150 Popular Russian Last Names or Surnames

Russian surnames originate from various roots. Some surnames come from occupational affiliation while others are ancestral. Here is a list of 150 unique and common Russian last names along with their meanings.

List of 150 Best Russian Surnames or Family Names

Read on to find out some of the best Russian surnames or family names with their meanings.

1. Abakumov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Abakum’. The name Abakum is derived from a Hebrew word Habakkuk, which means ‘embrace’.

2. Abdulov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Abdul’. Abdul, in Arabic, means ‘servant of God’.

3. Abramov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Abram’. Abram in Hebrew means ‘High Father’.

4. Agapov

It is a Russian surname that means ‘love’.

5. Agafonov

It is a Russian surname that means ‘kindness’ or ‘goodness’.

6. Alexeyev

It is one of the Russian family names derived from Greek. It means ‘defender’.

7. Andreyev

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Andrey’. The name is derived from the Greek name Andrew, and it means ‘manly’.

8. Antonov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Anton’. The word derived from Roman means ‘Priceless’.

9. Arsenyev

This habitational surname in Russia means someone who belongs to the town of Arsenyev in Russia.

10. Artyomov

This Russian metronymic last name means ‘Son of Artyom’. The word is derived from the Greek goddess ‘Artemis’.

11. Alekseev

This Russian patronymic last name means ‘Son of Alexei’.

12. Angeloff

This unique Russian surname means ‘orthodox priest’, who is the representative of the angel.

13. Aistov

This short and sweet surname means ‘stork’.

14. Alatyrtsev

You need to be absolutely certain about this name, as the name itself means ‘uncertainty’.

15. Arkhangelsky

This is another habitational Russian name that denotes someone from Arkhangelsk, a region in Russia.

16. Aslanov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Aslan’. In Turkish, the word means means ‘lion’.

17. Andreev

It is another Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of Andrei’.

18. Baryshev

Your child will surely prosper with this name as it means ‘profit’.

19. Basov

This is a popular surname and the meaning of it is ‘beautiful’.

20. Belyaev

This interesting Russian surname originates from the secular nickname which means ‘white’.

21. Belov

This is another variant of the previous name, and also means ‘white’ in its secular origin.

22. Babanin

It is a noble family name in Russia which has its origin in Tsardom of Russia. The name means the ‘yin woman’.

23. Balabanov

It is a Russian occupational last name that means ‘Son of Balaban’. In Greek, the name means ‘tame bear’, whereas, in Russian, it means ‘hawk’ or ‘falconer’.

24. Balakin

This unique Russian name refers to someone who is ‘very talkative’ or can chatter constantly.

25. Balakirev

Originated from the East Slavic era, the occupational surname refers to the Ceramic workers.

26. Balandin

This is an interesting Russian surname; it refers to ‘a small crater located on the Moon’.

27. Baranov

This Russian surname refers to the ‘lamb’, and finds its roots in the occupation of lamb breeding.

28. Barinov

It is a Russian patronymic last name that means ‘Son of the boyar’.

29. Belsky

This habitational Russian name is used for someone who hails from the city of Bielsk.

30. Babin

This is a metronymic or patronymic Russian name which means ‘son of an old woman’. It is also used as a nickname to describe a fussy man.

31. Bocharov

This is an occupational surname in Russia. The meaning of the name is ‘someone who works with copper’.

32. Borisyuk

This is another Russian surname derived from animals. The name means ‘wolf’ or ‘snow leopard’.

33. Borovkov

This is also a Russian family name that is derived from an animal. In Russia, it means ‘a little boar’.

34. Borodin

This surname is mostly given to people who sport a ‘bushy bears’ as the surname means that.

35. Bortnik

This is a habitational last name as well as an occupational name. The name defines someone who’s from a place called Bortniki. It also means ‘beekeeper’.

36. Bortsov

This is an occupational surname in Russia, and it means ‘wrestler’.

37. Bugrov

This is a habitational surname. The word means ‘hill’ and is used to denote someone who stays close to the hills.

38. Bychkov

This is another family name which has a connection with animals. The word means ‘bull’, and denotes a family that is strongly built and powerful.

39. Chaban

This surname from Ukrainian origin is an occupational one, and it refers to ‘Shepherds’.

40. Charming

This name is quite self-explanatory. Name your sweet child something ‘charming’.

41. Chernoff

It is a patronymic surname of Jewish origin. The word means ‘black’ and is given to black-haired or dark-skinned people.

42. Chugunov

This is another Russian occupational surname that denotes people who are iron-workers or those who produce cast-iron goods.

43. Davydov

This last name is a patronymic surname of Hebrew origin. It means ‘Son of David’ or ‘someone beloved’.

44. Deriabin

This unique name means ‘restless’ and is the perfect name for a high-energy baby.

45. Dmitriev

This is a habitational surname which is given to people who belong to a town called Dmitriyev in Russia.

46. Devin

Originated from the French, this occupational surname denotes the clan of ‘sorcerers’ or ‘fortune-tellers’.

47. Dobrow

This is a habitational surname of Ukrainian origin that means ‘good’ and denotes people who belong to the village of Dobroe in Ukraine.

48. Dominik

The name means ‘the Lord’s day’ or ‘belonging to Lord’.

49. Donskoy

This short name is location-based and talks about proximity to cities or districts near the Don river in Russia.

50. Drozdov

This is a cool Russian last names, which means ‘blackbird’.

51. Druzhinin

This Russian name comes from a term that represents a group of close friends. 

52. Eagle

This is a popular Russian surname. You can name your child after the mighty eagle!

53. Egorov

This is an occupational surname, and it means ‘farmer’.

54. Elin

This Russian last name has its roots in English and means ‘Light’. It is a variation of the biblical character Helen.

55. Evanoff

This is a common patronymic surname in Russia, and it means ‘Son of Ivan’ or ‘Son of Evan’.

56. Fedorov

This is another interesting name that means ‘god-given’ or ‘gift of god’.

57. Federov

This is slightly similar to the last one, and the meaning too is ‘God’s gift’.

58. Fyodorov 

This is a popular surname and literally means Fyodor’s. 

59. Glazastov

This unique surname means ‘sharp-eyed’.

60. Gorky

Gorky is a popular name in Russia and is made popular by the Russian writer, thinker, Maxim Gorky. The name means ‘extremely bitter’.

61. Gorbachev

Another famous name from Russia after the last head of USSR, Gorbachev means ‘hunchback’.

62. Gusev

This is another surname in Russia that has its roots in animals. The name means ‘goose’.

63. Galkin

This is a patronymic Russian name and also a common nickname that means ‘jackdaw’. This name mostly denotes a talkative person.

64. Garin

The name Garin has an interesting meaning. It means the ‘guardian’.

65. Genrich

This name is derived from a German personal name Heinrich. It means ‘house ruler’.

66. Gurin

This habitational surname in Russia means someone who belongs to the village of Gury in Belarus.

67. Gurkin

The name is a patriotic form of the name Gury. 

68. Golubev

This is another name that has its roots in wildlife. It means ‘dove’ or ‘pigeon’.

69. Ibragimov

This is another patronymic name derived from Abraham; it means ‘Father of many’.

70. Individual 

Many Russian surnames mean individual. This is more to the point!

71. Ilyin

This is also a patronymic surname which means ‘son of Ilya’.

72. Ivanov

This is also a patronymic surname which is derived from the name Ivan. The name means ‘God’s grace’.

73. Karamazov

This surname was created by an author for a book but soon gained popularity among the masses. The meaning of the name is ‘black stain’.

74. Kuznetsov

This is a famous Russian name made popular by Tennis player Svetlana Kuznetsova. The name means ‘blacksmith’.

75. Kalashnik

This name has its origin in Ukraine. This occupational name means ‘breadmaker’.

76. Kozlov

This is another Russian name that is connected to the animals. The name means ‘goat’.

77. Kamenev

This is one of rare Russian last names; it means ‘stone’.

78. Komarov

This name has its roots in the insects. The name means ‘mosquito’ in Russian.

79. Kotov

This is another last name in Russia, which has been derived from the name of an animal. It means ‘cat’.

80. Kiselyov

This name has its origin in a Russian traditional fruit drink.

81. Kravtsov

This is a Russian occupational name with a Ukrainian origin. The name refers to tailors, the one who stitches clothes.

82. Kovalyov

This is also another occupational surname, and it means ‘blacksmith’.

83. Krupin

This interesting family name in Russia means ‘grains’.

84. Kuzmin

This is also a patronymic surname which means ‘son of Kuzma’.

85. Khorkina

This surname comes with a lot of responsibility. We mean it literally as the name means ‘responsible’. 

86. Lagunov

This name has an interesting meaning. The words trace back to ‘water barrel’, directing towards an occupational surname.

87. Laskin

This is a popular Russian name that comes from Russian and Belorussian laska which means ‘favour’.

89. Lebedev

This is another last name in Russia which is connected to the name of a bird. The name means ‘swan’.

90. Lenkov

This name means the ‘son of Alexander’. In literal terms, the name implies ‘defender of mankind’.

91. Levin

This sweet name is of German and Hebrew origin and means ‘dear friend’. 

92. Lipovsky

This name may signify a connection to a village. On its own it means ‘lime tree’.

93. Lopatina

This is the female version of the name Lopatin which talks about work involving shovels. 

94. Makarov 

This name is derived from Greek culture, and it means ‘happy’.

95. Medvedev

There are many Russian surnames derived from animal names, and this is one of them. This last name means ‘bear’.

96. Medvedeva

This is the female version of Medvedev, and it means ‘bear’.

97. Morozov

This name is an interesting one; it means ‘bitter cold’ in Russian.

98. Mikhailov

This is a patronymic surname in Russia; it means ‘Son of Mikhail’, or ‘someone god-like’.

99. Meknikov

This is another occupational surname, and it refers to ‘miller’.

100. Molchalin

This is a very interesting Russian surname; it means ‘silent’.

101. Molotov

It is also an occupational surname. The name means ‘hammer’ referring to someone who works with a hammer.

102. Nikolaev

This is another occupational surname that means ‘those who trade flowers’.

103. Novikov

This is a Russian secular nickname that means ‘a newcomer’. The surname comes from the word ‘Novik’.

104. Nikitin

This is another patronymic surname in Russia; it means ‘Son of Nikita’.

105. Orlov

It is a surname that is borne by the noble families in Russia. The name means ‘eagle’.

106. Ovechkin

This is a masculine Russian surname that means ‘little sheep’. 

107. Pasternak

This surname has multiple origins in Ukraine, Russia, Romania and Poland. The name indicates a root vegetable ‘Parsnip’.

108. Petrov

Petrov means ‘stone’.

109. Pavlov

This is another patronymic Russian last name which means ‘son of Pavlo’ or ‘small’.

110. Petukhov

This is another name that is used to define people who belong to several habitations.

111. Plotnikov

This is another occupational surname that means ‘people who work with woods’ or ‘carpenters’.

112. Popov

The word is derived from the word ‘Pope’, and refers to ‘a Priest’.

113. Poletov

This is a Russian surname with an interesting meaning. It refers to ‘quick’ or ‘fast’.

114. Portnov

This is another occupational surname used for tailors.

115. Pushkin 

The meaning of this unique name is ‘a good artilleryman’. 

116. Putin

The surname borne by President of Russia is a famous surname and it means ‘One who travels along the road’. The surname is mostly found in the Russia and Transnistria.

117. Rabinovich

This name is derived from the word ‘Rabbi’, which means ‘mentor’ or ‘teacher’. The name means ‘son of a Rabbi’.

118. Raskolnikov

The name is derived from the Russian Raskolnik, which means “schismatic“.

119. Rogov

This is a Russian name with Jewish origin. This family name has been derived from the word ‘Rog’, which means ‘horn’.

120. Rasputin

This Russian surname means ‘crossroads’.

121. Rybakov

This is another occupational surname that refers to ‘fishermen’.

122. Sharapova

This beautiful name is of Turkish origin and means ‘honour’ or ‘wisdom’.

123. Smirnoff

This popular name is a variant of the name Smirnov. It means ‘peaceful’ or ‘gentle’. 

124. Smirnov

This is an interesting surname that means ‘still’ or ‘tranquil’.

125. Sidorov

This is another patronymic surname, which means ‘Son of Sidor’.

126. Sobakin

The name is a patronymic form of Sobaka which means ‘dog’. 

127. Sokolov

This Russian surname is related to ‘falcon’ or ‘hawk’. Most of the people who used to supply falcons to the King’s mansion used to bear this name.

128. Solovyov

The name is derived from the first name Solovei and means ‘nightingale’ in Russian.

129. Sorokin

This is a popular surname and is of Russian origin. It means ‘magpie’.

130. Semyonov

This surname means ‘Son of Semyon’.

131. Stepanov

This is also a patronymic surname which means ‘son of Stepan’.

132. Tarasov

It is a popular Russian surname that is derived from the given name Taras. It denotes people from Taras. 

133. Turgenev

This, too, is a popular surname that is derived from a Mongolian word. It means ‘fast’. 

134. Ustrashkin

It is derived from the Russian verb ‘Ustrasht’ and means ‘to intimidate’ or ‘to frighten’. 

135. Utkin

It is a Russian masculine surname which means ‘duck’.

136. Varkov

This unique name has a very strong meaning to it. It represents ambition and independence. 

137. Vinogradov

This is a common Russian surname that means ‘grape’. 

138. Vorobyev

Vorobyev is a common Russian surname and is an ode to precious sparrows. 

139. Voronin

The name is a Balto-Slavic last name that means a ‘raven or a crow’. 

140. Yablokov

The name is derived from ‘Yabloko’, which means ‘apple’ in Russian.

141. Yegorov

It is a common Russian lastname that is derived from the male given name Yegor and means ‘Yegor’s’. 

142. Yevstigneyev

This surname is derived from the male given name Yevstigney and means ‘Yevstigney’s‘.

143. Yurtaev

The meaning of this beautiful name is ‘The seeker of great opportunities in life’.

144. Yusupov

The name comes from the Arabic name Yusuf. It is the Arabic equivalent of Joseph. 

145. Zadachin

This beautiful name means ‘optimistic’. 

146. Zaitsev

This is a popular Russian last name and means ‘hare’.

147. Zakharov

This surname is formed from the baptismal name Zachary. It means ‘memory of God’. 

148. Zhuravlev

The surname is derived from the Russian word for ‘cranes’. 

149. Zima

This is a beautiful name for a baby girl. The meaning of the name is ‘winter’. 

150. Zolotov

Zolotov is a Slavic surname that is based on the word ‘gold’. 

There are the 100 most known Russian names with their meanings. These names have an interesting history attached to them that will make anyone feel fascinated.