Common Ukrainian Surnames (with Meanings)

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Naming expert Natalie Mulholland explains the most popular Ukrainian last names and their meanings

Co-authored by Natalie Mulholland and Devin McSween

Last Updated: March 8, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Common
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• Patronymic
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• Occupational
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• Toponymic
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• Surnames in Other Cultures
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• Video
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Ukrainian last names are rich with meaning and history, since they typically derive from an ancestor’s name, occupation, or place they came from. Whether you have Ukrainian ancestry, are creating a character with a Ukrainian background, or are simply interested in surnames from this country, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’re breaking down the most common names in Ukraine and what they mean, with insights from naming expert Natalie Mulholland.

The Most Common Surnames in Ukraine

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland says the most common Ukrainian surnames are:

• Melnyk (Мельник): “Miller.”
• Koval (Коваль): “Blacksmith.”
• Ivanenko (Іваненко): “Child of Ivan.”
• Chornyi (Чорний): “Black or dark-featured.”
• Dovzhenko (Довженко): “Tall one’s child.”
• Poltavets (Полтавець): “From Poltava.”

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Section 1 of 5:

Common Ukrainian Last Names

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1. 
   In Ukraine, some last names are more popular than others. Most of these last names are derived from an ancestor’s past, whether that’s from their first name, occupation, or place of origin. Some of the most common names in Ukraine include:

   • Melnyk: “Miller.”
   • Shevchenko: “Son of the shoemaker.”
   • Kovalenko: “Son of the smith.”
   • Bondarenko: “Son of the cooper.”
   • Boyko: “To fight” or “combat.”
   • Chornyi: “Black or dark-featured.”
   • Dovzhenko: “Tall one’s child.”
   • Tkachenko: “Son of the weaver.”
   • Kravchenko: “Son of the tailor.”
   • Kovalchuk: “Son of the smith.”
   • Koval: “Blacksmith.”
   • Shevchuk: “Son of the shoemaker.”
   • Bondar: “Cooper” or “barrel maker.”
   • Lysenko: “Son of the bald one.” From lys, meaning “bald.”
   • Moroz: “Frost.”
   • Marchenko: “Son of Marko.”
   • Ivanova: “Son of Ivan” (John).
     • Ivanova is technically a Russian last name, but it’s also very popular in Ukraine.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert and name consultant based in Athens, Georgia. She started creating content around this passion in 2023, sharing a name’s origin, meaning, category, notable people, and more.
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Section 2 of 5:

Patronymic Ukrainian Surnames

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1. 
   Patronymic surnames are last names that come from a male ancestor’s first name. These names typically end in the suffixes -uk or -enko, which roughly translates to “son of.” Some of the most common patronymic names include:

   • Adamchuk: “Son of Adam.”
   • Andrienko: “Son of Andriy” (Andrew).
   • Danylyuk: “Son of Danylo/Danilo.”
   • Demyanenko: “Son of Demyan.”
   • Fedorenko: “Son of Fedir.”
   • Hordiyenko: “Son of Hordiy.”
   • Ivanchuk: “Son of Ivan.”
   • Ivanenko: “Son of Ivan” (John).
   • Klymenko: “Son of Klym.”
   • Levchenko: “Son of Levko.”
   • Maksymenko: “Son of Maksym.”
   • Ostapchuk: “Son of Ostap.”
   • Palahniuk: “Son of Palazhka.”
   • Petrenko: “Son of Petro” (Peter).
   • Petruk: “Son of Peter.”
   • Pylypchuk: “Son of Pylyp” (Philip).
   • Romaschenko: “Son of Roman.”
   • Sydorenko: “Son of Sydir.”

Section 3 of 5:

Occupational Ukrainian Surnames

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1. 
   Occupational last names refer to an ancestor’s career or trade. Check out some of the most common occupational surnames in Ukraine below:

   • Bortnik: “Beekeeper.”
   • Hirnyk: “Miner.”
   • Honchar: “Potter.”
   • Kalashnyk: “Kolach maker.”
   • Kolesnik: “Wheelwright.”
   • Kravets: “Tailor.”
   • Kushnir: “Furrier.”
   • Oliynyk: “Oil.”
   • Rybachenko: “Fisherman.”
   • Stolyarchuk: “Son of the carpenter.”
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Section 4 of 5:

Toponymic Ukrainian Surnames

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1. 
   Toponymic surnames typically refer to a town, city, or region where an ancestor was born. However, they can also refer to geographical features, like meadows. Some of the most common toponymic surnames include:

   • Barsky: “From Bar,” a town in Ukraine.
   • Blonska: “From the meadow or wetlands.”
   • Brodsky: “From Brody,” a town in Ukraine.
   • Kolomiets: “From Kolomyia,” a city in Ukraine.
   • Kulikovsky: “From Kulykiv,” a town in Ukraine.
   • Khmelnytskyi: “From Khmelnytskyi,” a town in Ukraine.
   • Olshansky: “From Olshana,” a village in Ukraine.
   • Polishchuk: “From Polesia,” a region in Ukraine.
   • Poltavets: “From Poltava,” a city in Ukraine.
   • Umansky: “From Uman,” a city in Ukraine.
   • Volynets: “From Volhynia,” a region in Ukraine.
   • Zelenskyi: “From Zelene,” a village in Ukraine.
   • Zhabotinsky: “From Zhabotin, “ a village in Ukraine.

Section 5 of 5:

Surnames in Other Cultures

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1. Want to learn about more surnames from around the globe? We’ve compiled lists of common last names from other countries around the world, like:

   • Polish Last Names
   • Russian Last Names
   • German Last Names
   • Dutch Last Names
   • Italian Last Names
   • French Last Names
   • Portuguese Last Names
   • Gaelic Last Names
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• According to Mulholland, Eastern and Central Ukrainian names are characterized by a heavy use of the -енко suffix (e.g., Shevchenko, Petrenko). It’s “more common to see -ук, -чук, and -юк endings (e.g., Petruk, Ivanchuk) in western Ukraine.”
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• Noble names and those with Polish influence are often identified by -ський endings (e.g., Zelenskyi, Khmelnytskyi), says Mulholland.
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