is.

Time of appearance of surnames

The very first bearers of surnames were the inhabitants of northern Italy; they appeared among them in the 10th-11th centuries. Then the active process of assigning hereditary names to people captured France, England, and Germany. The European population, primarily noble feudal lords, gradually acquired their own family name.

In Russia, before the abolition of serfdom, many peasants did not have surnames, although already in the 16th century. the law prescribed their mandatory receipt by princely and boyar families, then this spread to the noble and merchant classes. A Senate decree in 1988 noted that having a certain surname is the responsibility of every Russian person. The final process of forming family names was completed under Soviet rule, in the thirties of the 20th century.

What were people called in Rus' before the appearance of surnames?

Before the appearance of surnames in Rus', people had only personal names, at first non-canonical, which in the modern sense should be classified as nicknames: for example, Nezhdan, Guban, Hare, Nenasha. Then, in the second half of the 16th century. Slavic names were replaced by new names, recorded in the Monthly Book, of people who were canonized as saints or who became venerable figures of the church. Non-Christian names finally fell out of use in Rus' a century later.

To distinguish people, they began to come up with middle names, mentioning the father (in our opinion, patronymic): for example, Ivan Petrov son, later on – Ivan Petrovich.

Origins

The nobility who owned the lands received, depending on the name of the appanage principalities that belonged to them (Rostov, Tverskoy, Vyazemsky), many boyar surnames came from nicknames (Lobanov, Golenishchev), and later double ones could be found, which combined both the nickname and the name of the appanage . Among the first noble families there were also those borrowed from other languages: for example, the Akhmatovs, Yusupovs, Lermontovs, Fonvizins.

The surnames of representatives of the clergy most often ended in -iy and indicated the place of parish (Pokrovsky, Dubrovsky), but sometimes they were simply made up for the sake of euphony.

The peasant population of Russia everywhere began to receive surnames after the abolition of serfdom. But in the north of the Russian state, the Novgorod lands, they arose earlier (suffice it to recall the great scientist M.V. Lomonosov). This is explained by the fact that there was no serfdom in these territories.

Most of the peasants acquired their family name thanks to the creativity of officials, who were ordered by royal decree to give surnames to the entire population of Russia. As a rule, they were formed by the name of the father or grandfather. Many originated from nicknames (Malyshev, Smirnov), were associated with the type of activity (Goncharov, Melnikov) or place of birth and residence. Serfs who became free sometimes received the surnames of their former owners (usually with minor changes). It was not uncommon for generic names to be simply invented by savvy officials.

The last "surnameless" people

In the 20-40s of the XX century. in the northern territories of the Soviet Union there were still “familyless” people. Having received the main document identifying a citizen, a passport, the Chukchi, Evenks and Koryaks became Ivanovs, Petrovs, Sidorovs - thus manifesting the imagination of Soviet officials, on whose shoulders fell the responsibility of “familizing” these nationalities.

Sources:

• How surnames appeared in Rus'
• How and when surnames appeared in Russia
• When did our first and last names appear?

Tip 2: The origin of your surname: how to find out the history

Every person values ​​his surname. Every person sooner or later wants to reveal the secret of its origin. Let's find out what experts do to reveal the secret of the origin of the surname.

Instructions

To find, select the root word on which it was created.
They determine the meaning of this word, which it had in ancient times, when surnames began to be created. Since all languages ​​change over time, the meaning of the word, which was the basis of the surname, could also change. In addition, surnames, at the request of the bearer, could also be changed if he was not satisfied with the sound of the surname, its meaning, or something else.

Then the interpretation of the surname begins, as a rule, several options arise. The data includes explanations that are recorded in reference books and dictionaries for various dialects.
They study the complex path of historical development, from its origins to the present. That is, they determine the form that the surname could have had during the period of its inception, and before its modern form. Without this modification it is impossible to imagine a single surname. The secret of the surname is contained in the origin of each surname.

Experts determine the life history of a surname, that is, they determine when it was formed and by whom, as well as the ways in which it spread. This is a kind of cipher of the genus, which contains valuable knowledge of the roots, as well as its essence.
Surnames recreate the image of the ancestor, with the help of knowledge about the history of the surname. That is, they will find out where the person and his descendants lived, what customs they had. Sometimes this information greatly surprises the modern descendants of the family, and makes them think about their place in human society.

Then the researchers list all their options in the reference.
It is still unknown what surnames there are in the world. But we can say with confidence that each surname is unique and original. You can proudly pass on the obtained data about the secret origin of the surname to your children, then grandchildren, strengthening the invisible connection between generations. Try to find out your last name - yourself or with the help of specialists.

Sources:

• find out the origin of the surname

A surname is one of the elements that identifies a person and his belonging to a certain family. Know your roots, origins surnames- means respecting your family.

Instructions

Latin familia, however, over the centuries it has meant not only a community of people united by close kinship, living together and farming, but also slaves, serfs, belonging to their owners. Thus, it is not only a sign of inherited kinship, but a sign of what kind of family its bearer belonged to.

Probably each of us at least once thought about origin his surnames. Of course, the safest thing to do is to find out the secret of your surnames, making a tree, learning the history of yours. However, this is quite an expensive undertaking, and also requires considerable effort and time.

I would like to warn against trying to use the services of numerous paid services that are widely available on the Internet. For a small fee, they offer to compose your family tree, which is blatant deception.

So, here are the ways to form surnames:
1. from a person’s appearance: Ryzhov, Krivoshein;
2. from personal qualities: Bystrov, Smirnov;
3. from an event in a person’s life: Naidenyshev;
4. from the person’s profession: Goncharov, Kuznetsov;
5. from geographical names, as a rule, names of places of residence: Vyazemsky, Shuisky, Ozerov;
6. from the name of the historical event: Nevsky;
7. from the name of religious holidays: Christmas;
8. from the names: Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov;
9. from names, birds, plants: Rybin, Smorodin, Medvedev;
10. from the nickname: Krivoshchekov.

If you are interested in the origin of your or someone else's last name, you need to conduct a complete analysis and analysis of it. The question is how to do it correctly, so that no one accuses you of unprofessionalism or ridicules you.

Instructions

Calculate last names. The last letters of the surname often belong to a particular nationality. For example, for, and other Russified Russia, the endings –ov, -ev, -in are characteristic. They are characterized by endings of surnames such as -enko, -chuk, etc. For Poles - ski, Belarusians -ich. The ending may not explain the meaning of the surname, but it will give direction to the train of thought. Firstly, you will know which country your ancestors are from, and secondly, you will understand which language you should pay attention to in order to better understand the meaning of the surname.

Determine the basis of the surname. We have already spoken above about Russian surnames and the surnames of Russified peoples. You can tell whether your surname is Russian or not, provided that the ending of the surname is like Russians, in one simple way. If your surname without ending consists of an original Russian, or at least Slavic word, then your surname is Russian. If, when dropping the surname, you get a word of Turkic, Finno-Ugric, Germanic, Semitic or other origin, then you will most likely need a translator from that language to understand your surname.

Conduct an analysis of the basis of the surname. It's easiest with surnames that are from the first name. For example, the surname Ivanov, that one of yours was the son of Ivan. It's also easy to figure out surnames that come from different professions. Example: Kuznetsov, your ancestor is the son of a blacksmith. Now, for example, how to disassemble last name non-Russian origin. Last name: Kuyanov. The ending is definitely Russian, but now let’s think about whether the word kuyan exists in the language. The first thing that comes to mind is blacksmiths. But if you know your roots a little, you can determine that the surname is of Turkic origin. Kuyan in Tatar means “hare”, therefore, the surname would be literally translated as Zaitsev. Well, here we can already conclude that one of your ancestors had common features (external or character) with this beast.

Sources:

• surname transcript

Any surname, first of all, is a hereditary name passed on from generation to generation, which indicates that a person belongs to a particular family. At the same time, the surname always carries with it the characteristics of the family. And for the one who explores last name family, it is especially important and valuable that along with the surname, the character traits and behavior of the ancestor are also inherited.

Instructions

The cause is not easy to determine for everyone. And, starting the research, we should not forget that the path traveled by a surname from an ordinary word to a nickname and surname is not only long, but also unpredictable.
Let's take, for example, the all-Russian last name Blinov. It was not formed from the word “damn.” And so. There was a certain man whose non-baptismal name was Blin. Why the person was given it is almost impossible to know reliably. But this nickname gave life to the surname. After all, the surname Blinov is Blinov son, son of Blin.
Some surnames can indicate what kind of character, behavior, and physical qualities the ancestor had. For other surnames, as in the case of the surname Blinov, one can only speculate about the reasons for the appearance of the nickname, non-baptismal name.
To find out the secret of your last name, you can go one of three ways.

Secondly, you can use the services of Internet sites offering decryption.
And thirdly, you can take the longest and most expensive route and order a surname research with the simultaneous compilation of a family tree. Agencies, with such research, use in their work not only ordinary scientific works on onomastics, but also analyze sentinel, scribes, consumables, and books. Naturally, such work can become an original and valuable discovery gift that will be passed on from generation to generation.

Since ancient times, people have been interested in the analysis and origin of the surname. Each surname a person has a certain history. It is often associated with the activities, character and fate of your ancestors. Using your surname, you can find out a lot of information about the origin of your family. It also has a great influence on your future. The surname unites all generations into one whole.

Instructions

Talk to your family and friends. Ask them about relatives, grandparents. Every family also has distant ancestors that are passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps even your relatives will tell you the story of your last name. You can also start drawing up your family tree. This will help you learn more about the origin of your surname.

Look for the origins of your surname using semantic analysis and the method of analogy. Look through various reference books and dictionaries. Find it, yours surname and it happens. Often the surname became the name of the father’s profession, for example, “son of a potter - Goncharov,” etc. Often surname non-Russian ones were then Russified, for example, Sarkisyan could become Sarkisov. Surnames were also formed in other ways: - from a person’s appearance: Ryzhov;
- from an event that happened in: Naidenyshev;
- on the personal qualities of a person: Bystrov;
- from the name of the historical event: Nevsky;
- from the names: Ivanov, Sidorov;
- from the name: Rozhdestvensky;
- from geographical names. As a rule, these are places of residence: Shuisky, Ozerov;
- from the names of plants, animals, birds: Medvedev, Rybin, Smorodin;
- from the nickname: Krivoshapko.

Seek help from specialists. You can ask them for tips and instructions on finding the history of your surname. They will be very useful, especially in the beginning. Remember, this is not an easy matter; you will have to make a lot of effort to get to the bottom of the truth. Also, if you do not have free time, you can order the entire investigation from them.

Look for the history of the surname on the Internet, but for this you need to be well versed in the World Wide Web. You may also need knowledge of English.

Last name - from the Latin familia - family - a generic, family name assigned to each person. Since ancient times, a surname has served as a certain distinctive feature of a person: the name of a father or ancestor, one’s own or ancestor’s profession, some character traits or appearance.

Instructions

Most modern professions are associated with the names of the founders of the family in a broad sense. Bright