🔥 200+ Russian Last Names With Meanings (2026 Updated List)
Russian last names encapsulate history, culture, and meaning, portraying relationships to a specific ancestor, occupation, or personality traits.
Most are patronymic, like many Slavic surnames, deriving from the father’s first name, although with different endings for males and females.
Some are of noble origin, while others come from nature, occupations, or even descriptive nicknames.
If you are investigating genealogy, inquisitive about your heritage, or just fascinated with the beauty of Russian names, this guide will take you through them in terms of providing an insight into their origins, meanings, and peculiarities.
Russian last names
Ivanov (Иванов) – “Son of Ivan” (John)
Petrov (Петров) – “Son of Pyotr” (Peter)
Sidorov (Сидоров) – “Son of Sidor”
Fedorov (Фёдоров) – “Son of Fedor” (Theodore)
Alekseev (Алексеев) – “Son of Aleksey”
Nikolaev (Николаев) – “Son of Nikolai”
Pavlov (Павлов) – “Son of Pavel” (Paul)
Sergeev (Сергеев) – “Son of Sergei”
Mikhailov (Михайлов) – “Son of Mikhail” (Michael)
Dmitriev (Дмитриев) – “Son of Dmitry”
Smirnov (Смирнов) – “Quiet, humble”
Kuznetsov (Кузнецов) – “Blacksmith”
Popov (Попов) – “Priest”
Volkov (Волков) – “Wolf”
Sokolov (Соколов) – “Falcon”
Orlov (Орлов) – “Eagle”
Medvedev (Медведев) – “Bear”
Lebedev (Лебедев) – “Swan”
Gusev (Гусев) – “Goose”
Vorobyev (Воробьёв) – “Sparrow”
Zaytsev (Зайцев) – “Hare”
Sorokin (Сорокин) – “Magpie”
Vasiliev (Васильев) – “Son of Vasily”
Kozlov (Козлов) – “Goat”
Zhukov (Жуков) – “Beetle”
Shapovalov (Шаповалов) – “Hat maker”
Tkachev (Ткачёв) – “Weaver”
Rybakov (Рыбаков) – “Fisherman”
Melnikov (Мельников) – “Miller”
Bondarev (Бондарев) – “Cooper (barrel maker)”
Korolev (Королёв) – “King”
Tsarev (Царёв) – “Tsar, ruler”
Boyarov (Бояров) – “Nobleman”
Rogov (Рогов) – “Horned”
Yakovlev (Яковлев) – “Son of Yakov”
Egorov (Егоров) – “Son of Egor”
Filippov (Филиппов) – “Son of Filipp”
Karpov (Карпов) – “Carp (fish)”
Belyaev (Беляев) – “White”
Chernov (Чернов) – “Black”
Morozov (Морозов) – “Frost”
Letov (Летов) – “Summer”
Osipov (Осипов) – “Son of Osip”
Platonov (Платонов) – “Son of Platon”
Romanov (Романов) – “Son of Roman”
Savelyev (Савельев) – “Son of Saveliy”
Tarasov (Тарасов) – “Son of Taras”
Ushakov (Ушаков) – “Big ears”
Yudin (Юдин) – “Of Judah”
Zinoviev (Зиновьев) – “Son of Zinoviy”
Artemov (Артемов) – “Son of Artem”
Bogdanov (Богданов) – “Son of Bogdan” (God-given)
Gavrilov (Гаврилов) – “Son of Gavriil” (Gabriel)
Danilov (Данилов) – “Son of Danil” (Daniel)
Yefimov (Ефимов) – “Son of Yefim” (Pious)
Stepanov (Степанов) – “Son of Stepan” (Stephen)
Ignatov (Игнатов) – “Son of Ignat” (Fiery)
Kazakov (Казаков) – “Cossack”
Troitsky (Троицкий) – “From the Trinity”
Kozhemyakin (Кожемякин) – “Leatherworker”
Lazarev (Лазарев) – “Son of Lazar”
Marin (Марин) – “Of the sea”
Prokhorov (Прохоров) – “Son of Prokhor”
Fomin (Фомин) – “Son of Foma” (Thomas)
Rodionov (Родионов) – “Son of Rodion”
Samsonov (Самсонов) – “Son of Samson”
Timofeev (Тимофеев) – “Son of Timofey”
Uvarov (Уваров) – “Cook, baker”
Fedotov (Федотов) – “Son of Fedot”
Yuriev (Юрьев) – “Son of Yuri”
Bogomolov (Богомолов) – “One who prays to God”
Veshnyakov (Вешняков) – “Springtime”
Dubrovsky (Дубровский) – “From the oak grove”
Laptev (Лаптев) – “Woven shoe maker”
Martynov (Мартынов) – “Son of Martyn” (Martin)
Nikonov (Никонов) – “Son of Nikon”
Odintsov (Одинцов) – “Firstborn”
Pankratov (Панкратов) – “All-powerful”
Razumov (Разумов) – “Wise, intelligent”
Safonov (Сафонов) – “Wise, clever”
Terentyev (Терентьев) – “Son of Terenty”
Ulyanov (Ульянов) – “Son of Ulyan”
Firsov (Фирсов) – “Son of Firs”
Kharlamov (Харламов) – “Son of Kharlampi”
Chekhov (Чехов) – “From the Czech lands”
Shcherbakov (Щербаков) – “Gap-toothed”
Yashenko (Ященко) – “Little snake”
Zadornov (Задорнов) – “Cheerful, lively”
Shelepov (Шелепов) – “Talkative”
Krestov (Крестов) – “Cross, Christian symbol”
Zemtsov (Земцов) – “From the land, peasant”
Gorin (Горин) – “Mountain”
Vikhrov (Вихров) – “Whirlwind”
Sverdlov (Свердлов) – “Twisting, turning”
Vodolazov (Водолазов) – “Diver”
Kornilov (Корнилов) – “Son of Kornil”
Zotov (Зотов) – “Son of Zot”
Maltsev (Мальцев) – “Son of Malets (boy, young man)”
Kovalyov (Ковалёв) – “Blacksmith”
Tikhonov (Тихонов) – “Son of Tikhon” (Quiet, peaceful)”
Abramov – “son of Abram (Abraham),” meaning father of many.
Agapov – From Agapius, meaning beloved.
Alekseev – “son of Aleksey,” defender.
Androsov – Derived from Andrei, meaning manly or strong.
Anisimov – From Anisim, meaning “to do well.”
Antonov – “son of Anton,” priceless.
Arkhipov – From Arkhip, meaning master of the home.
Artemyev – “son of Artemy,” safe and healthy.
Averkiev – From ancient personal name meaning strong.
Avdeev – “son of Avdey,” meaning servant of God.
Baturin – Historically meaning strong fighter.
Belikov – From beliy (white), meaning fair or bright.
Belyayev – Another variant from beliy, bright or white.
Bogdanov – “son of Bogdan,” meaning given by God.
Borodin – From boroda (beard), meaning bearded one.
Bulgakov – Linked to bulgak meaning turbulent or boisterous.
Bykov – From byk (bull), symbolizing strength.
Chekhov – From cheka (thin), descriptive.
Chesnokov – From chesnok (garlic), possibly occupational.
Chizhikov – From chizh (siskin bird).
Danilov – “son of Daniil,” meaning God is my judge.
Dedov – From ded (grandfather), maybe ancestral.
Dobrynin – From dobry (good), kind or generous.
Doroshenko – Ukrainian/Russian origin meaning gifted.
Druzhinin – From druzhina (companion), loyal one.
Dyakonov – From dyakon (deacon), religious service.
Efimov – “son of Efim,” meaning peaceful.
Eliseev – “son of Elisei,” devoted to God.
Emelyanov – “son of Emelyan,” tranquil.
Fedoseev – “son of Fedosey,” giving.
Ferapontov – From an ancient name meaning devout.
Fomichev – “son of Foma” (Thomas), meaning twin.
Frolov – From Frol, meaning flourishing.
Gavrilov – “son of Gavril,” meaning God-like strength.
Gerasimov – “son of Gerasim,” old and revered.
Golovin – From golova (head), leader or chief.
Guskov – From gus (goose), possibly a nickname.
Ignatov – “son of Ignat,” fiery or ardent.
Ilin – “son of Ilya,” strong as Elijah.
Ipatov – From Ipat, ancient Greek origin.
Isayev – “son of Isai,” meaning God exists.
Ivankov – Patronymic from Ivan, God’s gift.
Kabanov – From kaban (boar), powerful figure.
Kalashnikov – From kalashnik (maker of vats).
Kamenev – From kamen (stone), solid.
Kiselev – From kisely (thick porridge), possibly descriptive.
Klimov – Patronymic of Klim, a short form of Clement.
Koltsov – From koltso (ring), symbolic binding.
Koshelev – From koshel (purse), possibly trade.
Kotov – From kot (cat), perhaps sly or agile.
Kozhevnikov – From kozha (leather), tanner trade.
Kozlov – From kozë (goat), nimble or sure-footed.
Krupin – From krup (large, coarse), robust.
Kudryavtsev – From kudryavy (curly-haired).
Kuznetsov – From kuznets (blacksmith).
Larin – Possibly from larion, a diminutive.
Lebedev – From lebed (swan), graceful.
Lisitsyn – From lisa (fox), clever.
Lobanov – From lob (forehead), prominent.
Lyubimov – From lyubimy (beloved).
Makarov – “son of Makar” (blessed).
Malyutin – From malyutka (small one).
Markin – “son of Mark,” warlike.
Matveyev – “son of Matvey,” gift of God.
Mikhailov – “son of Mikhail,” who is like God.
Molchanov – From molchanie (silence), quiet.
Morozov – From moroz (frost), cold or stern.
Nikiforov – “son of Nikifor,” victorious.
Nikolaev – “son of Nikolai,” victory of the people.
Ovchinnikov – From ovchina (sheepskin), likely trade.
Panfilov – Patronymic of Panfil, Greek origin.
Pankratov – Patronymic of Pankrat, meaning all power.
Pavlenko – Ukrainian/Russian patronymic from Pavel.
Pchelintsev – From pchela (bee), worker or busy.
Pletennikov – From pletenka (braid), decorative origin.
Plotnikov – From plotnik (carpenter).
Polivanov – From polivat (to water), farmer trade.
Ponomarev – From ponomar (church sexton).
Prasolov – From prasol (trader).
Prokofiev – Patronymic from Prokofy, meaning prepared.
Rogozin – From rogoz (bur reed), natural feature.
Rozhkov – From rozhok (horn), possibly a sign of call.
Rudakov – From rudak (ore), miner.
Savin – From saviny (sable), dark and rich fur.
Scherbakov – Likely from trade or nickname of uncertain origin.
Semenov – “son of Semyon,” God hears.
Sergeyev – “son of Sergey,” servant or protector.
Shirokov – From shirokiy (wide), expansive.
Sidorov – “son of Sidor,” gift of grain.
Smirnov – From smirny (quiet, gentle).
Solovyov – From solovey (nightingale), melodic.
Sokolov – From sokol (falcon), swift and sharp.
Sorokin – From soroka (magpie), talkative.
Strelkov – From strelok (archer).
Sudakov – From sud (court), judicious.
Tikhonov – “son of Tikhon,” quiet.
Titov – Patronymic from Titus, honor or praise.
Trubnikov – From trubnik (trumpeter).
Ustinov – Patronymic from Ustin, fair.
Yashin – From yasha (diminutive of Yakov), follows Jacob.
