Ukrainian surnames are not just words in documents, but real carriers of history, culture and memory of generations. They reflect the languages, influences and destinies of the peoples who have lived on Ukrainian lands for centuries. Researcher Pavlo Chuchka, who has studied Transcarpathian surnames for over 40 years, has collected unique facts about the origin of famous Ukrainian names, including those belonging to influential politicians.
Baloga - "left hand" or "left-handed"
The surname Baloga is of Hungarian origin and translates as "left hand" or "left-handed". Its bearers come from Transcarpathia, and the first written mention dates back to 1717. Today, there are 292 bearers of this surname in Ukraine, most of whom live in Mukachevo, Uzhhorod, and Zavydov.
Shufrych - from the ancient name Sofron
The surname Shufrych comes from the Romanianized form of the Greek name Sophron - "Shufrya". This form has taken root mainly in Transcarpathia. People's Deputy Nestor Shufrych comes from this region. Currently, about 140 Shufrychs live in Ukraine.
Petyovka — from the name Petro or… potatoes
The surname Petyovka may come from both the folk form of the name "Petyo" and the Hungarian word "pitovko" - potato. Today, 166 people with this surname live in Ukraine, mainly in Transcarpathia.
Pynzenyk — a surname with a monetary connotation
The surname Pynzenyk, which is borne by former Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk, has several possible interpretations. According to one version, it comes from the Polish word "penzít" - to scare, according to another - from the Hungarian "pindzi" - money. It is symbolic that its bearer became a financier.
Turchynov is a descendant of a Turk
The surname Turchynov has ancient origins and means "descendant of a Turk." The word "Turk" was once used to refer to people from Turkish lands. This surname is found in various regions of Ukraine, in particular in Central Ukraine. It is also borne by the former acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov.
Litvin - the memory of Greater Lithuania
The surname Litvin indicates origin from the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At first, it was used to name people who came from the northern lands, and later it became a common ethnonym. One of the famous bearers is the politician Volodymyr Lytvyn.
Transcarpathia is a region where every surname has its own history
As Professor Chuchka notes, the uniqueness of Transcarpathian surnames is due to the centuries-old neighborhood of different cultures: Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Slovak, German, even Italian. Here, every name is like a trace of history.
Onomastics is not only the science of names, but also a way to learn about one's own identity. The origin of the surnames of such famous Ukrainians as Baloga, Shufrych, Pynzenyk, Turchynov, or Lytvyn is part of the great cultural mosaic that makes up modern Ukraine.
