The majority of existing Ukrainian surnames were created by adding possessive and suffixes to first names.
Surnames were used initially by upper-class people, wealthy landowners, and nobles. Peasants started using surnames under the Austrian Empire, mainly for the purpose of taxation.
Lots of Ukrainian last names end in -KO, including Boiko, Sirko, Pavlychko. -KO is a diminutive ending with patronymic meaning, meaning that -KO surnames are given based on one’s ancestors, such as your father or grandfather. Ukraine has a rich history and they are a nation proud of their ancestors. Ukrainian people take pride in carrying their family ancestry forward, explaining the pride that many Ukrainians take in their surnames ending in -KO.
Other popular Ukrainian names take the -yshyn suffix (for example, Romanyshyn, Kostyshyn), the -enko suffix ( for example, Tereshchenko, Shevchenko), the -vich suffix (for example, Gorlukovich, Shushkevich), the -chak suffix (for example, Maksymchak), or the -chuk suffix (for example, Balanchuk, Polishchuk). The simplified versions of “chuk” include -yuk, -yak, or -ak (for example, Romanyuk, Mochulyak). These are normally considered to be patronymic. Hence, you will also see a lot of Ukrainian surnames ending in ‘chuk.’
Naming your characters becomes easier if you know the meaning and history of the names. We have curated a list of over 100 Ukrainian names, along with their meaning and history, just for you.
For more naming ideas, take a look at these Ukrainian names for girls, or these Slavic baby names.
Navarykasha- The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Boil the porridge.
Nimchuk - It is an ethnic surname - from Germany.
Kryvonis - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Curved nose.
Dobryivechir- The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Good evening.
Soroka - Derived from "Soroka," a nickname meaning magpie.
Obbizhysvit - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Run around the world.
Kaylan, Origin: American ~ View Detail
Volesky - Quite a popular surname of Ukrainian, as well as Belarusian origin.
Polyakov - Derived from the ethnic name "Polak," which means pole.
Adamovich - An ancestral name derived from "Adam."
Netudyhata - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Wrong way house.
Litvinchuk- Derived from the Russian word "litvin." Historically, it was used to denote a Belarusian or a Lithuanian.
Dovzhenko - Derived from the Ukrainian word meaning "long."
Perebiynis - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Break the nose.
Diduch - The meaning of the name is "Spirit of Ancestors."
Smarch - An anglicized form of various surnames, including Smarchevskaya, Smarchevsky, and Smarchkov).
Nemirov - Services from the Ukrainian city "Nemirov."
Romanko - Derived from the Greek name Romaios and Latin name Romaeus, referring to people born in the Roman Empire.
Ivanko - Derived from the Hebrew name "Yehochanan," which means "graced by Yahweh, God is gracious."
Kalashnik - Meaning "Kalaches maker."
Julisa, Meaning: youthful or sky father Origin: Spanish variation of Julia ~ View Detail
Kozar - It means "goatherd."
Kazan - Derived from the Turkish word "kazan," meaning kettle/furnace/boiler.
Ponomarenko - Derived from the Ukrainian word "paramonar," which means sexton.
Shevchenko- This name has also originated from the word "shvets," which means cobbler/shoemaker in Ukrainian.
Shevchenko - Originated from the word "shvets," which means cobbler/shoemaker in Ukrainian.
Vyrvykhvist - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Rip a tail.
Tsybulenko - Derived from the Ukrainian word "tsybulya," which means onion.
Urbana - It is the feminine form of Urban.
Adamovich - An ancestral name derived from "Adam."
Zbirak - Derived from the word Polish word "zbierac," which means to collect or gather.
Otchenash - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Our Father.
Cherkasskiy - Derived from the Ukrainian word "cherkas," meaning "Circassian".
Vovk- Derived from the Ukrainian word "vovk," meaning wolf.
Salogub - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Salo lips.
Borisow - Originated from the Ukrainian name "Borisov."
Carlee, Origin: Spelling variation of Carly
Vernydub - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Twist the oak.
Voloshyn - It is an ethnic surname - from Volokh. An ancient tribe from Moldova and Romania.
Bilyk - Means "white" in Ukrainian.
Dasia, Origin: Arabic
Tataryn - It is an ethnic surname - from Tartar.
Barsky- A rare Ukrainian surname, it is derived from the name of a bar in Ukraine.
Krivoshapka - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Crooked headwear.
Warhola- The meaning of this rare Ukrainian surname is "quarrel."
Pryimak - The name means "adoptee" in Ukrainian.
Poroshenko - Derived from the Ukrainian word "porokh," meaning powder (usually gunpowder)/dust.
Coleton, Origin: English
Stepanovich - Derived from the ancestral name "Stepan."
Antonova - Derived from the Russian word "Antonov," a masculine surname.
Voshkolup - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Louse scratcher.
Nicklaus, Origin: Variant of Nicholas
Chornovil - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Black Ox.
Barno - With an Italian origin, the word means "Son of Nabia."
Honchar - It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning potter or ceramist.
Kushnir- It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning furrier.
Azarov - Derived from the first name Azariy.
Mucha - Means "fly." Originally, it was used as a nickname for very important people.
Shianne, Origin: Hebrew
Juwan, Origin: Arabic
Czermah - One of the more rare Ukrainian surnames.
Kosmen - Jewish origin, the occupational name for glassmakers.
Urban - Derived from the Latin word "Urbanus," meaning city dweller.
Bryana, Origin: Variations of Briana
Kolesnik - Derived from the word "kolesnik," which means wheelwright.
Aksamit- Derived from the Polish word Aksamit meaning "velvet."
Bortnick - Means "beekeeper." It’s an ancient Ukrainian last name, but a popular one.
Azarova - Azarov’s feminine form.
Molchan - Derived from the Russian word meaning "silent." It is used as a nickname for a soft-spoken person.
Kandyba - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Useless horse.
Koroliuk - Derived from the word "Korol," meaning king.
Panchenko - It means "fisher." It’s a common Ukrainian surname.
Cydney, Origin: Spelling variation of Sydney
Aksamit - Derived from the Polish word Aksamit meaning "velvet."
Yulissa, Origin: English
Dobroshtan - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Good pants.
Kishka - Means cat in Ukrainian.
Stolyarchuk - It means "son of carpenter." The name was derived from the occupation of carpenter.
Podlipa - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Under a lime tree.
Vorobey - Derived from the Ukrainian word "vorobey," meaning sparrow.
Datsyuk - The name means "service provider."
Braverman - The name is of Jewish origin.
Pidiprygora - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Bolster the mountain.
Micayla, Origin: Hebrew
Yulisa, Meaning: youthful or sky father Origin: Spanish variation of Julisa or Julia
Ciarra, Origin: Irish
Malasenco - Derived from "Malachi," a Hebrew name. It is one of the common Ukrainian names.
Chumak - It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning salt-trader.
Chernenko- This name is derived from the Ukrainian word "chorniy" and the Russian word "cherniy".
Baylie, Origin: English
Rachman - Of Hebrew origin, meaning "merciful."
Lyashenko - It comes from the Ukrainian word "lyakh," which is actually a disrespectful word for pole.
Tarasenko- Derived from ancestral name "Taras."
Zolochivskiy- Derived from "Zolochiv," a Ukrainian city.
Bondar - It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning barrel maker.
Borisova - It is the feminine form of the name Boris, and means Boris’s.
Golodryga - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Nude twitch.
Zalusky - Derived from the word "zalew," meaning a flooded area or bay. The name was usually given to people living near water.
Oliynyk- It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning vegetable oil manufacturer.
Destinee, Origin: Spelling variation of Destiny
Syzonenko- Derived from the ancestral name "Syzon."
Yampilskiy - Derived from "Yampil," which were Ukrainian settlements.
Lomachenko- Derived from the Ukrainian word "lom," which means scrap.
Gogol - It means "Common Goldeneye," a type of duck, in Ukrainian.
Ponomarenko - It is a profession-based Ukrainian surname, meaning Clergyman.
Archaki- Derived from the Greek word "Archos," meaning lord or the ruler.
Vanesa, Origin: Croatian
Boris/Barys/Borys - Originated from the Bulgar language.
Zaytsev - Derived from the Russian word "zayats" and the Ukrainian word "zaets," meaning fare.
Perevernykruchenko - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Turn over the cliff.
Sklorenko - It means "glassmaker’s son."
Portnoy - Derived from the Russian word "portnoj," which is the occupational name of a tailor.
Kozak - Derived from the Turkish word "kazak," which means free man. It is a popular surname that many Ukrainians are proud to wear.
Vengerov - Derived from the word "vorobey," meaning "Hungarian."
Chornyi - The meaning of this Ukrainian surname is Black.
Horbanenko- Meaning "hunchback." It is equivalent to the Russian surname "Gorbachev."
Valentyn - Latin origin. The meaning of the word is healthy/strong.
Rybalka- Derived from the word "ryba," meaning fish. The meaning of the surname is "fisherman."
Reznikov - Derived from "reznik," Slavic origin, an occupational name for ritual slaughterers.
Tyquan,
Polishchuk- This is a toponymic surname. It is associated with Polissya and Polishchuks (people who live along the Ukrainian-Belarus borderline).
