347+ Russian Last Names [With Meanings]

Russian last names, like many other cultures, are an important part of a person’s identity and history.

The use of surnames in Russia began in the 14th century, although it wasn’t until the 18th century that the use of last names became more widespread and standardized.

Here are some common characteristics of Russian last names:

Patronymic: Russian last names often include a patronymic, which is a name that is derived from the father’s first name. For example, if the father’s name is Ivan, the patronymic would be Ivanovich for a son and Ivanovna for a daughter.
Ending in “-ov” or “-ev”: Many Russian last names end in “-ov” or “-ev,” which indicates that the person is male. Female names often end in “-ova” or “-eva.” This suffix indicates the gender of the person.
Geographical location: Some Russian last names are derived from a person’s place of origin, such as Novikov, which means “newcomer,” or Vorobyov, which means “sparrow.”
Occupation or trade: Some Russian last names are derived from a person’s occupation or trade, such as Kuznetsov, which means “blacksmith,” or Sidorov, which means “carpenter.”
Religion: Some Russian last names are derived from religious terms or practices, such as Prokhorov, which means “forerunner,” or Nikonov, which means “follower of St. Nicholas.”
Historical events: Some Russian last names are derived from historical events, such as Gorbachev, which means “from the city of Gorbach,” or Yeltsin, which means “son of a small elder tree.”

Overall, Russian last names can provide a lot of information about a person’s background, including their gender, family history, and even their occupation.

Understanding the characteristics of Russian last names can help provide insights into Russian culture and history.

Common Russian Last Names

Common Russian Last Names:

Ivanov – derived from the first name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious.”
Petrov – derived from the first name Pyotr (Peter), meaning “rock” or “stone.”
Smirnov – derived from the word “smirny,” meaning “humble” or “meek.”
Kuznetsov – derived from the word “kuznets,” meaning “blacksmith.”
Popov – derived from the word “pop,” meaning “priest.”
Sokolov – derived from the word “sokol,” meaning “falcon.”
Mikhailov – derived from the first name Mikhail (Michael), meaning “who is like God.”
Novikov – derived from the word “novy,” meaning “new.”
Fedorov – derived from the first name Fyodor (Theodore), meaning “gift of God.”
Morozov – derived from the word “moroz,” meaning “frost” or “cold.”
Volkov – derived from the word “volk,” meaning “wolf.”
Kuzmina – feminine form of Kuznetsov.

Female Russian Last Names

Female Russian Last Names:

Ivanova – feminine form of Ivanov.
Petrova – feminine form of Petrov.
Smirnova – feminine form of Smirnov.
Popova – feminine form of Popov.
Sokolova – feminine form of Sokolov.
Mikhailova – feminine form of Mikhailov.
Novikova – feminine form of Novikov.
Fedorova – feminine form of Fedorov.
Morozova – feminine form of Morozov.
Volkova – feminine form of Volkov.
Kuznetsova – feminine form of Kuznetsov.
Belova – derived from the word “bely,” meaning “white.”

Russian Last Names (Explained)

Male Russian Last Names

Male Russian Last Names:

Ivanov – see common Russian last names.
Petrov – see common Russian last names.
Smirnov – see common Russian last names.
Kuznetsov – see common Russian last names.
Popov – see common Russian last names.
Sokolov – see common Russian last names.
Mikhailov – see common Russian last names.
Novikov – see common Russian last names.
Fedorov – see common Russian last names.
Morozov – see common Russian last names.
Volkov – see common Russian last names.
Zaitsev – derived from the word “zayats,” meaning “hare.”

Top Russian Surnames

Top Russian Surnames and Their Meanings:

Ivanov – derived from the first name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious.”
Petrov – derived from the first name Peter, meaning “stone” or “rock.”
Smirnov – derived from the adjective “smirny,” meaning “meek” or “humble.”
Sokolov – derived from the noun “sokol,” meaning “falcon.”
Mikhailov – derived from the first name Mikhail, meaning “who is like God?”
Fedorov – derived from the first name Fedor, meaning “God’s gift.”
Volkov – derived from the noun “volk,” meaning “wolf.”
Novikov – derived from the adjective “novy,” meaning “new.”
Morozov – derived from the noun “moroz,” meaning “frost.”
Kuznetsov – derived from the noun “kuznets,” meaning “blacksmith.”
Orlov – derived from the noun “orel,” meaning “eagle.”
Popov – derived from the noun “pop,” meaning “priest.”

Russian Last Names Generator

Some of the most popular Russian last names:

Ivanov
Petrov
Sidorov
Smirnov
Kuznetsov
Popov
Fedorov
Morozov
Volkov
Novikov
Kozlov
Sokolov
Lebedev
Nikitin
Orlov
Kovalenko
Ivanova
Petrova
Sidorova
Smirnova
Kuznetsova
Popova
Fedorova
Morozova
Volkova
Novikova
Kozlova
Sokolova
Lebedeva
Nikitina
Orlova
Kovalenko
Abramov
Afanasiev
Alexandrov
Andreev
Baranov
Belov
Borisov
Egorov
Golubev
Gorbachev
Grigoriev
Isaev
Karpov
Kirillov
Komarov
Konovalov
Korneev
Kravtsov
Kudryavtsev
Kulikov
Lapin
Makarov
Maslov
Mikhailov
Muratov
Osipov
Pavlov
Romanov
Serov
Sobolev
Solovyev
Stepanov
Tarasov
Titov
Uvarov
Vasiliev
Vinogradov
Vishnevsky
Yudin
Zaytsev
Zhdanov
Zhukov
Zubkov

Popular Russian Last Names

Popular Russian Last Names and Their Meanings:

Romanov – derived from the first name Roman, meaning “Roman” or “of Rome.”
Kozlov – derived from the noun “kozel,” meaning “billy goat.”
Gorbachev – derived from the noun “gorbach,” meaning “from the city of Gorbach.”
Yeltsin – derived from the noun “yel’tsin,” meaning “son of a small elder tree.”
Belyaev – derived from the adjective “bely,” meaning “white.”
Tikhonov – derived from the first name Tikhon, meaning “quiet.”
Suvorov – derived from the noun “suveren,” meaning “sovereign.”
Belkin – derived from the adjective “beliy,” meaning “white.”
Goncharov – derived from the noun “gonchar,” meaning “potter.”
Denisov – derived from the first name Denis, meaning “follower of Dionysus.”
Vorobyev – derived from the noun “vorobey,” meaning “sparrow.”
Shcheglov – derived from the noun “shchegol,” meaning “jay.”

Slavic Last Names

Slavic Last Names and Their Meanings:

Kovalenko – derived from the noun “kovale,” meaning “blacksmith.”
Smirnova – derived from the adjective “smirny,” meaning “meek” or “humble.”
Sidorova – derived from the first name Sidor, meaning “carpenter.”
Yermolova – derived from the first name Yermolai, meaning “Jeremiah” or “May God uplift.”
Kuzmina – derived from the noun “kuznets,” meaning “blacksmith.”
Petrova – derived from the first name Peter, meaning “stone” or “rock.”
Sokolova – derived from the noun “sokol,” meaning “falcon.”
Grigorieva – derived from the first name Grigori, meaning “watchful” or “alert.”
Ivanova – derived from the first name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious.”
Popova – derived from the noun “pop,” meaning “priest.”
Voronova – derived from the noun “voron,” meaning “crow.”
Semenova – derived from the first name Semen, meaning “listener” or “hearing.”

Russian Jewish Last Names

Russian Jewish Last Names and Their Meanings:

Abramovich – derived from the first name Abram, meaning “exalted father.”
Belkin – derived from the adjective “beliy,” meaning “white.”
Goldberg – derived from the German word “Goldberg,” meaning “mountain of gold.”
Gurevich – derived from the first name Guri, meaning “lion cub.”
Kagan – derived from the Hebrew word “kohen,” meaning “priest.”
Levitan – derived from the adjective “levy,” meaning “lion.”
Rabinovich – derived from the Hebrew word “rabbi,” meaning “teacher” or “master.”
Rosenbaum – derived from the German word “rosenbaum,” meaning “rose tree.”
Shapiro – derived from the Hebrew word “shofar,” meaning “ram’s horn.”
Shtern – derived from the Yiddish word “shtern,” meaning “star.”
Tversky – derived from the city of Tver, Russia.
Zaslavsky – derived from the city of Zaslav, Belarus.

Cool Russian Last Names

Cool Russian Last Names and Their Meanings:

Antonov – derived from the first name Anton, meaning “priceless” or “invaluable.”
Balabanov – derived from the Turkish word “balaban,” meaning “piper.”
Danilov – derived from the first name Daniil, meaning “God is my judge.”
Gavrilov – derived from the first name Gavriil, meaning “God is my strength.”
Kalinin – derived from the city of Kalininsk, Russia.
Kashin – derived from the city of Kashin, Russia.
Kazakov – derived from the noun “kazak,” meaning “Cossack.”
Korolev – derived from the noun “korol,” meaning “king.”
Meshkov – derived from the noun “meshok,” meaning “bag.”
Sokolov – derived from the noun “sokol,” meaning “falcon.”
Timofeev – derived from the first name Timofei, meaning “honoring God.”
Ustinov – derived from the first name Ustin, meaning “steadfast.”

Russian Full Names

Russian Full Names and Their Meanings:

Aleksandr Ivanovich – derived from the first name Aleksandr, meaning “defender of the people,” and the patronymic name Ivanovich, meaning “son of Ivan.”
Dmitry Vladimirovich – derived from the first name Dmitry, meaning “earth-lover,” and the patronymic name Vladimirovich, meaning “son of Vladimir.”
Ekaterina Petrovna – derived from the first name Ekaterina, meaning “pure,” and the patronymic name Petrovna, meaning “daughter of Peter.”
Grigori Yefimovich – derived from the first name Grigori, meaning “watchful” or “alert,” and the patronymic name Yefimovich, meaning “son of Yefim.”
Irina Sergeevna – derived from the first name Irina, meaning “peace,” and the patronymic name Sergeevna, meaning “daughter of Sergei.”
Konstantin Mikhailovich – derived from the first name Konstantin, meaning “steadfast,” and the patronymic name Mikhailovich, meaning “son of Mikhail.”
Natalya Alekseyevna – derived from the first name Natalya, meaning “born on Christmas day,” and the patronymic name Alekseyevna, meaning “daughter.

Most Common Russian Last Names

Most Common Russian Last Names:

Ivanov – derived from the given name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious”.
Petrov – derived from the given name Petr, meaning “rock” or “stone”.
Sidorov – derived from the given name Sidor, meaning “one who is from Sidon” (a city in ancient Phoenicia).
Smirnov – derived from the adjective smirny, meaning “humble” or “meek”.
Kuznetsov – derived from the word kuznets, meaning “blacksmith”.
Popov – derived from the word pop, meaning “priest”.
Fedorov – derived from the given name Fedor, meaning “gift of God”.
Morozov – derived from the word moroz, meaning “frost” or “freeze”.
Volkov – derived from the word volk, meaning “wolf”.
Novikov – derived from the word novy, meaning “new”.
Kozlov – derived from the word kozel, meaning “goat”.
Sokolov – derived from the word sokol, meaning “falcon”.
Lebedev – Means “swan”.
Petrov – Derived from the first name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone”.
Vorobyev – Means “sparrow”.
Morozov – Means “frost”.

Rare Russian Last Names

Rare Russian Last Names:

Bykov – derived from the word byk, meaning “bull”.
Zvyagintsev – derived from the word zvyagintse, meaning “lily of the valley”.
Dementiev – derived from the given name Dementiy, meaning “earthly” or “worldly”.
Zolotarev – derived from the word zoloto, meaning “gold”.
Dorofeev – derived from the given name Dorofey, meaning “gift of God”.
Zimin – derived from the word zimniy, meaning “winter”.
Lobanov – derived from the word loban, meaning “mace”.
Polyakov – derived from the given name Polyak, meaning “a person from Poland”.
Rozhdestvensky – derived from the word Rozhdestvo, meaning “Christmas”.
Selivanov – derived from the given name Selivan, meaning “to mourn”.
Tereshchenko – derived from the given name Terenty, meaning “to rub”.
Ushakov – derived from the word ushka, meaning “ear”.

Jewish Russian Last Names

Jewish Russian Last Names:

Abramov – derived from the given name Avram, meaning “exalted father”.
Berman – derived from the word ber, meaning “bear”.
Ginzburg – derived from the town of Ginzburg, located in present-day Belarus.
Goldberg – derived from the words gold and berg, meaning “gold mountain”.
Grushko – derived from the town of Grushki, located in present-day Ukraine.
Kagan – derived from the Hebrew word kohen, meaning “priest”.
Kaplan – derived from the Hebrew word kappan, meaning “chaplain”.
Katz – derived from the Hebrew word katz, meaning “priest”.
Levin – derived from the given name Lev, meaning “lion”.
Rabinovich – derived from the given name Rabin, meaning “rabbi”.
Shapira – derived from the Hebrew word shofar, meaning “ram’s horn”.
Zelinsky – derived from the town of Zelva, located in present-day Belarus.

Americanized Russian Last Names

Americanized Russian Last Names (how they’d look if in regular English):

Chernov -> Chern
Smirnov -> Smirnoff
Ivanov -> Ivanoff
Petrov -> Petroff
Semyonov -> Simon
Sokolov -> Sokol
Kuznetsov -> Kuznetz
Andreev -> Andrews
Romanov -> Roman
Mikhailov -> Michaelson
Alexeev -> Alex
Popov -> Popoff

Long Russian Last Names

Long Russian Last Names:

Karamzin – Derived from the Arabic word “karam” meaning “generosity”.
Gavrilov – Derived from the first name Gavriil, meaning “God is my strength”.
Alexandrovich – Derived from the first name Alexander, meaning “defender of the people”.
Kuzminsky – Means “son of Kuzma”, a Russian version of the name Cosmas.
Markovitch – Derived from the first name Mark, meaning “warrior”.
Pavlovich – Derived from the first name Pavel, meaning “small”.
Prokofievich – Derived from the first name Prokofiy, meaning “progress” or “improvement”.
Sobolevsky – Means “son of a sable hunter”.
Suvorov – Derived from the word “suvar”, meaning “brave” or “courageous”.
Yemelianov – Derived from the first name Yemelian, meaning “God will protect”.
Zakharovich – Derived from the first name Zakhar, meaning “remembered by God”.
Krylovsky – Means “of Krylov”, possibly indicating a place of origin.

Russian Last Names and Meanings

Russian Last Names and Meanings:

Belov – Means “white”.
Danilov – Derived from the first name Daniel, meaning “God is my judge”.
Egorov – Derived from the first name Yegor, meaning “farmer” or “plowman”.
Filatov – Derived from the Greek name Philaretos, meaning “lover of virtue”.
Golubev – Means “pigeon” or “dove”.
Ignatov – Derived from the first name Ignatius, meaning “fiery” or “ardent”.
Kazakov – Means “son of a cossack”.
Lomonosov – Derived from the word “lomon”, meaning “axe”.
Osipov – Derived from the first name Osip, meaning “God will add”.
Rodionov – Derived from the first name Rodion, meaning “heroic” or “famous”.
Tikhonov – Derived from the first name Tikhon, meaning “quiet” or “calm”.
Zhukov – Means “beetle”.

Rich Russian Last Names

Rich Russian Last Names:

Romanov – derived from the given name Roman, meaning “Roman”.
Demidov – derived from the given name Demid, meaning “earth mother”.
Yusupov – derived from the given name Yusuf, meaning “God will increase”.
Orlov – derived from the word oriol, meaning “eagle”.
Gagarin – derived from the word gagara, meaning “hawk”.
Stroganov – derived from the word strogiy, meaning “strict”.
Tolstoy – derived from the word tolsty, meaning “fat”.
Biryukov – derived from the word biryuk, meaning “grayish-blue”.
Sheremetev – derived from the word shirmyot, meaning “a kind of hat worn in the 16th century”.
Yusov – derived from the given name Yusa, meaning “ruler”.
Ustinov – derived from the given name Ustin, meaning “humble”.
Krylov – derived from the word kryl, meaning “wing”.

Uncommon Russian Last Names

Uncommon Russian Last Names:

Antonov – derived from the given name Anton, meaning “priceless”.
Bogdanov – derived from the given name Bogdan, meaning “God’s gift”.
Chekhov – derived from the given name Chekh, meaning “tooth”.
Danilov – derived from the given name Danil, meaning “God is my judge”.
Efremov – derived from the given name Efrem, meaning “fruitful”.
Glazunov – derived from the word glaz, meaning “eye”.
Karpov – derived from the word karp, meaning “carp fish”.
Lyapunov – derived from the word lyapa, meaning “pimple”.
Markov – derived from the given name Mark, meaning “warlike”.
Nekrasov – derived from the word nekro, meaning “dead”.
Pavlov – derived from the given name Pavel, meaning “small”.
Tikhonov – derived from the given name Tikhon, meaning “silent”.

Badass Russian Last Names

Badass Russian Last Names:

Belikov – derived from the word beliy, meaning “white”.
Bogomolov – derived from the word bogomol, meaning “praying mantis”.
Chernov – derived from the word cherniy, meaning “black”.
Dragunov – derived from the word dragun, meaning “dragoon”.
Kuzmichev – derived from the given name Kuzma, meaning “to control”.
Lisitsyn – derived from the word lisitsa, meaning “fox”.
Morozkin – derived from the word moroz, meaning “frost”.
Ogorodnikov – derived from the word ogorod, meaning “garden”.
Ryzhov – derived from the word ryzhiy, meaning “redhead”.
Suvorov – derived from the word suvor, meaning “harsh”.
Timofeev – derived from the given name Timofey, meaning “honoring God”.
Zhukov – derived from the word zhuk, meaning “beetle”.

Russian Gypsy Last Names

Russian Gypsy Last Names:

Kolyadenko – Derived from the word “kolyadka”, meaning “Christmas carol”.
Petrushanko – Derived from the first name Petr, meaning “rock” or “stone”.
Romashko – Means “little Roman”.
Ivanovna – Derived from the first name Ivan, meaning “God is gracious”.
Vasilieva – Derived from the first name Vasily, meaning “king” or “royal”.
Yudina – Derived from the first name Yuda, meaning “praised”.
Zemfira – Derived from the Arabic name Zephyr, meaning “west wind”.
Tarasova – Derived from the first name Taras, meaning “man of valor”.
Tsygankova – Means “gypsy woman”.
Kuzmina – Derived from the first name Kuzma, meaning “cosmos”.
Svetlova – Means “bright” or “light”.
Zvonareva – Derived from the word “zvonar”, meaning “bell-ringer”.

100 Russian Last Names

Here are 100 Russian last names:

Ivanov
Petrov
Smirnov
Popov
Kuznetsov
Sokolov
Mikhailov
Novikov
Fedorov
Morozov
Volkov
Alekseev
Lebedev
Semenov
Egorov
Pavlov
Kozlov
Stepanov
Nekrasov
Gorbachev
Karpov
Orlov
Belyakov
Abramov
Isaev
Semyonov
Filippov
Fadeev
Makarov
Polyakov
Grigoriev
Vorobiev
Rodionov
Zakharov
Konovalov
Antonov
Gavrilov
Ivanova
Petrova
Smirnova
Popova
Kuznetsova
Sokolova
Mikhailova
Novikova
Fedorova
Morozova
Volkova
Alekseeva
Lebedeva
Semenova
Egorova
Pavlova
Kozlova
Stepanova
Nekrasova
Gorbacheva
Karpova
Orlova
Belyakova
Abramova
Isaeva
Semyonova
Filippova
Fadeeva
Makarova
Polyakova
Grigorieva
Vorobieva
Rodionova
Zakharova
Konovalova
Antonova
Gavrilova
Smolensky
Ivanushkin
Tikhonov
Krylov
Ermolov
Ponomarev
Korneev
Tarasov
Tsvetkov
Mikhailova
Belov
Sokolova
Vorontsov
Zaitsev
Ovchinnikov
Chernov
Nikitin
Davydov
Savin
Kudryavtsev
Golubev
Simonov
Matveev
Mironov
Kulikov
Il’ina

FAQs – Russian Last Names

How do Russian last names work?

Russian last names typically follow a patronymic naming system, which means that a person’s last name is based on their father’s first name.

For example, if a man named Ivan has a son named Sergei, Sergei’s last name would be Ivanovich, which means “son of Ivan”.

Women’s last names are formed similarly, but with the suffix -ovna, which means “daughter of”.

Why do Russian last names end in -OV?

Most Russian last names end in -ov because they are formed by adding the suffix -ov to the root of the father’s first name.

For example, if the father’s name is Ivan, his son’s last name would be Ivanov.

Over time, this became a common way of forming last names in Russia, so many Russian last names now end in -ov.

Not all Russian last names end in -ov or -ova. For example, Remsha is a Russian surname that doesn’t end in this convention.

What are some good Russian last names?

Some good Russian surnames along with their meanings:

Volkov – Means “wolf”.
Romanov – Derived from the first name Roman, meaning “Roman”.
Sokolov – Means “falcon”.
Andreev – Derived from the first name Andrei, meaning “manly”.
Alexandrov – Derived from the first name Alexander, meaning “defender of the people”.
Kuznetsov – Means “son of a blacksmith”.
Mikhailov – Derived from the first name Mikhail, meaning “who is like God?”.
Morozov – Means “frost”.
Petrov – Derived from the first name Peter, meaning “rock” or “stone”.
Smirnov – Means “peaceful” or “calm”.
Tikhonov – Derived from the first name Tikhon, meaning “quiet” or “calm”.
Vorobyov – Means “sparrow”.

Conclusion – Russian Last Names

Russian surnames can be divided into several distinct categories depending on their origin.

Those of Slavic origin are typically patronymic, often beginning with either a prefix such as ‘Ivanov’ or a suffix such as ‘ovich’.

Many surnames also denote nobility, with titles such as ‘Knyaz’ and ‘Tsar’.

Other surnames have their origins in professions, geographic locations, religion and other areas.

Unique surnames may also be created by combining two names together, or through the addition of an ending to create a new name.

A closer look at Russian surnames reveals many interesting characteristics which make them distinctive from those of other countries.

For example, the majority of Russian surnames are patronymic in nature, derived from the first name of the father or grandfather.

This practice has been observed for centuries, however, some newer additions to Russian surname libraries have been created by adding endings like ‘-ev’ or ‘-in’ to existing words.

These additions often reflect an occupation or special attribute associated with the individual. Additionally, certain titles like ‘Knyaz’, meaning prince and indicating noble status, are commonly used in Russia but rarely seen elsewhere.

Another noteworthy feature of Russian surnames is that they can be highly descriptive and evocative; indeed some are so evocative that they become nicknames that people use to identify one another.

For instance, many Jews living in Russia during the late 19th century changed their surname to reflect Biblical characters such as Abrahamowicz or Jacobowitz in order to differentiate themselves from non-Jewish Russians.

Similarly, place names may be used as surnames if they denote a place where someone’s ancestors lived – this is particularly common among rural peoples living within Russia who have not yet adopted more modern naming conventions.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that unique combinations of two names can also be used to create entirely new ‘hybrid’ style Russian family names – this practice is becoming increasingly popular amongst younger generations seeking to stand out from their peers when it comes to identity formation.