It is common for Russian last names to be found around the world. Families with Russian surnames can trace their roots back to Soviet times in both Eastern and Western countries. Some of these names refer to occupations or characteristics, while others use elements from other languages.
Russian last names and their meanings are searched more than 27,000 times per month, according to the latest search data. Here are some of the most popular Russian last names and their Cyrillic spellings. You’ll probably recognize a few, and now you know what they mean. Greetings!
Check out our package on last names from around the world if you’re interested in the meanings of last names from other countries. Check out these last names: Irish, French, Korean, Spanish, Mexican, Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian, and African.
Most Popular Common Russian Last Names
- Ivanov
Cyrillic spelling: Ivanov
Meaning: Son of Ivan (God is gracious).
- Petrov
Cyrillic spelling: Petrov
Meaning: Son of Peter (stone).
- Sidorov
Cyrillic spelling: Sidorov
Meaning: Son of Sidor.
- Smirnoff
Cyrillic spelling: Smirnov
Meaning: Quiet, peaceful, or gentle.
- Volkov
Cyrillic spelling: Volkov
Meaning: Wolf.
- Fedorov
Cyrillic spelling: Fedorov
Meaning: Son of Fedor (gift of God).
- Popov
Cyrillic spelling: Popovv
Meaning: Son of the priest or pope.
- Semenov
Cyrillic spelling: Semenov
Meaning: Son of Simon (God hears).
- Mikhailov
Cyrillic spelling: Mikhailov
Meaning: Son of Mikhail (gift of God).
- Egorov/Egorkov/Egonov
Cyrillic spelling: Egorov/Egorov/Egonov
Meaning: Son of Egor (farmer).
- Lenkov/Alexeev/Alekhin
Cyrillic spelling: Lenkov/Alekseev/Alekhin
Meaning: Son of Alexander (mankind’s defender).
- Vasiliev
Cyrillic spelling: Vasiliev
Meaning: Royal or kingly.
- Nikolaev/Nikolaev
Cyrillic spelling: Николаев
Meaning: Nikolay’s which means victory of the people.
- Morozov
Cyrillic spelling: Morozov
Meaning: Frost.
- Stepanov/Stepanchikov
Cyrillic spelling: Stepanov
Meaning: Son of Stefan (crown).
- Novikov/Novikoff
Cyrillic spelling: Novikov
Meaning: From the word “Novik”, which described a noble teenager in military service from the 16th to 18th centuries.
- Kozlov
Cyrillic spelling: Kozlov
Meaning: Goat.
- Pavlov/Pavlishchev
Cyrillic spelling: Pavlov
Meaning: Small.
- Sokolov
Cyrillic spelling: Sokolov
Meaning: Bird of prey.
- Lebedev
Cyrillic spelling: Lebedev
Meaning: Swan or an occupational name for someone who delivers swans to the king’s table.
- Kuznetsov
Cyrillic spelling: Kuznetsov
Meaning: A blacksmith or metalworker.
- Putin
Cyrillic spelling: Putin
Meaning: Someone belonging to the road.
- Orlov
Cyrillic spelling: Oрел
Meaning: Eagle.
- Preobrazhensky
Cyrillic spelling: Transfiguration
Meaning: From the Christian feast day of the Transfiguration.
- Nikitin
Cyrillic spelling: nikitin
Meaning: Son of Nikita.
- Golubev
Cyrillic spelling: голубь
Meaning: Dove or pigeon.
- Pasternak
Cyrillic: Pasternak
Meaning: Parsnip.
- Zaitsev
Cyrillic: Zaitsev
Meaning: Hare.
Russian surnames: discover how they are formed and check out 25 examples
- Vinogradov
Cyrillic: Vinogradov
Meaning: Grapes.
- Belyaev
Cyrillic: White
Meaning: White.
- Agapov
Cyrillic: Agapov
Meaning: Love.
- Antonov
Cyrillic: Antonov
Meaning: Son of Anton.
- Angeloff
Cyrillic: Angeloff
Meaning: Orthodox priest.
- Babanin
Cyrillic: Babanin
Meaning: Yin woman.
- Balabanov
Cyrillic: Balabanov
Meaning: Hawk or falconer.
- Turgenev
Cyrillic: Turgenev
Meaning: Derived from the name of a noble family in Russia.
- Yahontov
Cyrillic: Yakhontov
Meaning: A name given to two precious stones: ruby and sapphire.
- Abakumov
Cyrillic: Abakumov
Meaning: Son of Abakum or embrace.
- Abdulov
Cyrillic: Abdulov
Meaning: Son of Abdul (servant of God).
- Abramov
Cyrillic: Abramov
Meaning: Son of Abram (High Father).
- Agafonov
Cyrillic: Agafonov
Meaning: Kindness or goodness.
- Alexeyev
Cyrillic: Alekseev
Meaning: Defender in Greek.
- Andreyev
Cyrillic: Andreev
Meaning: Son of Andrey or Andrew (manly).
- Arsenyev
Cyrillic: Arseniev
Meaning: Common last name for someone who belongs to Arsenyev, a town in Russia.
- Belov
Cyrillic: Belov
Meaning: White.
- Plan
Cyrillic: Balakin
Meaning: Very talkative.
- Balakirev
Cyrillic: Balakirev
Meaning: Ceramic workers.
- Lifting
Cyrillic: Baladin
Meaning: A small crater on the moon.
- Baranov
Cyrillic: Baranov
Meaning: A lamb or someone who works in lamb breeding.
- Barinov
Cyrillic: Barinov
Meaning: Son of the boyar.
- Belsky
Cyrillic: Belsky
Meaning: Someone who hails from the city of Bielsk.
- Babin
Cyrillic: Babin
Meaning: Son of an old woman; used to describe a fussy man.
- Bocharov
Cyrillic: Bocharovin
Meaning: Someone who works with copper.
- Borisyuk
Cyrillic: Borysyuk
Meaning: Wolf or snow leopard.
- Artyomov
Cyrillic: Artyomov
Meaning: Son of Artyom.
- Alekseev
Cyrillic: Alekseev
Meaning: Son of Alexei.
- Bortnik
Cyrillic: Bortnik
Meaning: Beekeeper.
- Aslanov
Cyrillic: Aslanov
Meaning: Son of Aslan, lion.
- Kalashnik
Cyrillic: Kalashnikov
Meaning: Breadmaker.
- Login
Cyrillic: Galkin
Meaning: “Jackdaw.” A word used to describe a thievish or talkative person.
- Garin
Cyrillic: garin
Meaning: Guards or guardians.
- Genrich
Cyrillic: Heinrich
Meaning: Heinrich.
- Gurin
Cyrillic: gurin
Meaning: A patronymic name that derives from Gury.
- Gurkin
Cyrillic: Gurkin
Meaning: A variant for the name Yuri or Georgi.
- Calculator
Cyrillic: Laskin
Meaning: Favor or weasel.
- Levin
Cyrillic: Levin
Meaning: Lion.
- Levitsky
Cyrillic: Levitsky
Meaning: “Joined to.”
- Lipovsky
Cyrillic: Lipovsky
Meaning: Lime tree.
- Litvin
Cyrillic: Lytvyn
Meaning: A Slavic word for residents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
- Lopatin
Cyrillic: Lopatin
Meaning: Shovel.
- Lukin
Cyrillic: Lukin
Meaning: A patronymic word for the name Luká.
- They don’t care
Cyrillic spelling: Abashidze
Meaning: Derived from the medieval Georgian noble house of Liparitid-Orbeliani. The name also comes from Abash, an Abyssinian officer.
- Aminoff
Cyrillic spelling: Aminoff
Meaning: Russian bayors.
Best 40 Russian Surnames and Meanings
