What are some beautiful women's surnames? List of beautiful surnames for girls

No one will argue that some surnames are considered funny. There were several boys and/or girls in each class who were teased about this. Kozlovs, Durakovs, Petukhovs... We can say that they were not very lucky: their “middle name” was successfully transformed into an offensive nickname. How many boys and girls received serious psychological complexes just because they were born into the Korytkin or Trusikhin family? Many people even strive to start a family as quickly as possible just to change their last name, and one of the main criteria for choosing a “soulmate” is the euphony of his “middle name.” This is especially true for girls: some of them are ready to forgive their chosen one for many shortcomings just because he is the bearer of a noble or beautiful foreign surname.

The most beautiful surnames in the world, euphonious and giving confidence, will be listed in this article.

What is a surname?

The word "surname" literally translates as "family". That is, this meaning indicates that a person belongs to a certain clan. In Russia, most surnames come from the profession or village where the family lived. The ancestors of the Kuznetsovs were the most skilled blacksmiths, the Popovs were clergy, and the Tolmachev family was probably started by a translator from the Tatar language - an interpreter. You can list such examples endlessly: the Rybakovs, the Goncharovs, the Melnikovs... If you are the bearer of such a generic name, it’s worth thinking: maybe the genes of your ancestors are dormant in you and you should change your occupation, focusing on your own middle name?

Surnames that come from the name of the founder of the family are very popular in Russia: Ivanovs (Ivan), Semenovs (Semyon), Zakharyevs (Zakhar) and so on.

Initially in Russia there was no such distinction - there were only first names and patronymics. In the 14th century, the first owners of surnames were noble people - boyars and nobles. Peasants received the right to a “second name” only after the abolition of serfdom.

Beautiful Russian surnames

It is interesting that the most beautiful surnames for Russians are those that once belonged to nobles: Vyazemsky, Orlovsky, Obolensky. This is not surprising, because it emphasizes belonging to the aristocracy, giving its owner an indescribable charm. However, surnames ending in -skiy can also belong to people whose ancestors came from Poland.

By the way, the surname Romanov, which was borne by representatives of the last ruling dynasty of the Russian Empire, is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. This is not surprising, because Rome has always been one of the most powerful powers, creating a unique cultural heritage. In Russia, she is considered not only one of the most beautiful, but also crowned.

Naturally, Russian male surnames derived from the names of animals make a rather positive impression. Of course, we are not talking about banal roosters, cows or even pigs. Volkov, Orlov, Lebedev are male surnames that evoke associations with sublime, noble animals and, of course, seem beautiful and pleasant. Similarly, the best female surnames are those that are associated with beauty, tenderness, kindness, and motherhood. These could be: Krasnikova, Mariinskaya, Rucheikova, Tsvetkova.

“Cool” Russian surnames are very popular, the bearers of which have left their mark on the history of the Russian state. For example, the Mamontovs, Tolstoys, Dostoevskys, Golitsins, Trubetskoys, Yusupovs, Potemkins. Usually their bearers actually belong to a noble family: such “middle names” were given to high-ranking people, while the rest had to be content with a surname derived from the profession or name of their great-grandfather.

The most beautiful foreign surnames

Surveys show that the most popular surname in the world is Rodriguez. She seems beautiful and very euphonious. Maybe that's why actor Antonio Rodriguez managed to achieve his popularity?

By the way, a huge number of people have this surname: it is very common in the world. Interestingly, it came from the name Rodrigo, which, in turn, comes from the ancient Germanic name Rodrigue. The first part of the name - "genus" - is translated as "glory", and the second - "rig" - has the meaning of "strength", "power". This means that the Rodriguezes are simply doomed to great fame and inexhaustible energy.

In second place on this list is Francois. The sound of this word evokes associations with a leisurely walk through the quiet streets of Paris, the aroma of coffee and croissants and wonderful French chanson. Yes, and by ear it is perceived easily, unusually soft and euphonious.
Fitzgerald is rightfully in third place. This “middle name” was taken as a pseudonym by writers, musicians and artists: apparently, it contains a creative charge that fuels creators and gives them strength for new works. This surname is a transliteration of a Norman phrase, which can be translated as “son of Gerald.”

Another beautiful foreign generic name is Werner. It is of German origin and translates as “to protect and arm.” However, there is another, very prosaic hypothesis: some researchers believe that the word “Werner” means a banal stye on the eye. Therefore, it is possible that the ancestors of all living Werners had a common physical defect. Of course, this does not exclude the possibility that they were brave warriors. But be that as it may, the name sounds simply great: it is associated with the “gloomy German genius,” pedantry and accuracy.

Beautiful English surnames - Buckingham, Clifford, Mortimer, Lincoln, Cornwall, Wiltshire. As you can see, English illustrious family names are associated with the aristocracy.

This list must include oriental motifs. The Japanese surname Yakomoto is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. When you hear it, associations arise with cherry blossoms, medieval Japanese engravings and laconic, succinct haiku. And this is no coincidence, because it is translated as “the foot of the mountain.” Probably, the ancestors of all Yakomoto lived near the famous Fuji and, admiring its peak, wrote magnificent poems.

American residents prefer the hereditary name King. They find it very beautiful and, so to speak, prestigious. Indeed, “king” is translated from English as “king”. It is this family name that the recognized king of horror Stephen King bears: it is possible that it was his beautiful surname that brought him worldwide fame and success. At the very least, it is difficult to imagine that the king was a shy and insecure person.

The surname Miller is extremely popular in the English-speaking world. This is what is usually chosen by people who decide to change their “middle name”. Miller indicates the nature of the occupation of the ancestor of the family, as it is literally translated as “miller”. In England you can find a huge number of Millers: the profession of a miller in this country was very in demand. Very often, American citizens are also Millers.

Lehmann completes the list. This surname sounds quite beautiful. In addition, psychologists have found that its carriers inspire trust in business partners. Therefore, if you are planning to do business abroad, you should start collecting documents to change your passport, as Lehmann will become a real talisman for you!

Should I change my last name?

A natural question may arise: maybe you should just change your last name? After all, people automatically treat owners of beautiful surnames a little better, giving them certain qualities associated with their second name. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that Durakov and Vyazemsky will be treated equally. Should I change my last name? The answer to this question will be ambiguous.

On the one hand, people really respond to the sound of your name. If it evokes pleasant associations, then those around you will subconsciously perceive you a little better. However, it is known that people are greeted by their clothes and seen off by their minds. Before becoming Dostoevsky or Romanov, it is worth thinking about whether you will live up to the chosen big name.

Many people dream of becoming owners of a foreign surname. After all, it has always been customary in Russia to treat foreigners with some reverence. But there is no need to rush to change documents. “Cool” foreign surnames are beautiful in combination with foreign names: it’s worth thinking about how this combination will turn out in your case. Owners of international names, such as Elena or Maria, are lucky: they can safely take foreign surnames. But for girls “Love King”, “Nadezhda Francois” or for guys “Sergei Rodriguez”, “Vasily Miller” sounds quite ridiculous.

In addition, your last name has some influence on you. The point is that the full name contains some information about your family. Do you want to erase this information and record new information? This question should concern girls who are getting married: fortunately, in our society there is no need to take the husband’s surname. In extreme cases, you may well become the owner of a double surname. By the way, they seem especially beautiful and noble to many people.

This list is subjective. Each family name is beautiful in its own way, because they are all evidence of the history of our country and your family!

The list of popular genus names is endless, because as many people there are as many opinions. Each person will point out beautiful surnames that he personally likes. But, according to the majority, the most popular are aristocratic designations of family names. Let's figure out which surnames are more common and respected, and where they even came from.

List of the most beautiful Russian surnames in the world

The word "surname" is translated from Latin as "family". This means that this indicates that a person belongs to the clan from which he came. The emergence of family nicknames was often associated with the profession that the family practiced from generation to generation or with the name of the area in which the family lived, or the name of the family indicated character traits, specific appearance, and a nickname. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying “not in the eye, but in the eye” - people have always applied labels very accurately.

In Russia, at first there were only first and patronymic names, and the first surnames appeared only in the 14th century. Naturally, noble people received them: princes, boyars, nobles. Peasants received official family names only at the end of the 19th century, when serfdom was abolished. The first names of dynasties came from the names of places of residence, birth or possessions: Tver, Arkhangelsk, Zvenigorod, Moskvin.

  1. Sobolev
  2. Morozov
  3. Gromov
  4. Almazov
  5. Derzhavin
  6. Bogatyrev
  7. Mayorov
  8. Admirals
  9. Lyubimov
  10. Vorontsov

List of the most beautiful surnames for girls:

  1. Voskresenskaya
  2. Lebedeva
  3. Alexandrova
  4. Serebryanskaya
  5. Korolkova
  6. Vinogradova
  7. Talnikova
  8. Generous
  9. Zolotareva
  10. Tsvetaeva

A selection of the most beautiful foreign surnames

Foreigners believe that a beautiful surname helps the family, brings good luck and happiness. But, it’s true, a person with a family nickname is teased by his peers from childhood, and subsequently he grows up insecure with a whole baggage of complexes. So it turns out that the family name brought bad luck. For people with a beautiful family heritage, everything turns out differently. From childhood they know that they can do anything in this world, so they walk with their heads held high.

Each country has its own beautiful surnames, which are unusual to the Russian ear. But the origin of family designations is the same all over the world. Some took the name of their city, while others took the nickname of the founder of the clan, the occupation of the family, and their status. Among foreign surnames you can also often find the names of plants, birds, and animals. If a Russian person chooses a foreign name for himself, then, as a rule, he does not delve into its meaning, but makes a choice based on its euphony.

For example, Spaniards have beautiful surnames - not uncommon. The most common are:

  • Rodriguez
  • Fernandez
  • Gonzalez
  • Perez
  • Martinez
  • Sanchez

Russian girls often choose generic names of Spanish origin:

  • Alvarez
  • Torres
  • Romero
  • Flores
  • Castillo
  • Garcia
  • Pascual

French surnames

All variants of French surnames are endowed with special beauty and charm. This language is very different from its other European counterparts. If it is always pronounced correctly, then French ones are pronounced differently. For example, the popular Le Pen can sound like “Le Pen”, “Le Pen”, “De Le Pen”. The first French family names were granted to the highest circle of nobility in the 11th century. It was only in the 16th century that a royal decree ordered that every French citizen be given a hereditary nickname.

Since then, French surnames have been included in church registers from generation to generation. The most beautiful family nicknames in France come from proper names, from the occupation of the family, or from the geographical names in which the family was born. Widespread French male family names:

  • Robert
  • Richard
  • Bernard
  • Duran
  • Lefebvre

Female generic names are not much different from male ones. French history has decreed that no differences or other endings, as in the Russian language, exist between surnames, therefore beautiful generic names for women also bear their own name, for example:

  • Leroy
  • Bonn
  • Francois

German

Generic names in Germany arose in the same way as in other countries: first they were received by the nobility, then by feudal lords and small landowners, and then by the lower strata of the population. The entire process of forming hereditary nicknames took about 8 centuries, and the first surnames appeared based on proper names. Vivid examples are German male generic nicknames:

  1. Werner
  2. Hermann
  3. Jacobi
  4. Peters

Beautiful family designations in Germany arose from the names of rivers, mountains and other words related to nature: Bern, Vogelweid. But the most popular generic names come from the occupations of their ancestors. For example, Müller means “miller”, and Schmidt means “blacksmith”. Rare ones sound beautiful: Wagner, Zimmerman. Women in Germany, as a rule, leave their mother's surname, and the most beautiful are considered to be:

  1. Lehmann
  2. Mayer
  3. Peters
  4. Fisher
  5. Weiss

American

Beautiful American family names compare favorably with other foreign ones - they are very consonant, and the owners wear them with pride. If surnames are not inherited, then any citizen of the United States can change his family name to a more harmonious one. So, the 10 most beautiful names of American men:

  1. Robinson
  2. Harris
  3. Evans
  4. Gilmore
  5. Florence
  6. Stone
  7. Lambert
  8. Newman

As for American women, as throughout the world, they take their father’s family name at birth, and their husband’s name when they marry. Even if a girl wants to keep her family name, after marriage she will have a double surname, for example, Maria Goldman Mrs. Roberts (by her husband). Beautiful generic names for American women:

  1. Bellows
  2. Houston
  3. Taylor
  4. Davis
  5. Foster

Video: the most common surnames in the world

The most common surnames in the world seem beautiful, because their bearers are popular people, and therefore happy. For example, there are about one hundred million people on the planet who have the generic name Li. In second place in terms of polarity is the surname Wang (about 93 million people). In third place is the family name Garcia, common in South America (about 10 million people).

The word "surname" is translated from Latin as "family". This means that this indicates that a person belongs to the clan from which he came. The emergence of family nicknames was often associated with the profession that the family practiced from generation to generation or with the name of the area in which the family lived, or the name of the family indicated character traits, specific appearance, and a nickname. It’s not for nothing that there is a saying “not in the eye, but in the eye” - people have always applied labels very accurately.

In Russia, at first there were only first and patronymic names, and the first surnames appeared only in the 14th century. Naturally, noble people received them: princes, boyars, nobles. Peasants received official family names only at the end of the 19th century, when serfdom was abolished. The first names of dynasties came from the names of places of residence, birth or possessions: Tver, Arkhangelsk, Zvenigorod, Moskvin.

Later, Russian surnames became a treasure trove of the history of professions and life: Bochkarevs, Melnikovs, Telegins. But the most famous family nicknames were and still are those that came from the name of the head of the clan: Grishins, Sidorovs, Ivanovs, Pavlovs. As for the most beautiful Russian surnames, opinions converge here - these are the surnames of kings (Romanovs, Rurikovichs), nobles (Volkonskys, Vyazemskys, Obolenskys). Many people like derivatives from the beautiful names of animals and birds: Sokolov, Lebedev, Orlov, Medvedev, Volkov.

The most beautiful surnames of Russian men:

  1. Sobolev
  2. Morozov
  3. Gromov
  4. Almazov
  5. Derzhavin
  6. Bogatyrev
  7. Mayorov
  8. Admirals
  9. Lyubimov
  10. Vorontsov

List of the most beautiful surnames for girls:

  1. Voskresenskaya
  2. Lebedeva
  3. Alexandrova
  4. Serebryanskaya
  5. Korolkova
  6. Vinogradova
  7. Talnikova
  8. Generous
  9. Zolotareva
  10. Tsvetaeva

A selection of the most beautiful foreign surnames

Foreigners believe that a beautiful surname helps the family, brings good luck and happiness. But, it’s true, a person with a funny surname or family nickname is teased by his peers from childhood, and subsequently he grows up insecure with a whole baggage of complexes. So it turns out that the family name brought bad luck. For people with a beautiful family heritage, everything turns out differently. From childhood they know that they can do anything in this world, so they walk with their heads held high.

Each country has its own beautiful surnames, which are unusual to the Russian ear. But the origin of family designations is the same all over the world. Some took the name of their city, while others took the nickname of the founder of the clan, the occupation of the family, and their status. Among foreign surnames you can also often find the names of plants, birds, and animals. If a Russian person chooses a foreign name for himself, then, as a rule, he does not delve into its meaning, but makes a choice based on its euphony.

For example, Spaniards have beautiful surnames - not uncommon. The most common are:

  • Rodriguez
  • Fernandez
  • Gonzalez
  • Perez
  • Martinez
  • Sanchez

Russian girls often choose generic names of Spanish origin:

  • Alvarez
  • Torres
  • Romero
  • Flores
  • Castillo
  • Garcia
  • Pascual

French surnames

All variants of French surnames are endowed with special beauty and charm. This language is very different from its other European counterparts. While an English name is always pronounced correctly, French names are pronounced differently. For example, the popular Le Pen can sound like “Le Pen”, “Le Pen”, “De Le Pen”. The first French family names were granted to the highest circle of nobility in the 11th century. It was only in the 16th century that a royal decree ordered that every French citizen be given a hereditary nickname.

Since then, French surnames have been included in church registers from generation to generation. The most beautiful family nicknames in France come from proper names, from the occupation of the family, or from the geographical names in which the family was born. Widespread French male family names:

  • Robert
  • Richard
  • Bernard
  • Duran
  • Lefebvre

Female generic names are not much different from male ones. French history has decreed that no differences or other endings, as in the Russian language, exist between surnames, therefore beautiful generic names for women also bear their own name, for example:

  • Leroy
  • Bonn
  • Francois

German

Generic names in Germany arose in the same way as in other countries: first they were received by the nobility, then by feudal lords and small landowners, and then by the lower strata of the population. The entire process of forming hereditary nicknames took about 8 centuries, and the first surnames appeared based on proper names. Vivid examples are German male generic nicknames:

  1. Werner
  2. Hermann
  3. Jacobi
  4. Peters

Beautiful family designations in Germany arose from the names of rivers, mountains and other words related to nature: Bern, Vogelweid. But the most popular generic names come from the occupations of their ancestors. For example, Müller means “miller”, and Schmidt means “blacksmith”. Rare German family names sound beautiful: Wagner, Zimmermann. Women in Germany, as a rule, leave their mother's surname, and the most beautiful are considered to be:

  1. Lehmann
  2. Mayer
  3. Peters
  4. Fisher
  5. Weiss

American

In America, genus names come from completely different sources. After all, this state was inhabited by different nationalities. People who arrived on the continent gradually modified the name of their clan, partly because they wanted a new life, partly because they wrote everything down by ear. The American list opens with the Williams, Johnsons and Smiths. There have long been over a million of them in America. But there are also rarer family names that settle in one state. These include the Collins, Morgan, Brooks, and Reed. Learn more about American surnames.

Beautiful American family names compare favorably with other foreign ones - they are very consonant, and the owners wear them with pride. If surnames are not inherited, then any citizen of the United States can change his family name to a more harmonious one. So, the 10 most beautiful names of American men:

  1. Robinson
  2. Harris
  3. Evans
  4. Gilmore
  5. Florence
  6. Stone
  7. Lambert
  8. Newman

As for American women, as throughout the world, they take their father’s family name at birth, and their husband’s name when they marry. Even if a girl wants to keep her family name, after marriage she will have a double surname, for example, Maria Goldman Mrs. Roberts (by her husband). Beautiful generic names for American women:

  1. Bellows
  2. Houston
  3. Taylor
  4. Davis
  5. Foster

Video: the most common surnames in the world

The most common surnames in the world seem beautiful, because their bearers are popular people, and therefore happy. For example, there are about one hundred million people on the planet who have the generic name Li. In second place in terms of polarity is the surname Wang (about 93 million people). In third place is the family name Garcia, common in South America (about 10 million people).

Among the British and Americans, the most popular surname is Smith (4 million people), and among Russians it is Smirnov, and not Ivanov, as is commonly believed. It comes from the word “pacification” or “to make peace”, which is typical for the original Russian population. Watch a video that takes a closer look at the most common surnames in the world:

Find out how to change your last name in VK.

Top surnames of VK girls

There are many options in the top best nicknames for fake. It could be a foreign name, Russian or fictitious. For a contact page, use any of the options provided.

The most romantic reason for changing your nickname on social networks is marriage. You are lucky if your husband has a euphonious surname that goes well with the girl’s name.

When creating a fake page, choose any of the top options offered:

  1. Noble option. The famous Countess Obolenskaya or Princess Romanova, let society be impressed by the girl’s noble origins.
  2. Qualitative adjectives. Sometimes women like to play pranks by calling themselves Sweet, Hot or Raging.
  3. Eloquent epithets, denoting celestial bodies, abstract objects, etc. Take the nickname Sun, Love, Cat.
  4. Funny phrases. By combining two short words into one, you can enjoy the cool result: Peipivo, Daizub.
  5. Surnames famous people. Bulgakov, Pushkin, Astakhov.
  6. Living beings. Orlova, Koshkina, Utkina.
  7. Slavic options. Woody, Ancient, Oriental.

You can even use combinations of phrases. For an unusual name, a double surname in the French style like von Stein is suitable.

Use a phrase in any foreign language that goes well with the Russian name.

What unusual foreign surname should a girl choose?

If you were given a non-Slavic name at birth, and you have long dreamed of changing your nickname, choose a foreign option. You can choose a suitable phrase using the table.

Check out the original list of popular nicknames:

Group Examples
Movie stars Hepburn, O'Hara, Jolie, Diaz, Reeves, Cox, Matthew, Stone, Bellucci
Polish options Podolskaya, Kovalskaya, Valevskaya, Vitovskaya, Vitkovskaya, Vilenskaya, Troyanovskaya, Yaguzhinskaya, Lewandovskaya, Koval
Bulgarian surnames Toneva, Vladova, Angelova, Apostolova, Angelova, Vladova, Danailova, Dimitrova, Blagoeva, Nikolova, Lyudmilova
English names Taylor, Mills, Day, Alison, Bailey, Brett, Cole, Day. Also Ellis, Evans, Gordon, Grant, Norman, Stone, Ray, Cooper
German versions Wagner, Koch, Richter, Mayer, Weber, Braun, Werner, Lehmann
Belarusian options Levitskaya, Kaminskaya, Poplavskaya, Polyanskaya, Galonskaya, Tchaikovskaya, Belskaya, Sokolovskaya, Dobrovolskaya.

Ostrovskaya, Sobolevskaya, Savitskaya, Snezhinskaya, Gurskaya, Larchenko, Kirilenko, Kovalchuk

In some cases, you will need to change the sound in the name. It is better to replace Veronica with Nicole, Natalia with Tasha, Masha with Michelle.

For a nickname, you can use any translation of the word: Sweet (sweet), White (white), Kat (Cat).

From this article you will learn:

We are already accustomed to the fact that every person has a surname, which distinguishes him from others, shows his belonging to a certain family and is inherited. However, this was not always the case. The official assignment of a surname to each person occurred less than a century ago, which in the context of history is a very short period of time. The history of each individual surname is unique in its own way. Sometimes dozens of people with the same last name live in the same territory. Sometimes it happens that we smile when we hear some unusual surname. Today we will talk about such rare family names.

In fact, there are a lot of rare surnames that really ring a bell. There are simply relatively few bearers of such surnames. It is impossible to cover them all in the article, but we will at least try to classify them and divide them into groups.

  1. Single letter surnames: despite the simplicity of their composition, they are quite rare and unusual for hearing. People are registered in Moscow by last name ABOUT ,YU And E .
  2. Surnames consisting of one syllable: They are also not very common. Only a few families with surnames live in Russia An , Yong , That And Before .
  3. Surnames-toponyms: these are surnames that are consonant with the names of cities or rivers. For example, not many people have surnames like:
  • Moscow ;
  • America ;
  • Astrakhan ;
  • Kamchatka and others.
  1. Legendary surnames: these are the names of literary and historical heroes, the bearers of which are also very few. These include names such as:
  • Crusoe ;
  • Grozny ;
  • Pozharsky ;
  • Chatsky ;
  • Karenin and others.
  1. Double-root surnames: this includes surnames obtained by merging two words at once. Some names sound quite euphonious and are quite common, but you rarely see surnames such as:
  • Good afternoon ;
  • Eybogin ;
  • Backstreet ;
  • Comb my mane ;
  • Nepeyvoda ;
  • Cool gunpowder ;
  • Grab it ;
  • Shchiborshch ;
  • Kill and others.
  1. Surnames that sound similar to common words: these are words that, when officially recorded, did not receive normal suffixation using suffixes typical for surnames -s And -in:

- consonant with nouns:

  • Water ;
  • Stove ;
  • Freezing ;
  • Pot ;
  • Chizh ;
  • Magpie and many others;

- consonant verbs:

  • Tron ;
  • Razdobudko ;
  • Bite it ;
  • Klyuy ;
  • Negrey and others;

- consonant with adverbs:

  • On the side ;
  • Sometimes ;
  • Generously ;
  • Nothing ;
  • Let's go and others.

This list can be continued endlessly. We do not set ourselves the task of covering the entire scope of rare Russian surnames: we have outlined only the main trends in their existence. And after all, each of the surnames has its own unique history, which can tell about the life of our distant ancestors.

Where could such rare and unusual surnames, unfamiliar to our ears, come from? Initially, a person was given a nickname that distinguished him from the rest of the people. If a nickname stuck with a person, it gradually became a name assigned to a certain clan or family, even if unofficially. So the nickname turned into a surname. Since nicknames are most often rude or mocking in nature, all modern rare, unusual surnames come from them. Their origins can be very different, but people who study anthroponymy (the history of human surnames, first names, patronymics and nicknames) identify several main trends in the origin of such names.

  1. Last names were given according to appearance person:
  • Bryla (that was the name of people with plump, saggy lips);
  • Lobar (a person of large build);
  • Pupysh (the so-called pimply man);
  • Uraz (crippled person);
  • Mug (ugly person);
  • Makura (blind person);
  • Fursik (short man).
  1. The surname could reflect occupation person, his profession:
  • Obabok (that’s what our ancestors called people who traded in mushrooms);
  • Vozovik (a person selling goods from a cart);
  • Lazebnik (barber);
  • Argun (Vladimir carpenter);
  • Clamp (one who deals with horses).
  1. Character traits also often appeared in unusual surnames:
  • Butt (as in some areas they called a stupid and stubborn person);
  • Ogibenya (a nickname for a flattering and deceitful person);
  • Kichiga (empty man);
  • Buzun (brawler);
  • Palga (nickname for a clumsy person).

4. Last names could be given according to place of residence:

  • Zaporozhets ;
  • Vyatich ;
  • Moskvich ;
  • Volyn ;
  • Uralets and others.
  1. Since Russian culture was formed for many centuries under the influence of Orthodoxy, many rare surnames have church origin:
  • Prayer ;
  • Deacon ;
  • Bell ;
  • chanter ;
  • Bogodukh and others.

Thus, each surname has its own little story. How nice it would be if every person with a unique surname revealed its secret and preserved its history for their descendants. However, in the history of all rare surnames, common points can be identified.

XIII-XIV centuries

At this time, people in villages began to be distinguished not only by their first names, but also by their surnames. Noble boyars received dashing and sonorous surnames, but the peasantry did not know how to speak beautifully, so they had the most dissonant surnames. Some of them never received a suffix and retained their original form:

  • Fritter ;
  • Fool ;
  • Oakmaker ;
  • Bogomaz ;
  • Tit ;
  • stub and others.

70s of the XIX century

In 1874, Alexander II carried out a military reform, according to which universal military service was introduced, which entailed the legal registration of surnames for all males. There were often cases when a recruit found it difficult to answer the question of what his last name was. In this case, the surname was given right away, most often based on appearance. Since there was no time to fantasize, surnames often turned out funny and even rude. Some of them have reached us:

  • Toothless ;
  • One-armed ;
  • Hard of hearing ;
  • Crooked ;
  • Redhead ;
  • Forehead and other names.

90s of the XIX century

In 1897, the first all-Russian population census was carried out, which legally assigned surnames not only to men, but also to women and children. The surname finally became officially assigned to a specific family. In some places, census takers gave surnames the desired form using typical suffixes, and in others they left them in the form of nicknames, which have become rare today:

  • Censer ;
  • Turnip ;
  • Breeze ;
  • Milk ;
  • Extreme and others.

1930s

In the 30s of the 20th century, an important era occurred in the general history of surnames. In Russia, everyone was offered to change their dissonant surnames. Entire lines of people with the most unusual surnames flocked to the registration departments. The Izvestia newspaper managed to record this historical moment: thanks to it, we have a list of those names that disappeared forever in the 30s of the last century:

  • Poltobatko ;
  • Near-Fist ;
  • Balda ;
  • Poodle ;
  • Doggie ;
  • Corn ;
  • Barefoot ;
  • whiny ;
  • fly agaric ;
  • Tail and many, many others.

This is the difficult path many rare names have gone through. Some of them managed to survive, others are irretrievably a thing of the past and exist for us only on paper. Rare surnames are not always funny and absurd. Among them there are many euphonious and beautiful - ones that their bearers are rightfully proud of.

Formed at the end of the 18th century. The American nation is very heterogeneous and currently unites not only the descendants of settlers from all parts of the world, but also the indigenous population - the Indians. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the surnames and names of US residents one can trace various national roots: European, African, South American, Asian. These features often make American surnames and names so interesting and exotic.

How are they formed?

Nicknames, including Indian ones, became the basis for many modern surnames. Also, quite often, surnames were formed from the names of professions (Smith, Miller, Taylor), geographical places (England, Lancaster) and objects (Bush, Rock, Moore), father's name (Johnson, Stevenson) and just names (Stewart, Williams, Henry) , as well as animals, flowers and various objects (Fish, White, Rose, Young).

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was a tendency to change difficult-to-pronounce national surnames: shortening, translation, transformation in order to make them similar to English-speaking ones. But in recent decades, a reverse process has been observed: the desire for one’s national and cultural identity, which is manifested in the refusal to Americanize names and surnames. This is especially true for people from African countries, Spain and Latin America. Modern American surnames and given names increasingly emphasize a person's origins.

Inventing pseudonyms is also a very common phenomenon. Most often they are taken by creative individuals: musicians, actors, artists.

American names, male and female, are often abbreviated in everyday communication. Examples: Adam - Ed; Gilbert - Gil; Michael - Mike; Robert - Rob, Bob, Bobby, Robbie; Richard - Dick, Richie; Arnold - Arnie; Eleanor - Ellie, Nora; Elizabeth - Lizzie, Liz, Elsa, Betty, Beth; Katherine - Katie, Kat. Young guys (and even mature men) are often addressed by their initials. For example, a man named T.J. Most people you know will probably call Morris TJ.

As in English, American male and female surnames sound exactly the same. In official communication, it is customary to address men by last name with the prefixes “Mister” or “Sir”, and “Miss” or “Mrs.” for women.

Female names

The top ten most beloved girl names by American parents include Isabella, Sofia, Emma, ​​Olivia, Ava, Emily, Abigail, Madison, Chloe, Mia.

Women's names are often formed from the names of beautiful plants or precious stones. Examples: Rose, Daisy, Olive, Evie (Ivy), Lilly, Violet, Ruby, Beryl, Jade, etc.

Male names

According to statistics, American parents most often name boys Jacob, Ethan, Michael, Jayden, William, Alexander, Noah, Daniel, Aiden, Anthony.

There is a strong tradition of naming after a father or grandfather. In this case, the word “junior” (junior) or a serial name is added to the name: second, third, etc. For example: Anthony White Junior, Christian Bell Second.

American male names are often consonant with surnames (White, Johnson, Davis, Alexander, Carter, Neal, Lewis, etc.). And all because once upon a time both of them were formed from nicknames.

The most popular American surnames

More than two million people in the United States bear the surnames Smith and Johnson. With slightly more modest results (over a million people) follow the holders of the surnames Williams, Jones, Brown, Davis and Miller. Wilson, Moore and Taylor round out the top ten.

The most beautiful American surnames and names

Of course, there is no arguing about tastes, but you can still highlight a list of the most euphonious and even poetic names. Some of them were specially formed from suitable English words: Summer - “summer”, Joy - “joy”, May - “May”, Love - “love”, Hart - “heart”, etc.

  • Alisha.
  • Bonnie.
  • Vanessa.
  • Gladys.
  • Jade.
  • Imogen.
  • Cassandra.
  • Lillian.
  • Miriam.
  • Nancy.
  • Olivia.
  • Pamela.
  • Sabrina.
  • Tess.
  • Heidi.
  • Angie.
  • Alex.
  • Brandon.
  • Darren.
  • Kyle.
  • Mitchell.
  • Nicholas.
  • Peter.
  • Ronald.
  • Stephen.
  • Walter.
  • Fraser.
  • Hunter.
  • Charlie.
  • Sheldon.
  • Adrian.

There are not only beautiful American names, but also surnames.

For example:

  • Beverly.
  • Washington.
  • Green.
  • Crawford.
  • Aldridge.
  • Robinson.
  • Stone.
  • Florence.
  • Wallace.
  • Harris.
  • Evans.

In general, given names and surnames in the USA can be found to have different origins: Smith, Will - English; Miller, Brunner, Martha - German; Gonzales, Federico, Dolores - Spanish; Magnus, Sven - Swedish; Peterson, Jensen - Danish; Patrick, Donovan, O'Brien, McGill - Irish; Mario, Ruth - Portuguese; Isabella, Antonio, de Vito - Italian; Paul, Vivien - French; Lee is Chinese, etc. Combinations are not uncommon when the name is purely American, but the surname has a national flavor. Or vice versa. For example: Martha Roberts, Brandon Lee, etc.

The more you study American surnames and names, the more interesting discoveries you can make. In addition, the American nation is still being formed, so it is possible that soon new unusual and beautiful names of various origins will appear in the everyday life of the inhabitants of this country.