Each Ukrainian surname is not just a set of sounds in a passport, but a story that can be traced to the social status, profession or character traits. For centuries, they have been formed naturally, often on the basis of classes, names or even the appearance of the carrier. Here's how Ukrainian families are divided by origin.
1. The names from the professions
This is the most common category. They arose in villages and cities where the person could become known due to their business. The name passed the main feature and could be stored in the generations.
The most famous examples:
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Melnyk is the one who is grain;
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Kovalenko , Kovalchuk , Koval - blacksmiths and their descendants;
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Shevchenko , Shevchuk - shoemakers (boots);
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Tkachenko , Tkachuk - weaving masters;
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Oliynyk - produced oil;
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Bondar , Bondarenko - produced barrels;
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Kravchenko is a tailor or his son.
2. Last names formed from names
These names are also called patronymic. Most often, they arose on behalf of the father, adding the suffixes "-enko", "-huk" or "-ov". Such families could literally mean: "Son of John", "Descendant of Savka" and more.
Among the popular:
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Ivanov , Petrenko , Pavlenko , Marchenko - according to the names Ivan, Petro, Pavel, Marco;
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Kuzmenko , Klimenko , Vasilenko - Kuzma names, Clement, Basil;
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Savchenko , Savchuk - formed from Savka.
3. Last names by ethnic or regional origin
Such names could indicate the locality from where the genus came, or belonging to a certain ethnic group.
Examples:
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Boyko , Polishchuk - residents of Boyko or Polissya territories;
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Mazur - points to a native of Mazovia (historical region in Poland);
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Litvinenko is a "descendant of Lithuania", that is, a person from Lithuania;
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Moskalenko - from the word "Moskal", so they could call visitors from Muscovy.
4. Last names related to the appearance or character traits
Sometimes the name was fixed for a person who was distinguished by a certain feature - red hair, lack of hair, growth or even the manner of gait.
Among them:
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Rudenko - red -haired;
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Lysenko - bald;
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Kovtun - with swallows in hairstyle (tangled hair);
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Belous - "One who with white mustache";
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Shulga - shulga (left -hand);
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Large - tall or chunky.
Your last name is the key to the history of the genus
The study of names is a journey into the past that can tell about the fate of ancestors, their habits, life, even place of residence. Sometimes one word in the passport opens a centuries -old family legend.
