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.
Popular Russian Male Surnames
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
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