The Origin of English and Russian Surnames

The Opinion Poll

The aim is to compare Russian and English surnames Seven-Luksky Wright Brown Dobrolubov Nosov Redhead Orlov Ivanov Adamson Fletcher Smith Fox Ozerov Athill Bondarchuk Toporov Mason Cherepennikov White Petrov Smirnov

Plan to investigate the main sources of surnames in these countries; to find out some pages from the history of English and Russian family names; to analyse, compare and systematize the facts.

English Surnames the given name of the sire bodily locality or or personal characteristics occupations locality or place of residence

Local names Berkley Pickersgill Mountmorris Morice Woods Stock Pickering Bedford Berkley Fleet Greenwood Burke Hull Thorpe Woodman Bristowe Britten

Occupations Smith Cook Goldsmith Taylor Wright Chapman Piper Lorimer Bowman King Barker Combsmith Latimer Brick

Nicknames Catt Oak White Thoroughgood Papillon Joly Black Foljambe Blunt Strongitharm Puttock Heavyside

Baptismal names Mallinson Dobson Will Hobson Wilkinson Applejohn Willett Brownjohn Willimott

personal characteristics Russian surnames the father's name or other relationships occupation or office personal characteristics village names or landscape features feasts of the Orthodox Church or Christian virtues

In Russia women usually adopt the surnames of their husbands In Russia women usually adopt the surnames of their husbands. Most of Russian last name endings change depending on gender, for example, male - Ivanov, but female - Ivanova.

Are English and Russian Surnames Different or Similar?

Are English and Russian Surnames Different or Similar? In comparison to England, the use of surnames occurred relatively late in Russia. The main sources of surnames in England and Russia are the same. However, the frequency of surname types is different. Surname Type Russian English Frequency % of Total Personal Names 216 34,6 91 15,1 Occupational 51 8,2 270 44,8 Nicknames 312 50,0 92 15,3 Locative 45 7,2 149 24,8

Are English and Russian Surnames Different or Similar? Russian family names generally function in the same manner that English family names do. English surnames have no gender. As all Russian adjectives, family names have different forms depending on gender. In England the family name is typically the last part of a person's name. In Russia the family name comes first as a rule. The latter is often called the Eastern order.

Conclusion Handed down from generation to generation, the surname grew inseparably associated with the achievement, the tradition, and the prestige of the family. Everybody should know the meaning of the surname. It will help a person identify the family and provide a link with the family's past.

Sources Homes of Family Names in Great Britain by H.B. Guppy (Clearfield, 1996) The Oxford Names Companion by P. Hanks (OUP, 2002) Family Names and Family History by D. Hey (Hambledon and London, 2000) Surnames in Genealogy: A New Approach by G. Redmonds (Federation of Family History Societies, 2002) Searching for Surnames by J. Titford (Countryside Books, 2002) http://to-name.ru/surname/ http://www.gramma.ru/ http://www.familytree.ru/

Thanks for your attention