200+ Russian Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings

Russian surnames are quite meaningful in nature. In Russia, you will also find different male and female surnames. Some Russian last names portray their ancestral history, while some are based on their occupation as well. And don’t be surprised if you find a Russian surname based on an animal or even a bird!

From popular male surnames and female surnames to common surnames followed by unique ones to occupational-based surnames and even rare ones, you will find the meanings behind them all here.

Some of the popular Male surnames of a Russian baby boy along with their meaning are as follows.

1. Abakumov

Abakumov refers to the “Son of Abakum”, and is derived from the Hebrew word “Habakkuk”, meaning “Embrace”.

2. Alekseev

This Russian masculine name is derived from the given name “Alexey” and translates as “descendant of Alexey’s”.

3. Belyayev

The surname Belyayev is derived from the nickname Belyay/Belyai, meaning “White hair”.

4. Yeltsin

The surname Yeltsin in Russia means “Fir tree”.

5. Fedorov

Fedorov stems from the Russian word “Feodor”, meaning “God’s gift”.

6. Gorbachev

Gorbachev is a Russian surname, referring to “Hunchback”.

7. Ilyin

This masculine surname is derived from the given name “Ilya” and literally means “Ilya’s”.

8. Kuzmin

Kuzmin derives from the given name “Kuzma” and literally translates as “Kuzma’s”.

9. Komarov

This is a masculine surname, meaning “Mosquito”.

10. Rogov

The last name Rogov derives from the term “Rob”, meaning “Antler” or “Horn”.

11. Maslov

The Russian surname “Maslov” derives from the word “Maslo” which means “Butter”.

12. Nikolaev

Nikolaev is derived from the given male name “Nikolay”, which is equivalent to “Nicholas”, meaning “people of Victory”. Nikolaev means “Descendant of Nikolay’s”.

13. Nekrasov

Nekrasov derives from the Russian term “Nekras” which means “Not beautiful”.

14. Titov

Titov stems from the Latin name “Titus”, meaning “Descendant of”.

15. Stepanov

This Russian surname has its origin in the canonical male name “Stephen”, which literally means “Crowned”.

16. Tarasov

Derived from the male given name “Taras”, the surname literally means “Belonging to Taras”.

17. Vassiliev

This surname is derived from the given name “Vasiliy” which corresponds to Basil, and the name means “Vasiliy’s”.

18. Yarovoy

This Russian surname has an adjective meaning “Spring-time”.

19. Zolotov

Zolotov is a Slavic surname that is based on the term “Gold”.

20. Zharkov

This Russian surname Zharkov means “keen”, “inventive” and “reliable”.

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Popular Russian Female Surname

Some of the Popular Female Surname of a Russian baby girl are as follows:

21. Abakumova

Abakumova is the feminine version of the male surname, Abakumov meaning “God’s embrace”.

22. Alekseeva

Alekseeva is a female last name. The surname is a variation of the male surname Alekseev, derived from “Alexandros” meaning, “defender”.

23. Belyayeva

Belyayeva is the female variation of the masculine surname “Belyayev”, which translates as “white hair”.

24. Yeltsina

The surname Yeltsina is the feminine variation of the masculine surname “Yelstin” which in Russia means “Fir tree”.

25. Fedorova

Fedorova is a girl version of the surname Fedorov that is derived from the Russian word “Feodor”, meaning “God’s gift”.

26. Andreeva

This is the feminine variation of the masculine surname ”Andreev” which translates to “son of Andrey”.

27. Ilyina

Ilyina is a feminine version of the masculine surname ”Ilyin”.

28. Kuzmina

Kuzmina is a Russian female surname. The masculine version of this surname is “Kuzmin”.

29. Komarova

Komarova is a feminine version of the masculine surname “Komarov”, meaning “Mosquito”.

30. Rogova

Rogova is a feminine version of “Rogov”, which means “Antler” or “Horn”.

31. Maslova

Maslova is the female counterpart of the male surname ”Maslov” which means “Butter”.

32. Nikolaeva

The feminine Russian surname Nikolaeva is a variation of the male last name “Nikolaev”.

33. Nekrasova

Nekrasova is the female variation surname of Nekrasov.

34. Titova

Titova is the female variation of the surname “Titov”, meaning “descendant of”.

35. Stepanova

This is the feminine variation of the masculine surname “Stepanov” which translates as “crowned”.

36. Tarasova

Tarasova is the female surname, and means “Belonging to Tara’s”.

37. Vassilieva

Female variation of the male surname ”Vassiiliev” means “Vaisiliy’s”.

38. Yarovaya

The female surname Yarovaya has an adjective meaning, “spring-time”.

39. Zolotova

Zolotova is a Russian feminine surname, meaning “gold”.

40. Zharkova

Zharkova is the female variation of the male surname ”Zharkov”, meaning “Keen”, “inventive” and ”reliable”.

Occupation Based Russian Surnames

Many Russian Last Names are based on occupation. Some of the Russian surnames based on occupation are as follows:

41. Portnov

Portnov is a Russian surname, based on occupation. The surname stems from the “Tailor” occupation. meaning “child of the Tailor”.

42. Balakirev

Balakirev is used as an occupational surname, and is used by “Ceramics Worker”.

43. Bocharov

This surname is derived from “Boachr” meaning Copper. The occupational surname is used for people who work with Copper.

44. Chaban

Chaban is an occupational surname in Russia and Ukraine and is used for ”Shepherd”.

45. Bortnik

This is a Belarusian and Ukrainian occupational surname that denotes a “Beekeeper”.

46. Goncharov

Goncharov derives from “Gonchar” and translates to ”Potter”.

47. Kovalchuk

This surname is derived from “Koval” which literally means “Blacksmith”.

48. Kuznetsov

Kuznetsov is a patronymic, occupational-based surname meaning “Smith”.

49. Melnik

Melnik is an occupational-based surname that translates to “Miller”.

50. Rybakov

Rybakov is a surname that is used to denote “descendant of Fisherman”.

51. Shvetsov

Shvetsov is an occupational-based surname, which stems from the Ukrainian term shvets for “cobbler/shoemaker”, meaning “child of Cobbler”.

52. Sobol

The occupational-based surname, Sobol refers to “Fur Trader”.

53. Vinogradov

Vinogradov is a Russian last name derived from the Russian word “Vinograd”, meaning Vineyard. This surname usually refers to someone who worked at a Vineyard or lived near one.

54. Popov

The surname Popov means “son of the Priest”, and is derived from the Slavonic word “pop”, meaning “Priest”.

55. Nikolaev

Nikolaev is an occupational-based surname used to refer to someone who “Trade flowers”.

56. Egorov

This is an occupational-based surname, and refers to “Farmer”.

57. Plotkinov

Plotkinov is an occupational-based surname, referring to “Carpenter”.

58. Kalashnik

Makers of Kalaches are usually given the surname “Kalashnik”.

59. Chugunkin

Chugunkin means “cast iron” and is related to those who are “Ironworkers”. 

60. Kozhemyakin

Kozhemyakin is a Russian surname, which is used to refer to a “Leather Worker”.

Unique Russian Surnames

61. Chernyshevsky

This Russian surname Chernyshevsky refers to the village “Chernyshevo”.

62. Chekov

Russian surname “Chekov” refers to someone from Czechia.

63. Khovansky

Khovansky is a Russian surname and is from the name of a noble family in Russia.

64. Agapov

This Russian surname stems from the given name “Agap,” meaning “Love” in Greek.

65. Kamenev

This surname derives from the name “Kamen” and refers to ‘Stone’ and is a unique surname in Russia.

66. Chernoff

The surname Chernoff is derived from the word “Chernyj,” which means “Black”.

67. Galkin

The surname Galkin is derived from the word “Galka”, meaning “Jackdaw”.

68. Oblonsky

Oblonsky is a surname based on a place called ‘Obolon’, the last name refers to “wet field”.

69. Pasternak

The surname Pasternak means the vegetable, Parsnip in Russia.

70. Kholodnaya

The Russian surname, Kholodnaya means “Cool” or “Cold”.

71. Baladin

Baladin is a unique Russian surname, meaning “a Small Crater on the Moon”.

72. Molchalin

This Russian surname means “Silent”.

73. Pavlov

The surname Pavlov derives from the given name “Pavel” meaning, “Small”.

74. Laskin

The last name Laskin is derived from the nickname “lask,” meaning “Favor”

75. Turgenev

This surname is derived from the Mongolian word ‘Turgen’, and means ‘Fast’ or ‘Quick’.

76. Krupin

Krupin is a Russian surname that is derived from the West Slavic word ‘Krupa”, meaning “barley” or “grain”.

77. Khramov

Khramov is a Russian male surname, derived from the word “khram,” which means a “Temple”.

78. Yakhontov

Yakhontov is a male surname derived from the word “Yakhont”, which refers to precious stones ‘Ruby’ and ‘Sapphire’.

79. Sowa

This Russian surname derives from the Polish noun “Sowa”, meaning “Owl”.

80. Lysov

The Russian surname Lysov stems from a term meaning “Bald.”

Russian Surnames Based on Animals and Birds

In Russia, we will find many surnames that are based on Animals or Birds. Some surnames based on birds and animals are listed as follows:

81. Baranov

The surname Baranov is derived from the word “Baran,” which means “Lamb”.

82. Ovechkin

Ovechkin is an animal-related surname in Russia, and translates as “Little sheep”.

83. Borisyuk

Borisyuk is a Russian surname, which derives from the word “Boris” meaning “Wolf” or “Snow leopard”.

84. Sorokin

This is a surname, deriving from the Russian word “Soroka” which refers to a bird, “Magpie”.

85. Bykov

Bykov is a Russian surname, derived from the word “byk” which means “Bull”.

86. Sobolev

Sobolev is derived from the mammal “Sable”, and is a popular Russian surname.

87. Orloff

The surname Oloff is derived from the nickname “Oryol”, meaning “Eagle”.

88. Levin

Levin stems from the word “Lev”, meaning “Lion” in Russian.

89. Knurov

Knurov is a Russian surname derived from a dialect, “knur” which refers to a “Boar”.

90. Bobrov

Bobrov is a Russian surname based on an animal and is derived from “Beaver”.

91. Lebedev

The surname Lebedev is derived from the word “Lebed” which refers to “Swan”.

92. Koshkin

Koshkin is a Russian surname meaning “cat” or “cat owner”. This surname is derived from “koshka” meaning “Cat”.

93. Kozlov

This animal-related surname derives from “Kozyol”, referring to a “Goat”.

94. Drozdov

Drozdov is a bird-related Russian surname and is used to refer to a “Blackbird”.

55. Belkin

Derived from the Russian word “belka”, this surname refers to “Squirrel”.

96. Golubev

Golubev is a Russian surname that derives from the word “Golub”, meaning “Pigeon”.

97. Sobakin

The last name Sobakin is derived from “sobaka,” which translates as “Dog” in Russian.

98. Volkov

Another Russian surname derived from the word “Volk”, meaning “Wolf”.

99. Voronin

Balto-Salvic last name Voronin is derived from the Proto-Balto-Slavic word “warnás”, which means “Crow”.

100. Zaitsev

Russian surname Zaitsev is derived from the word “zayats,” which means “Hare”.

Common Russian Surnames

There are a few surnames that you will hear frequently in Russia as they are very common. So, here we have enlisted some common Russian last names for you.

101. Morozova (Frost)

102. Sidorov (Sidor’s)

103. Kuznetsov (Smith)

104. Semenov (Seymon’s)

105. Novikov (Newcomer)

106. Vorobyov (Sparrow)

107. Abramov (Abram)

108. Gusev (Goose)

109. Kozolov (Goat)

110. Molotov (Hammer)

111. Chekhov (From Czechia)

112. Solovyov (Nightingale)

113. Evanoff (Evan’s)

114. Yusupov (Son of Yusup)

115. Laskin (Favor)

116. Fyodorov (Son of Fyodor)

117. Artyomov (Son of Artyom)

118. Donskoy (The river Don)

119. Kiselyov (Fruit Jelly Kisel)

120. Volkov (Wolf)

121. Druzhinin (Friend)

122. Barinov (Descendant of Boyar)

123. Abdulov (Son of Abdul)

124. Babin (Grandmother/Old Woman)

125. Deriabin (Good luck)

Rare Russian Surnames

Some rare surnames in Russia are as follows:

126. Dolgorukov (Russian Noble family name)

127. Bortsov (Wrestler)

128. Chaplinsky (Heron/Stork)

129. Tolstoy (Thick/Fat)

130. Yurovsky (From Yurovka)

131. Goncharenko (Descendant of a Potter)

132. Kislyakov (Kisli; Fishing Net)

133. Bugrov (Originated near a hilly area)

134. Zolotarev (Goldsmith)

135. Angeloff (Angel)

136. Babanin (Yin’s woman)

137. Balabanov (Son of Balaban)

138. Agafonov (Kindness/Goodness)

139. Borodin (Beard)

140. Devin (Sorcerer/Fortune Teller)

141. Dobrow (Good)

142. Gorky (From Gorky City)

143. Lagunov (Water Barrel)

144. Nikolaev (Belonging to Nikolay’s)

145. Rasputin (Debauched one)

Difficult Russian Surnames

Here we have a list of Russian Surnames that are pretty difficult to pronounce.

146. Golitsyn (Noblest Prince House)

147. Vorontsov (Russian Noble Family name)

148. Koretsky (corncrake)

149. Solomatov (Belonging to Solomon)

150. Miroshnichenko (Son of Miller)

151. Razumovsky (A Russian Noble family)

152. Voytenkov (Soldier)

153. Yakovleva From the name Yakov)

154. Zubkov (Tooth)

155. Gromova (Alexander Georgiyevich Gromov )

156. Aleksandrovich (Defender of Men)

157. Zhukova (Bettle/Bug)

158. Lobanova ( Forehead)

159. Shremetev (Influential and Wealthiest Family name)

160. Vladimirovna (descendant of Vladimir)

161. Yusupova (From the name Yusup)

162. Kuznetsova (Smith)

163. Zadorozhny (East Salvic Surname)

164. Naryshkin (Russian Noble Family)

165. Zhuravlev (Crane)

166. Evdokimova (Glorious)

167. Stroganov (Wealthy and Influential Russian Family Name)

168. Likhachyov (Evil)

169. Khovansky (Noble family name of Russia)

170. Kharitonova (Belonging to Khariton’s)

Russian Surnames Based on Places

Russian Last Names are also based on the geographical regions. So if you are looking for Russian surnames based on places, we have listed some for you.

171. Dmitriev

172. Minsky

173. Smirnov

174. Ivanova

175. Vorobyov

176. Sokolov

177. Orlov

178. Belsky

179. Belova

180. Kirov

181. Tikhonov

182. Kazakov

183. Romanov

184. Arsenyev

185. Kashirsky

Other Russian Surnames

A few other Russian Surnames are listed here.

186. Ustrashkin

187. Rabinovich

188. Yurtaev

189. Voznesensky

190. Vorobyev

191. Vyatkin

192. Petukhov

193. Dominik

194. Zadachin

195. Zima

196. Arsenyev

197. Preobrazhensky

198. Yusupov

199. Shuvalov

200. Davydov

201. Elin

202. Obnizov

203. Oborin

204. Obraztsov

205. Putin

206. Genrikh

207. Lukin

208. Ogievich

209. Novikov

210. Ogarkov

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