When they arrived in the United States and Canada, they found that they were treated the same as any other migrant group from Eastern Europe. Chicago now has the largest number of ethnic Volga Germans in North America. For example, Yusupov, Ibragimov and Hundiev. Jewish Personal Names FamilySearch [14] Public policy also served to attract immigration following the passage of the federal Dominion Lands Act of 1872, which provided free grants of homesteads to those who settled on the Canadian prairie. Those conditions led to German mass migrations from Russia. And we are not talking about the Abramovichs, Rabinovichs and Levins at all. Negatively influenced by the violation of their rights and cultural persecution by the tsar, the Russian Germans who settled in the northern Midwest saw themselves a downtrodden ethnic group that was separate from Russian Americans and had an entirely different experience from the German Americans who had immigrated from German lands. Surnames with endings "-in" and "-ov" are Russian. You will need some basic understanding of genealogical research procedures. The Mennonites, unlike most Volga Germans, maintained those schools even after World War II. The Volga Germans who flocked to Canada in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries came from different religious backgrounds, including Lutheran, Catholic, and Mennonite. [14] Many Mennonites were eventually able to leave, and between the World Wars, over 20,000 of them left destined for Canada. The given name Petr, Petro or Petar (equivalent to Peter) can become Petrov, Petriv, Petriw, Petrenko, Petrovsky, Petrovi, Petri, Petri, Petrich, etc. "Catherine the Great" published manifestos in 1762 and 1763 inviting Europeans, (except Jews) to immigrate and farm Russian lands while maintaining their language and culture. Famous Namesakes: Innessa, Russian singer and songwriter. Those schools operated on Saturday mornings for around three hours and became especially vital as German stopped being taught in Canadian public schools after World War I. These suffixes indicate the individuals fathers name or where they are from. Vladimirovich literally means "Vladimir's [son]". Surname Charts About AHSGR German Russian Surname Charts AHSGR German Russian surname chart lists delineate the various ancestral charts that have been purchased by AHSGR members from researchers in Russia. Many Croatian names use the suffix -ic or -ich after a given name. Categories: Asia | History | Nations | Society | World. Germans from Russia were the most traditional German-speakers. ber die Judennamen which compelled the Jews to adopt German surnames. [14] In the early 20th century, many immigrants moved from the United States to Canada in search of inexpensive land and greater social autonomy. Pflger ("plowman") Schfer ("shepherd") Jger ("hunter") Becker ("baker") Koch ("cook") Mller ("miller") Schmied/Schmidt ("smith") Stellmacher ("carriage maker") Wagner ("wagon driver") Gerber ("leather preparer") Schuhmacher ("shoemaker") Weber ("weaver") Schneider ("tailor") Zimmermann ("carpenter") Kaufmann ("merchant") However, there are people worldwide who, due to relocation and emigration, also speak Slavic languages. After living under Stalins horrifying regime, should they run in retreat from the wolves they despise or search for freedom with the devils they dont know? Get in touch! Slavic name suffixes. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found. Vladimir Putin has served as the leader of Russia as a nation since the year 2000. Few of the latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and Frank. Register for Convention here: https://ahsgr.org/convention/, May 13, 2023, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Danish Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, Launch of the Neighborhood & Virtual Tours, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. Russian surnames have many origins, including occupation, father's first name, personal nickname or family nickname, geographical location, and even personal surnames given to seminary students based on their good or bad qualities. The subsequent rise of Nazi Germany, with its concern about ethnic Germans in other lands and proselytizing to the German Volk, led to suspicions of any Germans in Russia. Lebedev (swan) 7. So they managed to impersonate Russians or Poles. In the 2000 Census, North Dakota reported 43.9% of the population identified as having German ancestry. The Russian aristocracy began using last names to differentiate between two people of the same name in the 17th century, while peasants didn't begin adopting surnames until the feudal system was abolished late in the 19th century. While many Czech names may appear similar to last names from neighboring countries, their spelling is what makes them uniquely Czech. ThoughtCo. This is a patronymic name derived from the reduced form of the name 'Abraham' that means 'father of a multitude.'. Can also be spelled as Nikolayev / Nikolayeva, female: Andreeva. Abelman From an old German word meaning "noble one." 3. 50. Many surnames, especially occupational and descriptive surnames, were changed to the English equivalent of the German. "History of the Volga Germans in Ellis and Rush Counties, Kansas." It is the 9th most popular name in the world, with over 2.5 million people called Smirnov. Many families living in the Jefferson Park central business district along Lawrence and Milwaukee Avenue have Volga German immigrant ancestors. The Volga German settled in tight-knit communities, which retained their German language and culture. As for the surname Abramov, it may well be considered Russian. The following list includes the 40 most popular contemporary Russian surnames, their meanings, and variations. Actually, there are really only three surnames (and their variations) that are generally specifically Jewish: Cohen, Levy, and Israel.Yet, even variations of these common Jewish-specific surnames may not be Jewish in origin. 2023 American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. The largest groups settled mainly in the Great Plains: North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and nearby areas. For additional details about family history research in these countries see also: Germans from Russia Settlement Locations Map, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Germans_from_Russia_Genealogy&oldid=5277657. Many, if not most, Slavic last names are formed by adding possessive and other suffixes to given names and other words. The most common or well-known languages included Russian, Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, and Serbo-Croatian. Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 03:02, History of Germans in Russia and the Soviet Union, "Germans from Russia Emigration and Immigration", https://www.fcgov.com/historicpreservation/pdf/german-russia-doc.pdf, "German-Russian Wrought-Iron Cross Sites in Central North Dakota", "Germans from Russia: On the Trail to Colorado", Chronology: The Germans in America (European Reading Room, Library of Congress), https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/germans, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Germans from Russia Settlement Locations on Google Map, Germans from Volhynia genealogy, culture, history, Manifesto of the Empress Catherine II issued July 22, 1763, Vistula Germans history and map settlements by religion, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Russian_Germans_in_North_America&oldid=1141648116, Gross, Fred William. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Prussia mandated the adoption of Jewish surnames soon after Austria, beginning with the city of Breslau in 1790, the Breslau administrative region in 1791, and the Liegnitz region in 1794. His novel, The Last Green Valley, chronicles the Martels, Germans who have farmed in the Russian Empire (currently Ukraine) for more than a century. Karamazov If this surname looks familiar, it's likely because of Fyodor Dostoevsk y's infamous novel, The Brothers Karamazov. Most Popular Russian Last Names on FamilyEducation: Volkov, Romanoff, Kuznetsov, Bortnik, Gusev,Kuznetsov, Bortnik, Gusev. Russians often use the expression ', , ' (Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov) when talking about the average Russian. For more parenting tips and tricks, find us on Pinterest: Are you a writer, expert, or influencer? From Russian (beliy) meaning "white, fair". [8] Later, during the period of suburbanization, many of their descendants moved out to outlying areas such as Maywood and Melrose Park. Bernhard Warkentin, born in a small Russian village in 1847, travelled to America in his early twenties. A Slavic name suffix is a common way of forming patronymics, family names, and pet names in the Slavic languages. They raised large families, built German-style churches, buried their dead in distinctive cemeteries by using wrought iron grave markers,[9] and created choir groups that sang German church hymns. doi:10.2307/40866073. ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/russian-surnames-4589727. By 1930, 450 families of the Evangelical faith were living in that area, most of whom originated from Wiesenseite. SCHWARZ - BLACK. The answer to this question and the refutation of the most common myths associated with "native Russian" surnames, you will find in our material. FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Once they were used to indicate the name of the area where the ancestors of man lived. KLEIN - LITTLE. Russian Surnames: types, history, origins and meaning When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Iseminger, Gordon L. "Are We Germans, or Russians, or Americans? The Volga Germans in Old Russia and in Western North America: Their Changing World View., Rempfer, Michael, and James Gessele, "Der Staats-Anzeiger:' Salute to its Centennial Founding.". However, shortly after this revolution, a communist group called the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power. Settling in Harvey County, Kansas, he built a water mill on the banks of the Little Arkansas River, the Halstead Milling and Elevator Company. (402) 474-3363. Colony Movement. Russian Submitted Surnames - Behind the Name Let's start with a little background. The form of patronymic name also differs by gender. The same list includes some Novikov, Yakovlev, Zakharov and Kazakov. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company. In East Slavic languages (Belarusian, Russian, Rusyn, and Ukrainian) the same system of name suffixes can be used to express several meanings. Russians often use the expression ', , ' (Ivanov, Petrov, Sidorov) when talking about the average Russian. If you are of Slavic descent, you may be wondering what your Slavic name means or where it originated. Russians do not use middle names. [20] Throughout the period after World War II, new immigrants joined their families in British Columbia and congregated in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. Songs in church would be sung in both languages simultaneously. 50 Uncommon German Last names With Meanings | Kidadl Pfeifer Russia - Surnames Globus Spezial (n.d.): 191192. The economy of the Prairies and much of the rest of Canada was dependent on the success of wheat farming. Warkentin's greatest contribution to Kansas was the introduction of hard Turkey Wheat into Kansas, which replaced the soft variety grown exclusively in the state. Interested in flour mills, he was especially impressed with the wheat-growing possibilities in the United States. "[7] They were often sugar beet farmers almost everywhere they settled. Throughout their history in Western Canada, the Volga Germans have maintained many of their cultural characteristics, including their dialects, which have been proliferated through Saturday schools and Canadian policies that allowed for cultural freedom. As experts on German Russian heritage, we are dedicated and passionate about continuously discovering new information and sharing it through a plethora of online and in-person resources. Instead, people's second name is generally patronymic, meaning that it derives from the first name of the father. [2] In some areas, his forces attempted to bulldoze the German churches and reused their tombstones for paving blocks. Rostova Leo Tolstoy 's War and Peace. Early on, they were more likely to settle in Saskatchewan, especially around Regina. Ivan Ivanych Ivanov is equivalent to the English John Smith. There are very few names derived from occupations, but a lot of names are derived from animals. Jews poured into Russia en masse during the reign ofCatherine II. [21], The mid-20th century brought immigrants from South America, mainly Argentina and Brazil, who fought to maintain their cultural autonomy in increasingly-nationalist countries dominated by leaders like Juan Pern.[22]. She holds a Diploma in Translation (IoLet Level 7) from the Chartered Institute of Linguists. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Their family and community lifestyle and their contribution to the sugar beet industry on the plains of Colorado is well-documented in "Work Renders Life Sweet: Germans from Russia in Fort Collins, 1900 - 2000. [12] They were often described as looking like Russians but sounding like Germans. Peters, Victor. As publishing costs rose and the internet became available GRHS finally decided to only distribute the Stammbaum data online. Find your Russian last name and learn about its meaning and origins. Black Sea Germans FamilySearch Many such surnames are found among Russian Jews. Popular Slavic Last Names on FamilyEducation: Dulik, Sofka, Valky. It is also the last name of a famous female socialist. Some surnames are not formed in this way, including names of non-Slavic origin. Originally recruited and welcomed to the Russian Empire in the 18th century, when they were promised to be allowed to practice own language and religions and to be exempted from compulsory military service, the Russian Germans found increasing hardship. Instead of a secondary "middle" given name, people identify themselves with their given and family name and patronymic, a name based on their father's given name. The scouts had been reliant on the assistance of established Mennonite groups such as those found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and in Ontario. Please consider donating in the area of your choice. For some reason, most people are sure that all surnames ending in "-s" and "-in" are Russian. Many immigrants who arrived between 1870 and 1912 spent a period doing farm labor, especially in northeastern Colorado and in Montana along the lower Yellowstone River in sugar beet fields. For example, a German Lutheran church was established in Irkutsk, Siberia in the early 1700s. These appeared long before the first official surnames were recorded, and continued to be used alongside Christian names for many centuries. Can also be spelled as Vasiliev / Vasilieva, female: Nikolaeva. Keywords: Jews | Israel | Israelis | People | Nationalities | Russians | Surname. (1976). Russia is by far the largest country in the world, and fittingly the history of Russia is rich and expansive. . Couple refused permission to change 'Russian-sounding' surname similar Soviet authorities seized food supplies under the pretext of famine in the rest of the Soviet Union, and they ordered the breakup of many German villages.[1]. It is estimated that roughly 315-million people speak Slavic languages. Some signified an ancestral people or homeland, such as MacDhubhghaill (son of a dark-haired foreigner; referring to one type of Scandinavian), MacFhionnghaill (son of a fair-haired foreigner; also referring to a Scandinavian people), MacLachlainn or MacLachlainneach (son of a Scandinavian). Many Volga Germans sought to leave the Soviet Union but faced opposition from a government that did not wish to see such a large portion of its population leave. For example, citizens of theNovgorod Republic,or theNovgorodian Rus', already had surnames in the 13th century, while many peasants, especially those who lived in less central parts of Russia, did not receive official records of their surnames until the 1930s. Browse photos, quilts, Bibles, music, instruments, wedding dresses, clothing and furniture. The Canadian Prairies: A History (Student ed.). In 1762, Sophie Fredericke Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, a German native of Stettin, displaced her husband Peter III and took the vacant Russian imperial throne, assuming the name of Catherine II. For example, a minister of the Orthodox Church, who was popularly called "schoolchildren", could get the surname of Schoolchildren. The first section was a list of all member codes and the name and address associated with each member code. Surnames. [14] Despite their location near earlier Mennonite communities, Catholic and Lutheran settlements remained religiously homogenous. Since the villages in Russia often were populated by settlers from a particular region and isolated from Germany, they maintained their regional dialects. Many Volga Germans emigrated from the United States to Western Canada from 1890 to1909. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Slavic_name_suffixes&oldid=1139238802, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This has been adopted by many non-Slavic peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus who are or have been under Russian rule, such as the, Example: Petrovi means Petr's son. https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-surnames-4589727 (accessed May 2, 2023). Category:Russian surnames from German Edit category data Recent changes Newest pages ordered by last category link update Oldest pages ordered by last edit List of surnames in Russia - Wikipedia We are a nonprofit organization and rely heavily on our members & donors to continue preserving our German Russian history. German remains the second-most-spoken language in North and South Dakota, and Germans from Russia sometimes use loanwords, such as Kuchen for 'cake' although that word is primarily used for the sweet bread dessert made in a pie plate with topping like fruits or cottage cheese. pp. If a man gives his full name as Boris Vladimirovich Kuznetsov, then his father's name must have been Vladimir. The majority of Ukrainian last names were formed by adding suffixes to first names to indicate son of. The suffix -ko is the most common suffix. Apply this search to the user-submitted names, the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name, search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes, this field understands simple boolean logic, force a term to be included by preceding it with a, force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a, sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations, syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations, names without pronunciations are excluded from results, the "relationship" is how the name relates to its parent name. Joseph Stalin acted as dictator of the USSR from 1929 to 1953. Most settled in southern Manitoba in the richest part of the Red River Valley. Use these as suggestions to set meaningful goals and to select the records that will help you achieve your research goals. For many years GRHS has encouraged members to submit a family data sheet showing their ancestors. For example, the composer Sergei Rachmaninov, as it turned out, has Jewish roots, and he received his surname from the male name Rahman, which means "merciful" in Russian. Repeated crop failures meant a large influx of German-Russiana to larger cities and towns, which would contribute to the gradual decline of their culturally-homogeneous communities. Probably the person best known for having a "German from Russia accent" in English, a result of his having learned English as a second language, was the bandleader and television star Lawrence Welk. After the Bolshevik Revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union, particularly under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, conditions for the remaining Germans in Russia declined considerably. The government imposed a fee for obtaining a passport, which led to protests as many would-be immigrants flooded the streets of Moscow. "St. Josephs Colony, Katherinetal Colony, Kronau-Rastadt, and Odessa (18861904)." In Russia, where patronyms are used, a person may have two, Russia, Serbia (especially in Vojvodina), Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Ukraine (rare), Ukraine (to a lesser extent in Belarus, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), Comes from the physically smaller of a noun; possibly coming from the younger son or daughter of a family. With changes in politics, the Russian government took back some of the privileges that had been granted, economic conditions grew poor, and there were a series of famines. These Russian surnames are actually Jewish, but no one even - Pictolic Russian culture places high importance on the homeland and on the family. In many parts of the United States, they tend to have blended to a large degree with the "regular" German Americans, who are much more numerous than Russian Germans in the northern half of the United States. In order to "merge" with the local population, they took other surnames, for example, Kaganovich, Novik or Medinsky. The second section was a list of surnames being researched and the member codes of members interested in each surname. Originates from the secular name or nickname that meant 'white, female: Kiselyova. For example, calling a boy named Ivan "Ivanko", "Ivo", "Ivica" etc, or Yuri "Yurko", expresses that he is familiar to you. Most people believe that these surnames are originally Russian, but historically they are mostly worn by Jews. In Israel, doctors performed the first operation to restore the intervertebral disc to a 19-year-old brown bear named Mango. Russian surnames appearedat different times in different classes of Russian society. Solovyov (nightingale) Translations of some famous Russian surnames: This is rather amusing: Like other Slavic languages, Russian names also follow a patronymic pattern by adding -nov or -nova for the son of or daughter of to a given name. Originates from the name of a Russian traditional fruit drink similar to mors with the addition of starch or arrowroot. Lenin created the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics(U.S.S.R.) from Russia and 14 other republics, including Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia. University of Toronto Press, 1999. Many Germans in the Americas sent donations back to their communities, but others permanently lost contact with their relatives during the social disruptions of the Ukrainian famine, Stalin's Great Purge, and World War II. [citation needed]. Celebrities with Germans from Russia ancestors: Many German-speaking people also settled in related regions, including, for example, Russian Poland. Make a Tax Deductible Donation Contact Us 631 D St Lincoln, NE 68502 (402) 474-3363 Monday - Friday 9am-4pm Saturday & Sunday Closed Nov 23 & 24 Closed Dec 25 - Jan 1 Closed