180 Popular Russian Last Names or Surnames & Their Meanings/Origin

Russian last names carry rich histories, often reflecting occupations, geographical origins, personal traits, or even patronymic roots. Whether you’re researching your ancestry, writing a story, or just curious about Russian culture, understanding these surnames can be fascinating.

Below, we’ve categorized 180 common Russian surnames and explored their meanings and origins.

Patronymic Surnames (Derived from Father’s Name)

These surnames originate from a father’s first name, often ending with “-ov”, “-ev”, or “-in” for males and “-ova”, “-eva”, or “-ina” for females.

1. Ivanov / Ivanova – Son/daughter of Ivan (John). One of the most common Russian surnames.
2. Petrov / Petrova – Son/daughter of Pyotr (Peter).
3. Sidorov / Sidorova – Son/daughter of Sidor (a form of Isidor).
4. Mikhailov / Mikhailova – Son/daughter of Mikhail (Michael).
5. Nikolaev / Nikolaeva – Son/daughter of Nikolai (Nicholas).
6. Alekseev / Alekseeva – Son/daughter of Aleksei (Alex).
7. Andreev / Andreeva – Son/daughter of Andrei (Andrew).
8. Dmitriev / Dmitrieva – Son/daughter of Dmitri (Dmitry).
9. Sergeev / Sergeeva – Son/daughter of Sergei (Sergey).
10. Vasiliev / Vasilieva – Son/daughter of Vasili (Basil).

Occupational Surnames

Many Russian surnames stem from ancestral jobs, giving us a glimpse into the past.

11. Kuznetsov / Kuznetsova – From “kuznets” (blacksmith).
12. Popov / Popova – From “pop” (priest).
13. Melnikov / Melnikova – From “melnik” (miller).
14. Ryba / Rybakov – From “rybak” (fisherman).
15. Plotnikov / Plotnikova – From “plotnik” (carpenter).
16. Kravtsov / Kravtsova – From “kravets” (tailor).
17. Sapozhnikov / Sapozhnikova – From “sapozhnik” (shoemaker).
18. Goncharov / Goncharova – From “gonchar” (potter).
19. Pastukhov / Pastukhova – From “pastukh” (shepherd).
20. Bortnikov / Bortnikova – From “bortnik” (beekeeper).

Geographical & Nature-Inspired Surnames

These surnames often come from landscapes, animals, or natural elements.

A. Based on Animals

21. Medvedev / Medvedeva – From “medved” (bear).
22. Volkov / Volkova – From “volk” (wolf).
23. Zaitsev / Zaitseva – From “zayats” (hare).
24. Sokolov / Sokolova – From “sokol” (falcon).
25. Lebedev / Lebedeva – From “lebed” (swan).
26. Vorobiev / Vorobieva – From “vorobey” (sparrow).
27. Orlov / Orlova – From “oryol” (eagle).
28. Koshkin / Koshkina – From “koshka” (cat).
29. Lisitsyn / Lisitsyna – From “lisitsa” (fox).
30. Zhukov / Zhukova – From “zhuk” (beetle).

B. Based on Nature & Landscapes

31. Berezin / Berezina – From “bereza” (birch tree).
32. Morozov / Morozova – From “moroz” (frost).
33. Gromov / Gromova – From “grom” (thunder).
34. Kalinin / Kalinina – From “kalina” (viburnum tree).
35. Dubov / Dubova – From “dub” (oak tree).
36. Kamenev / Kameneva – From “kamen” (stone).
37. Revin / Revina – From “reva” (a type of fish or roaring sound).
38. Polyakov / Polyakova – From “polyak” (field or Polish origin).
39. Vinogradov / Vinogradova – From “vinograd” (grapevine).
40. Goryachev / Goryacheva – From “goryachy” (hot or fiery).

Descriptive Surnames (Based on Traits or Nicknames)

These surnames often describe physical or personality traits.

41. Belov / Belova – From “bely” (white, possibly referring to hair or complexion).
42. Chernov / Chernova – From “cherny” (black).
43. Ryzhov / Ryzhova – From “ryzhy” (red-haired).
44. Golubev / Golubeva – From “goluboy” (blue, possibly referring to eyes).
45. Korolev / Koroleva – From “korol” (king, possibly a nickname).
46. Malyshev / Malysheva – From “malysh” (small or child).
47. Tolstoy / Tolstaya – From “tolsty” (fat or stout).
48. Krotov / Krotova – From “krot” (mole, possibly a quiet person).
49. Ushakov / Ushakova – From “ushak” (eared, possibly big ears).
50. Gladkov / Gladkova – From “gladky” (smooth or calm).

Religious & Historical Influences

Some surnames have roots in the Orthodox Church or historical events.

51. Bogdanov / Bogdanova – Means “given by God.”
52. Bogolyubov / Bogolyubova – Means “lover of God.”
53. Krestyaninov / Krestyaninova – From “krestyanin” (peasant, tied to serfdom).
54. Pavlov / Pavlova – From “Pavel” (Paul, biblical origin).
55. Fedorov / Fedorova – From “Fyodor” (Theodore, meaning “gift of God”).
56. Yakovlev / Yakovleva – From “Yakov” (Jacob).
57. Matveev / Matveeva – From “Matvey” (Matthew).
58. Danilov / Danilova – From “Danila” (Daniel).
59. Grigoriev / Grigorieva – From “Grigori” (Gregory).
60. Timofeev / Timofeeva – From “Timofei” (Timothy).

Foreign-Influenced Surnames

Due to Russia’s vast history, some surnames have foreign roots.

61. Romanov / Romanova – From Latin “Romanus” (associated with the royal dynasty).
62. Germanov / Germanova – From “German” (possibly German origin).
63. Turgenev – Of Turkic origin, linked to writer Ivan Turgenev.
64. Lermontov – Possibly Scottish roots (Lermont).
65. Fonvizin – German-derived, from “von Wiesen.”
66. Dostoevsky – From Polish “Dostojewski.”
67. Karamzin – Of Turkic origin.
68. Derzhavin – From “derzhava” (power, possibly Ukrainian influence).
69. Shuvalov – From Finnish or Baltic roots.
70. Benois – French origin, used by Russian artists.

Noble & Aristocratic Surnames

Many Russian noble families had distinct surnames.

71. Volkonsky – Princely family name.
72. Obolensky – Another noble lineage.
73. Trubetskoy – A prominent aristocratic family.
74. Golitsyn – High-ranking noble family.
75. Dolgorukov – Meaning “long arm,” an old noble house.
76. Sheremetev – Wealthy noble family.
77. Yusupov – Tatar-origin nobility.
78. Razumovsky – Ukrainian Cossack nobility.
79. Vorontsov – Noble family with political influence.
80. Meshchersky – From the Meshchera region.

Military & Strength-Based Surnames

Many Russian surnames reflect bravery, warfare, or physical strength; likely originating from soldiers, warriors, or nicknames.

81. Boyarov / Boyarova – From “boyarin” (noble warrior or aristocrat).
82. Voinov / Voinova – From “voin” (warrior).
83. Bogatyr / Bogatyrev – From “bogatyr” (hero or epic knight).
84. Smirnov / Smirnova – From “smirny” (humble, but also linked to military conscription lists where “smirny” meant obedient).
85. Streltsov / Streltsova – From “streltsy” (musketeers, a historical military unit).
86. Kazakov / Kazakova – From “kazak” (Cossack, a warrior class).
87. Dragunov / Dragunova – From “dragun” (dragoon, a cavalry soldier).
88. Gusarov / Gusarova – From “husar” (hussar, a light cavalryman).
89. Pushkin – From “pushka” (cannon), possibly linked to artillery.
90. Kutuzov – Famous from General Kutuzov, possibly meaning “bent” or “stubborn.”

Regional & Ethnic-Based Surnames

Russia’s vast empire included many ethnic groups, leading to surnames reflecting different regions and cultures.

A. Slavic Regional Names

91. Novikov / Novikova – From “novik” (newcomer or young noble).
92. Moskov / Moskovkin – Related to “Moskva” (Moscow).
93. Kievsky / Kievskaya – From “Kiev” (Ukrainian influence).
94. Tverskoy / Tverskaya – From “Tver” (a historic Russian city).
95. Sibirsky / Sibirskaya – From “Sibir” (Siberia).

B. Non-Slavic Influences

96. Tatarinov / Tatarinova – From “Tatar” (Mongol-Turkic origin).
97. Bashirov / Bashirova – From “Bashkir” (Bashkir ethnic group).
98. Cherkassky / Cherkasskaya – From “Cherkess” (Circassian people).
99. Mordvinov / Mordvinova – From “Mordvin” (Finno-Ugric ethnic group).
100. Karelina / Karelin – From “Karelia” (Finnish-Russian region).

Unique & Rare Russian Surnames

Some surnames stand out due to their unusual meanings or origins.

101. Nekrasov / Nekrasova – Means “not beautiful” (likely ironic or humble).
102. Bezrukov / Bezrukova – Means “without arms” (possibly an old nickname).
103. Golod / Golodov – Means “hunger” (possibly linked to famine times).
104. Pustov / Pustova – From “pustoy” (empty or deserted).
105. Zlov / Zlova – From “zlo” (evil, possibly a dramatic nickname).
106. Goryunov / Goryunova – Means “sorrowful” or “mourner.”
107. Nemirov / Nemirova – Means “no peace” (possibly rebellious ancestors).
108. Skvortsov / Skvortsova – From “skvorets” (starling bird).
109. Shchukin / Shchukina – From “shchuka” (pike fish).
110. Kurochkin / Kurochkina – From “kurochka” (little hen).

Soviet-Era & Modernized Surnames

During the Soviet Union, some surnames were changed or created to reflect communist ideals.

111. Lenin – Derived from the Lena River, adopted by Vladimir Lenin.
112. Stalin – Means “man of steel” (adopted by Joseph Stalin).
113. Kalinin – After Mikhail Kalinin, a Soviet leader.
114. Molotov – Means “hammer”, associated with Soviet politician Vyacheslav Molotov.
115. Kirov – From Sergei Kirov, a Bolshevik leader.
116. Gagarin – After Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.
117. Brezhnev – From Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet leader.
118. Andropov – From Yuri Andropov, KGB head and Soviet leader.
119. Zhdanov – Means “waiting”, linked to Soviet politician Andrei Zhdanov.
120. Khrushchev – Possibly from “khrushch” (cockchafer beetle), associated with Nikita Khrushchev.

Literary & Artistic Surnames

Many famous Russian writers and artists had surnames with poetic or symbolic meanings.

121. Dostoevsky – From Polish “Dostojewski”, meaning “worthy.”
122. Tolstoy – Means “fat” (Leo Tolstoy’s family name).
123. Chekhov – From “chekh” (Czech, possibly Czech ancestry).
124. Pushkin – From “pushka” (cannon), as mentioned earlier.
125. Bulgakov – From “bulgak” (restless or rebellious).
126. Nabokov – Possibly from “nabok” (sideways or crooked).
127. Akhmatova – Tatar origin, from poet Anna Akhmatova.
128. Pasternak – Means “parsnip” (Boris Pasternak, author of Doctor Zhivago).
129. Mandelstam – German-Jewish origin (poet Osip Mandelstam).
130. Tsvetaeva – From “tsvet” (flower), poet Marina Tsvetaeva.

Short & One-Syllable Surnames

Some Russian surnames are compact but carry deep meanings.

131. Yarov – From “yary” (fierce or bright).
132. Lyov – Variant of “lev” (lion).
133. Zhuk – Means “beetle.”
134. Shok – Means “shock” or “impact.”
135. Bek – From Turkic “bey” (chieftain).
136. Gol – Means “naked” or “bare.”
137. Rok – Means “fate” or “rock.”
138. Lom – From “lomat” (to break).
139. Tok – Means “current” or “flow.”
140. Yar – Means “bright” or “furious.”

Surnames Ending with “-sky” / “-skaya” (Noble or Geographic)

These often indicate nobility or a connection to a place.

141. Belsky / Belskaya – From “Bely” (white, possibly a place name).
142. Donskoy / Donskaya – From the Don River or Cossack region.
143. Kievsky / Kievskaya – From Kyiv.
144. Minsky / Minskaya – From Minsk (Belarus).
145. Smolensky / Smolenskaya – From Smolensk (historic city).
146. Tverskoy / Tverskaya – From Tver.
147. Rostovsky / Rostovskaya – From Rostov.
148. Permsky / Permskaya – From Perm (Ural region).
149. Sibirsky / Sibirskaya – From Siberia.
150. Kazansky / Kazanskaya – From Kazan (Tatarstan).

Fun & Unusual Russian Surnames

Some surnames are quirky or humorous in modern context.

151. Pyanov / Pyanova – From “pyany” (drunk).
152. Golopupov / Golopupova – Means “bare-bottomed” (old humorous nickname).
153. Durakov / Durakova – From “durak” (fool, possibly ironic).
154. Gadov / Gadova – From “gad” (reptile or unpleasant person).
155. Gryaznov / Gryaznova – From “gryaz” (dirt or mud).
156. Pupkin / Pupkina – A playful surname (similar to “John Doe”).
157. Kozel / Kozlova – Means “goat” (likely a nickname).
158. Golovan / Golovanova – Means “big-headed.”
159. Khripunov / Khripunova – From “khrip” (snore or wheeze).
160. Pleshakov / Pleshakova – From “plesh” (bald spot).

Double-Barreled & Compound Surnames

Some Russian surnames combine two words for a unique meaning.

161. Belyakov / Belyakova – From “bely” (white) + “yak” (a suffix).
162. Chernoff / Chernova – From “cherny” (black) + “-ov”.
163. Krasnov / Krasnova – From “krasny” (red or beautiful).
164. Zelenov / Zelenova – From “zeleny” (green).
165. Serebryakov / Serebryakova – From “serebro” (silver).
166. Zolotov / Zolotova – From “zoloto” (gold).
167. Rozhkov / Rozhkova – From “roga” (horns).
168. Klyuchnikov / Klyuchnikova – From “klyuch” (key).
169. Zverev / Zvereva – From “zver” (beast).
170. Solntsev / Solntseva – From “solntse” (sun).

Surnames Based on Seasons & Weather

Nature played a big role in naming conventions.

171. Vesnov / Vesnova – From “vesna” (spring).
172. Letov / Letova – From “leto” (summer).
173. Osenin / Osenina – From “osen” (autumn).
174. Zimin / Zimina – From “zima” (winter).
175. Gromov / Gromova – From “grom” (thunder).
176. Snezhin / Snezhina – From “sneg” (snow).
177. Vetrov / Vetrova – From “veter” (wind).
178. Tumanov / Tumanova – From “tuman” (fog).
179. Gradov / Gradova – From “grad” (hail).
180. Ledyanov / Ledyanova – From “led” (ice).

Final Thoughts

Russian surnames are like tiny stories; each one carries history, culture, and sometimes even humor! Whether your last name is Ivanov, Medvedev, or something rare like Golopupov, there’s always an interesting tale behind it.

Do you have a Russian surname in your family? What’s its origin? Share in the comments!