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Russian last names are rich in history, symbolism, and language. Often formed from patronymics, occupations, or places, these surnames carry stories of family lineage, profession, or traits. A distinctive feature of Russian surnames is their gendered forms—most names have masculine and feminine versions (e.g., Ivanov/Ivanova).
Whether you’re researching ancestry, writing characters, or simply exploring Russian culture, this list of 100 Russian last names and their meanings provides a meaningful glimpse into Russian heritage.
Common Russian Last Names and Meanings
Ivanov / Ivanova – “Son/daughter of Ivan”; equivalent to “Johnson”
Petrov / Petrova – “Son/daughter of Peter”
Sidorov / Sidorova – From the name Sidor; “gift of Isis”
Smirnov / Smirnova – From smirny, meaning “quiet” or “peaceful”
Kuznetsov / Kuznetsova – “Blacksmith”
Popov / Popova – “Son of a priest”
Volkov / Volkova – “Wolf”
Sokolov / Sokolova – “Falcon”
Lebedev / Lebedeva – “Swan”
Morozov / Morozova – “Frost”
Patronymic-Based Russian Last Names
Alexeyev / Alexeyeva – “Son/daughter of Alexey”
Dmitriev / Dmitrieva – “Son/daughter of Dmitry”
Nikitin / Nikitina – “Son/daughter of Nikita”
Andreev / Andreeva – “Son/daughter of Andrei”
Sergeyev / Sergeyeva – “Son/daughter of Sergey”
Yakovlev / Yakovleva – “Son/daughter of Yakov (Jacob)”
Vasiliev / Vasilieva – “Son/daughter of Vasily”
Mikhailov / Mikhailova – “Son/daughter of Mikhail”
Fyodorov / Fyodorova – “Son/daughter of Fyodor”
Nazarov / Nazarova – “Son/daughter of Nazar”
Occupational Russian Last Names
Melnikov / Melnikova – “Miller”
Plotnikov / Plotnikova – “Carpenter”
Pekarov / Pekarova – “Baker”
Rybakov / Rybakova – “Fisherman”
Kovalev / Kovaleva – “Smith” or “metal worker”
Portnov / Portnova – “Tailor”
Zverev / Zvereva – “Beast handler” or “animal tamer”
Goncharov / Goncharova – “Potter”
Sadovnikov / Sadovnikova – “Gardener”
Ovchinnikov / Ovchinnikova – “Shepherd” or “wool worker”
Nature-Inspired Russian Last Names
Sorokin / Sorokina – “Magpie”
Medvedev / Medvedeva – “Bear”
Zaitsev / Zaitseva – “Hare”
Lisin / Lisina – “Fox”
Tsvetkov / Tsvetkova – “Flower”
Karpov / Karpova – “Carp (fish)”
Orlov / Orlova – “Eagle”
Bykov / Bykova – “Bull”
Gusev / Guseva – “Goose”
Baranov / Baranova – “Ram” or “sheep”
Noble and Historical Russian Last Names
Romanov / Romanova – The royal family name; “of Roman”
Rasputin – Controversial mystic; possibly means “crossroads”
Tolstoy – Noble family; means “fat” or “stout”
Chekhov – Literary surname; origin uncertain
Turgenev – Noble surname; “turga” means “hefty” or “thick”
Dostoevsky – From Dostoevo village; associated with the writer
Lermontov – Noble Scottish-Russian family
Bakunin – “Son of Bakun”; revolutionary lineage
Sheremetev – Aristocratic family name of unknown meaning
Gagarin – From gagara, a water bird; surname of the first cosmonaut
Military and Heroic Russian Last Names
Zhukov / Zhukova – “Beetle”; surname of Marshal Georgy Zhukov
Tikhonov / Tikhonova – “Quiet”
Karpushin / Karpushina – Possibly a diminutive of Karp
Borodin / Borodina – “Fighter” or “wrestler”
Kalashnikov – Inventor of the AK-47; from Kalashnik, meaning “breadmaker”
Suvorov / Suvorova – Famous general’s name
Skobelev / Skobeleva – Linked to a 19th-century general
Ushakov / Ushakova – Naval commander’s surname
Chkalov / Chkalova – Pioneer aviator
Nevsky – From Alexander Nevsky; linked to the Neva River
Unique and Rare Russian Last Names
Yusupov / Yusupova – Noble Tatar-Russian family
Kharlamov / Kharlamova – Possibly from “Karl,” meaning “man”
Sinyavsky / Sinyavskaya – From “blue” or “azure”
Aksyonov / Aksyonova – Possibly from Aksyon, a dialectical form
Krestov / Krestova – “Cross”
Zlobin / Zlobina – From zloba, meaning “anger”
Morozkin / Morozkina – Diminutive of Moroz, “frost”
Garanin / Garanina – May mean “guard” or “protector”
Yermakov / Yermakova – “Son of Yermak,” a folk hero
Savchenko – Ukrainian-origin name meaning “son of Savka”
Religious and Spiritual Russian Last Names
Bogdanov / Bogdanova – “Gift of God”
Svyatlov / Svyatlova – “Holy” or “light”
Blagov / Blagova – “Kind” or “blessed”
Chudov / Chudova – “Miraculous”
Khristov / Khristova – “Of Christ”
Spasov / Spasova – “Savior”
Preobrazhensky / Preobrazhenskaya – “Transfiguration”
Bogolyubov / Bogolyubova – “Lover of God”
Paskalov / Paskalova – “Of Easter”
Troitsky / Troitskaya – “Trinity”
Modern and Fiction-Friendly Russian Last Names
Dragunov / Dragunova – “Of the dragoons”; also a sniper rifle model
Barinov / Barinova – “Lord” or “master”
Radin / Radina – From radost, “joy”
Zorin / Zorina – From zarya, “dawn”
Vedenin / Vedenina – “Knowledgeable”
Glazkov / Glazkova – “Eye” or “sharp-eyed”
Kravtsov / Kravtsova – “Tailor”
Lazarev / Lazareva – From Lazarus, meaning “God has helped”
Oktyabrsky / Oktyabrskaya – “Of October”; often political or commemorative
Rudnev / Rudneva – Possibly from “ore” or “metal”
Russian Last Names with International Recognition
Pavlov / Pavlova – “Son/daughter of Pavel”; known from ballerina Anna Pavlova
Tchaikovsky – Famous composer; root means “seam” or “border”
Rachmaninoff – Renowned pianist and composer
Prokofiev – Another celebrated Russian composer
Shostakovich – 20th-century musical giant
Gorbachev – Former Soviet president
Putin – Current president; origin unclear
Lenin – Revolutionary pseudonym derived from the Lena River
Stalin – “Man of steel”
Trotsky – Revolutionary name derived from a Polish surname
Russian last names reveal family lineage, cultural values, and even personality traits. Whether grounded in nature, religion, or noble heritage, these surnames tell stories of a vast and complex history. From common names like Ivanov to rare gems like Bogolyubov, this list of 100 Russian last names and their meanings offers a fascinating look into identity, tradition, and language.
