150 + Common Ukrainian Last Names With Meanings

Most Ukrainian last names are identified by their distinctive suffixes. Surnames that end with -enko, -vich, -chuk, -ych or -yshyn are common. These are created by adding one of the commonly accepted suffixes to an individual’s name, occupation, or place of origin. For instance, Adam is an ancestral name, and Adamovich becomes the family name.

In modern times, traditional Ukrainian last names have undergone several changes influenced by global trends and practices. But, the majority of the Ukrainians have continued to follow this centuries-old practice and kept the tradition alive.

Let’s delve deeper and find out the history of the most common Ukrainian last names with meanings.

150 + Common Ukrainian Last Names And Meanings

Every Ukrainian surname is backed by a rich history and heritage of its people. Let’s find out the background of these surnames.

Traditional Ukrainian Last Names

Here are some of the most common Ukrainian last names that stood the test of time and have flourished through the centuries.

1. Alekseeva

Having Russian roots, this feminine surname means ‘descendant of’ a person whose name could start with Alek- such as Aleksey, Alexey, or Aleksander.

2. Andreev

This patronymic name means ‘son of Andrey.’ Andrey is derived from the Greek Andreas meaning ‘manly.’

3. Antonyuk

A patronymic surname, Antonyuk is derived from the first name Anton. The given name Anton is inspired by the Latin Anthony which means ‘priceless one.’

4. Antonenko

The gender-neutral surname means ‘descendant of Anton.’ Russian model and former Miss Russia Irina Antonenko is a popular namesake.

5. Artemenko

A patronymic derived from the first name Artyom, this Russian first name means ‘safe.’

6. Avramenko

Avram is the Ruthenian variant of the Hebrew name Abram. The suffix -enko is added to make it a Ukrainian surname.

7. Babenko

Baba is the Ukrainian term for ‘grandmother’ or ‘old woman.’ Babenko could be a surname that means ‘child of an old woman.’

8. Babych

In Ukraine, Baba refers to a ‘grandmother’ or an ‘old woman. Babych is a patronym common as Babich in Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia.

9. Barabash

Barabash could have both Ukrainian and Russian roots and it means ‘to worry,’

‘to disturb.’ Alternatively, it could also have Hungarian roots derived from the term

bar meaning ‘present.’

10. Baran

Baran surname refers to a ‘ram.’ It is likely to be an occupational surname for a shepherd.

11. Baranov

Baranov is a nickname turned into a surname. It refers to a ‘lamb’ or ‘argali (a type of sheep).’

12. Bohdan

Inspired by the given name Bogdan, this surname means ‘God’s gift’ or ‘given by God.’

13. Belous

In Russian, Belous means ‘a man with white whiskers.’ In Polish, this surname is also written as Białowąs or Białous.

14. Bilous

Derived from the Russian belous, the surname Bilous means ‘a man with white mustache.’

15. Bilyk

Derived from the term bilyy, this surname means ‘white.’ Initially, it may have been a nickname for people with pale skin.

16. Bodnar

Bodnar is an occupational surname derived from the term bodnja that means ‘tub.’ Alternatively, it also has a Polish connection that means ‘cottager.’

17. Boichuk

Boichuk is a patronym derived from the first name Boyko. Ukrainian mathematician Oleksandr Boichuk is a popular namesake known for bagging multiple awards in the field of science and technology.

18. Boiko

Boiko means ‘quick’ and is a family name belonging to a certain group of highlanders in western Ukraine. It is a surname common amongst the Ashkenazi Jews and is also spelled as Boyko in Russia.

19. Bondar

The East Slavic occupational title refers to a ‘cooper’ or a ‘person who makes barrels.’ Apart from Ukraine, it is also a known surname in Poland.

20. Borysenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the given name Boris, which means ‘wolf’ or ‘snow leopard.’

21. Chaban

Chaban has Ukrainian and Turkish roots. It is an occupational name denoting a

‘shepherd.’

22. Chaika

Chaika could be derived from the Ukrainian term chayka, which refers to the bird ‘lapwing,’ or the Russian term chayka, which means ‘seagull.’

23. Chumak

In Ukrainian, Chumak refers to ‘plower.’ In the Medieval period, Chumak could have been the surname of a person who was into an occupation that dealt with wagon-based trading such as delivery of goods.

24. Demchenko

The surname is based on the given name Demyan, a derivative of the Greek Damianos meaning ‘to tame.’

25. Demyanenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the first name Demyan. Ukrainian film producer and director Olena Demyanenko is known for creating numerous films and bagging multiple awards for her work.

26. Denysenko

Denysenko is a patronym derived from the given name Denys or Dennis. Ukrainian writer Larysa Denysenko is a popular namesake who is also a known human rights activist.

27. Derkach

Derkach means ‘noisemaker’ or a ‘rattle.’ Russian football coach and former footballer, Sergei Derkach is a known namesake.

28. Dmytruk

The patronymic surname is derived from the given name Dmytro, which is the Ukrainian variant of the Greek Dēmētrios.

29. Dmytrenko

Dmytrenko is a patronym derived from the first name Dmitry or Demetrius. Figure skater Dmytro Dmytrenko is a popular namesake known for winning multiple championships.

30. Doroshenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the name Dorosh, which means ‘gift of God.’

31. Dubyna

The topographic surname refers to an ‘oak forest.’ It is a feminine surname denoting ‘daughter or wife of Dubin.’ Alternatively, it also means a ‘stubborn’ or ‘powerful’ person.

32. Dudka

Dudka means ‘a small bagpipe.’ It could be an occupational surname for a person who played or sold bagpipes.

33. Evtushenko

Derived from Greek Eutychius meaning ‘lucky,’ Evtushenko is a gender-neutral surname.

34. Fedorenko

The last name Fedorenko means ‘a descendant of Fedir.’ The first name Fedir is the Ukrainian variant of Theodore meaning ‘gift of God.’

35. Fedorova

The patronym is derived from the first name Fedor meaning ‘gift of God.’ It could also be the feminine variant of Fyodorov meaning ‘descendant of Fyodor.’

36. Fesenko

Fesenko is a surname that could be derived from the first name Feska or Fesek and means ‘son of Feska’ or ‘son of Fesek.’

37. Fomenko

Fomenko is a patronym derived from the first name Foma. The given name Foma is derived from Khoma, which is a variant of the Aramaic Thomas meaning ‘twin.’

38. Havrylyuk

The surname is derived from the personal name Havryil, which is the Ukrainian counterpart of the Hebrew name Gabriel meaning ‘God is my strength.’

39. Herasymenko

The patronym is derived from the first name Herasym meaning ‘gift’ or ‘honor.’ This surname is the Ukrainian counterpart of the Russian surname Gerasimos.

40. Honchar

Honchar is an occupational title given to a professional ‘potter.’ In Russian this surname becomes Gonchar and in Slovenian it is Hončar.

41. Honcharenko

In Ukraine, honchar is an occupational title meaning ‘potter.’ Honcharenko is a patronymic surname meaning ‘child of a potter.’

42. Hordiyenko

Hordiyenko is a patronymic based on the name Hordiy. Ukrainian footballers, Artem Hordiyenko and Dmytro Hordiyenko are two of its popular namesakes.

43. Hryhorenko

The patronym is derived from the first name Hryhor or Gregory. Ukrainian writer Hrytsko Hryhorenko is a notable name bearer known for her writings that have been translated into multiple languages.

44. Hrytsenko

Hrytsenko is derived from the given name Hryhoriy, which is the Ukrainian variant of Gregory meaning ‘watchful.’

45. Humenyuk

Humenyuk is an occupational surname that refers to a person who manages a castle. It could be a title given to a civil servant who was in charge of a castle.

46. Husak

Husak means ‘gander.’ As a surname, it may denote a person who reared geez. This last name is also known in Czechoslovakia and Croatia.

47. Karpenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the first name Karp meaning ‘carp,’ which is an occupational name for a fisherman who sold carp fish.

48. Kharchenko

A toponym surname, Kharchenko refers to a ‘person from Kharkov.’ It is a common Ukrainian last name in the Kharkiv Oblast and the nearby regions. Former Ukrainian pair skater, Petro Kharchenko is a popular namesake known for bagging multiple international championships.

49. Klymenko

The surname is derived from the given name Klym, which is the Ukrainian variant of the English name Clement meaning ‘gentle’ or ‘merciful.’

50. Kohut

The surname Kohut means ‘rooster.’ It could be associated with a family that bore the house sign of a rooster.

51. Kolesnyk

Kolesnyk means ‘wheelwright.’ It is an occupational surname that could be adopted by a person who repaired wheels.

52. Korniyenko

A patronymic surname Korniyenko is derived from the first name Korniy, which is the Ukrainian counterpart of the Latin name Cornelius, meaning ‘strong-willed.’

53. Kostyuk

Kostyuk is a patronym derived from the first name Konstantyn, which is the Ukrainian variant of the Latin Constantine meaning ‘constant’ or ‘steady.’ Alternatively, it may also mean ‘child of Kosty or Kost.’

54. Koval

Koval is an occupational name meaning ‘blacksmith.’ It is considered the Ukrainian version of the English surname Smith.

55. Kovalchuk

Koval means ‘blacksmith’ or ‘forge.’ The suffix ‘-chuk’ may either mean ‘son of’ or ‘works for.’ This surname has been in use since 1500 AD in Kievan Rus.

56. Kovtun

Kovtun is a unisex surname that refers to ‘Polish plait,’ which is a type of matted hair that can either be a hairstyle or caused due to a medical condition. It is also a nickname for a person with messy hair.

57. Korol

Korol means ‘king.’ Former footballer Ihor Yevhenovych Korol is a popular name bearer.

58. Kostyuchenko

Kostyuchenko is a patronymic surname that is derived from the name Konstantin, which means ‘stable.’

59. Kozlov

The surname is derived from the nickname kozel meaning ‘goat.’ It could also be a habitational name based on the many places named Kozlov in Ukraine.

60. Kozlova

Kozlova is the feminine variant of the surname Kozlov. It means ‘wife or daughter of Kozlov’ or ‘wife or daughter of Kozel.’

61. Kravchenko

Kravets means ‘tailor.’ So, Kravchenko is a patronymic surname meaning ‘child of a tailor.’

62. Kucher

The surname has multiple meanings. It has a German connection by which it could mean ‘coachman.’ It could also be derived from the German term kuoche, which refers to ‘cake’ or ‘pastry.’ Alternatively, it could also be a habitational name for someone who belonged to Kuchen in Württemberg, Germany.

63. Kucherenko

The patronym is derived from the name Kucher meaning ‘coachman.’ This surname means ‘descendent of Kucher.’

64. Kulish

In Ukrainian, Kulish is the ‘millet porridge.’ It is also considered a nickname derived from the Croatian Kuljiš meaning ‘big belly.’

65. Kulyk

Kulyk is the Ukrainian term for different types of birds. The name bearer Liliya Kulyk is a triple jumper famous for winning several international championships.

66. Kuzmenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the Belorussian given name Kuzma, which is a derivative of the Greek Kosmas. It means ‘orderly arrangement’ or ‘decency.’

67. Kuznetsov

Derived from the term kuznets, Kuznetsov is the occupational surname for a ‘smith’ or ‘blacksmith’ in Ukraine.

68. Kuznetsova

In Russian, Kuznets means a ‘blacksmith.’ Kuznetsova is a feminine surname that means ‘daughter or wife of a blacksmith.’

69. Kravtsova

Kravtsova is the feminine variant of the masculine surname Kravtsov, which is derived from the Slavic term ‘krawc’ meaning ‘tailor.’

70. Kyrychenko

Kyrychenko is derived from the given name Kyryk, the Ukrainian variant of the Greek Kerykos meaning ‘heraldic.’

71. Kyrylenko

The surname is derived from the given name Kyrylo, which is a derivation of Greek Cyril meaning ‘masterful.’

72. Lebed

Lebed is a gender-neutral surname meaning ‘swan.’ This surname is popular in Ukraine and Russia.

73. Levchenko

Derived from the Hebrew given name Lev meaning ‘lion,’ Levchencko is a patronymic surname that means ‘son of Lev.’

74. Lutsenko

Derived from the personal name Luts (also a variant of Luka), Lutsenko means ‘descendant of Luts.’

75. Lysak

Lysak is the Ukrainian term for a ‘bald man.’ Ukrainian freestyle wrestler Anhelina Lysak is a notable name bearer known for winning numerous international competitions.

76. Lytvynenko

Lytvyn refers to a person from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the suffix -enko, this surname could mean ‘child of a Lithuanian resident.’

77. Makarenko

The  patronym is derived from the first name Makar, which is a variant of the Greek Makarios meaning ‘happy’ or ‘blessed.’

78. Makarov

The patronymic surname is derived from the name Makar. Its feminine variant is Makarova.

79. Marchenko

The surname is derived from the Roman name Marcus. Ice hockey player, Alexey Marchenko is a prominent name bearer known for his successful career as a defenceman.

80. Marchuk

The surname means ‘son or daughter of Marko.’ The former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yevhen Marchuk is a known namesake.

81. Martynenko

Martynenko is derived from the first name Martyn, which is the Ukrainian version of Martin that refers to the Roman God of war, Mars.

82. Martynyuk

The patronym means ‘son of Martyn.’ Ukrainian footballer Yaroslav Martynyuk is a known name bearer.

83. Matviyenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the first name Matviy. The given name Matviy is the Ukrainian version of the English name Matthew.

84. Mazur

Mazur is a regional title that denotes a person from Mazovia, Poland. It is also considered a nickname that means ‘rustic.’

85. Melnychuk

Melnychuck is a patronymic surname meaning ‘child of a miller.’ Apart from Ukraine, it is also a known surname in Canada.

86. Melnychenko

A patronymic surname, Melnychenko means ‘son or daughter of a miller.’ Apart from Ukraine, it is also a known name in Russia and Belarus.

87. Mikhaylov

A patronym derived from the masculine name Mikhail. Russian figure skater Lev Mikhaylov is a popular name bearer known for being the Soviet national champion multiple times.

88. Moroz

Moroz means ‘frost.’ It is also a masculine name in Ukraine and a known last name in Russia, Poland, and Slovenia.

89. Morozova

Morozova is the feminine form of the surname Moroz meaning ‘frost.’ Anna Afanasyevna Morozova is a famous namesake who was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union title.

90. Moskalenko

Moskalenko means ‘descendant of Moskal.’ Moskal is an ethnic title used to denote a person from Muscovy or Russian in general.

91. Muzyka

Muzyka means ‘music.’ It could be a last name for a musically inclined person or a family of professional musicians.

92. Mykhaylenko

A patronym, Mykhaylenko means ‘son of Mykhailo.’ It could be derived from the first name Mykhaylo.

93. Mikhaylov

The surname means ‘descendant of Mikhail.’ The masculine name Mikhail means ‘who is like God.’

94. Nazarenko

A patronymic surname Nazarenko is derived from the habitational first name Nazar, which means ‘from Nazareth.’

95. Novikova

Novikova is the feminine variant of the surname Novikov. It is derived from the term novik, which refers to a teenager of boyar, cossack, or noble descent completing their military service.

96. Oleynik

In Ukrainian, olíja means ‘oil.’ Derived from olíja, the last name Olyenik may be an occupational surname that refers to an ‘extractor or trader of cooking oil.’

97. Ostapchuk

Ostapchuk is a patronym that means ‘son of Ostap.’ Apart from Ukraine, the name is also used in Belarus.

98. Ostapenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the given name Ostap. A derivative of Greek Eustathius, the masculine name Ostap means ‘well built.’

99. Pavlenko

The patronymic surname means ‘child of Pavlo’ or ‘child of Pavel.’  Russian ballet dancer, Daria Pavlenko is famous for her numerous performances in hit ballet shows such as Giselle and The Prodigal Son.

100. Panasuk

The patronymic surname is based on the given name Panas, which is derived from the Greek Athanasios meaning ‘the one who cannot die.’

101. Pashchenko

Pashchenko is a unisex patronym based on the given name Pavel or Pasha. Olga Pashchenko is a Ukrainian instrumentalist known for bagging multiple international awards for her performances.

102. Pavlova

Pavlova is a feminine variant of the masculine surname Pavlov. It means ‘daughter or wife of Pavlo’ (a variant of Paul).

103. Petrov

Petrov is a patronymic surname that means ‘son of Peter.’ Apart from Ukraine, this surname is also popular in Russia and Bulgaria and could also be a derivative of other names such as Pyotr or Petar.

104. Polischuk

A toponymic surname, Polischuk refers to a person from Polesie or Polesia, a region on the borders of Ukraine.

105. Polyakov

The surname Polyakov could be derived from the traditional name Polyak meaning ‘tree.’ In some cultures, it is also used as a given name.

106. Primak

Primak is a status name for a person ‘who lives with his father-in-law.’ It could also mean ‘to take over.’

107. Prokopenko

Prokopenko is a surname that could be derived from the masculine name Prokop, meaning ‘progressive.’

108. Romanov

The patronymic surname means ‘son of Roman.’ It could also be a toponymic for a person from Rome.

109. Rudenko

Rudenko could be a patronymic surname derived from the Ukrainian nickname Rudy, which refers to ‘a person with red hair.’ Rudy also means ‘red.’

110. Rybak

Ryba is the Slavic term for ‘fish.’ It could be an occupational name denoting a ‘fisherman’ or ‘man who sells fish.’

111. Savchenko

The surname could be a patronym based on the given name Savko meaning ‘grandfather’ or ‘old man.’

112. Semenov

The patronym is derived from the given name Semyon. It is a common surname in Russia.

113. Sereda

In Ukrainian, Sereda means ‘Wednesday’ or ‘the middle.’ Rhythmic gymnast Liubov Sereda from the Soviet Union is a popular namesake known for winning several international competitions.

114. Shapoval

Shapoval is an occupational surname that refers to a cap maker or a person involved in the making of felt hats.

115. Shcherbak

Derived from the Persian word ‘shorba,’ Shcherbak refers to a kind of ‘soup.’ It is one of the most prominent surnames in Ukraine.

116. Shpak

Shpak means ‘starling’ in Ukrainian. This is a common surname not just in Ukraine but also in Poland and Belarus.

117. Shvets

As an occupational surname, Shvets refers to a professional ‘shoemaker’ or ‘cobbler.’ In Russian, this surname means ‘tailor.’

118. Sokolov

Having Cossack origins, this surname is derived from the Russian word sokol, which means ‘falcon.’

119. Solovyov

Rooted in Russian culture, this surname is derived from the masculine name Solovei meaning ‘nightingale.’

120. Soroka

Soroka means ‘magpie.’ It is a gender-neutral surname that could be associated with a person who has white and black hair.

121. Stadnik

As an occupational surname, Stadnik is derived from stadnyk meaning ‘chief shepherd.’ It is a gender-neutral surname.

122. Stasiuk

Stasiuk patronym is derived from the name Stanislaw. The given name means ‘stand.’

123. Stepanyuk

Stepanyuk is a gender-neutral patronymic surname derived from the masculine name Stepan. Ukrainian soprano singer Oksana Stepanyuk is known for giving more than 700 performances in her career.

124. Stepanov

The patronymic surname is derived from the masculine name Stepan. It is the Ukrainian variant of the  Greek masculine name Stefan, which means ‘crown.’

125. Suprun

A patronym, Supun is derived from the Ukrainian given name Suprun, Sopron, or similar names that are inspired by the Latin Sophron.

126. Sydorenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the given name Sidor, which means gift of Isis.’ It may also mean ‘child of Sydir.’

127. Tarasyuk

Tarasyuk is a patronym derived from the given name Taras, which is a Greek name meaning ‘rebellious.’

128. Tkachenko

Tkachuk is the occupational title for a ‘weaver’ or a ‘tailor.’ Tkachenko means ‘descendent of a weaver.’

129. Vasylenko

The surname is derived from the given name Vasyl meaning ‘basil.’ Basil comes from the Greek Basileus, which means ‘king.’

130. Yakovlev

The surname is derived from the first name Yakov. It is the Ukrainian variant of the Biblical name Jacob, meaning ‘may God protect.’

131. Zhukov

Zhukov is a patronymic derived from the name Zhuk, which means ‘beetle’ in Russian.

Popular Ukrainian Last Names

Some Ukrainian family names have flourished through the years and have become popular not only in Ukraine but also around the world.

132. Bereza

Bereza is a topographic surname that means ‘birch tree.’ It may be associated with people who live near the birch tree.

133. Bondarenko

Bondar is the occupational surname for a ‘cooper.’ With the patronymic suffix -enko, this surname means ‘son of Bondar.’

134. Dub

Dub means ‘oak.’ It may be a topographic surname or last name for a person who lives near an oak tree or someone who is physically strong like the tree.

135. Dubois

Having French origins, the surname could mean ‘made of wood.’ Du in French means ‘from the,’ and bois means ‘wood.’ It could be an occupational surname for someone who works with wood.

136. Kovalenko

Kovalenko is a patronym meaning ‘son of a blacksmith.’ Yuriy Kovalenko was a military leader of the Ukrainian army who was awarded the prestigious title ‘Hero of Ukraine.’

137. Melnyk

Melnyk is an occupational title that means ‘miller.’ Faina Hryhorivna Velieva-Melnyk was a discus thrower from the Soviet known for winning multiple Olympic medals and setting 11 world records.

138. Petrenko

Derived from the personal name Petro or Petr, it is a patronymic surname meaning ‘child of Petro’ of ‘child of Petr.’

139. Shevchenko

The patronymic surname is derived from the occupational term shvets meaning ‘shoemaker’ or ‘cobbler.’ Ukrainian chess grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko is a popular namesake.

Unique Ukrainian Last Names

Let’s check out Ukrainian surnames that are unique because of their meaning and uncommon usage.

140. Holub

Holub means ‘dove’ or ‘pigeon.’ It could have been a surname associated with a person known for amiable nature or it could also be an occupational surname.

141. Horobets

In Ukrainian, Horobet means ‘sparrow.’ Ukrainian basketball player Vita Horobets is a popular namesake.

142. Hryhorchuk

The surname is derived from the first name Hryhor, which is the Ukrainian variant of the masculine name Gregory.

143. Ponomarenko

Ponomarenko is an occupational surname derived either from ponomar or palamar meaning ‘church bell ringer’ or paramonar meaning ‘sexton.’

144. Kachmar

Derived from the Slovakian term Kačmár, the last name Kachmar is an occupational name referring to an ‘innkeeper.’

145. Kozak

Kozak is an ethnic surname signifying a Cossack, a group of people known for their military skills. Alternatively, it may be an occupational name for a person who looks after goats.

146. Lysenko

The term lys means ‘fox,’ while lysy means ‘bald.’ So, the surname Lysenko could mean ‘descendant of someone who represents a fox.’

147. Medvedev

Derived from the Russian medved, this surname means ‘bear.’ It could also be a habitational surname for a person who came from the village of Medvedevo, Belarus.

148. Prokopchuk

The patronymic is derived from the name Prokopko or Prokip. Judoka Evgeniy Prokopchuk is a notable namesake known for being the World Judo Champion in 2019.

149. Rybak

Rybak is an occupational surname meaning ‘fisherman.’ It is derived from the word ryba meaning fish.

150. Volkov

Volkov is derived from the Russian term volk meaning ‘wolf.’ It could also be a habitational name for people who came from places named Volkovo or Volki.

151. Zelensky

A toponymic, Zelensky refers to a person from Zelyonoe, which means ‘green.’ It has many variant spellings such as Zelenski, Zelenskii, or Zelenskiy.

Discover More Names

When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.

Ukrainian last names are symbols of the country’s heritage, traditions, and values. Each surname carries a legacy of its own. From the popular ‘-enko’ suffix to the noble ‘-sky’ ending, each of the family names is deeply rooted in Ukrainian history. Wherever Ukrainians go, they proudly carry their last name because it gives them more than just their identity. Their surnames not only tell a tale of their family history but also give a glimpse into Ukrainian culture and practices.