Surname Berezhnoi - Meaning and Origin

Berezhnoi: What does the surname Berezhnoi mean?

The last name Berezhnoi is a Russian patronymic surname thought to be derived from the word “berezhny,” meaning “steep bank,” “sloping,” or “inclined.” The root of the name likely has its roots in the landscape, since many Russian surnames are descriptive of the Jackdaw environment. It is thought that the originally form of the name was Berdzhnoy, and the surname was shortened to Berezhnoi when the Russian language underwent morphological changes.

The name Berezhnoi is an occupational surname, since it is thought to be derived from “berezhny”, which can also refer to a person who fishes or hunts on steep riverbanks. The Berezhnoi family likely descended from fishermen or hunters who occupied the sloping banks of rivers.

The Berezhnoi surname has been passed down through generations and is known to have been in Russia since at least the 15th century. The name is often found in families from Ukraine and Belarus.

Today, the Berezhnoi surname is relatively common in Russia, with embassies of the Russian Federation providing information on the distribution of the name in different parts of the country. The name has also spread to other parts of the world, including North America, where many people with the last name Berezhnoi emigrated to in the early twentieth century in search of opportunity.

Berezhnoi: Where does the name Berezhnoi come from?

The last name Berezhnoi is a Ukrainian surname, and is most commonly found in Ukraine and other countries with strong Ukrainian diasporas such as the United States, Canada, Russia, and Germany. Beyond these countries, it is also present in much smaller numbers in countries like Belarus, Moldova, and Kazakhstan.

Within Ukraine, the Berezhnoi name is found all over the country, but it is particularly common in the western region. This region is musters a cluster of Ukrainian towns and cities which border several other countries such as Poland, Romania, and Hungary. Here, the Berezhnoi name is recorded in several vital records, spanning from the 14th century until now.

In terms of prevalence, records from the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook indicate that the Berezhnoi name is the 74th most common surname in Ukraine. One can only infer that its prevalence is much higher in the western part of the country.

Outside of Ukraine, the Berezhnoi name is more common in North America, especially in the United States and Canada. In these two countries, people bearing the Berezhnoi name have established a substantial presence.

Lastly, the French spelling for the name –– Berekhnoy –– is present in much smaller numbers in Latin American countries like Mexico and Venezuela. Here, immigration records and vital records show that the name was adopted by Ukrainians who had moved to these lands during the early 20th century.

Variations of the surname Berezhnoi

The Berezhnoi surname is a combination of two different variations: Berezhnaya and Berezhnoy. The variations of the surname Berezhnoi are very common in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus as a result of various transliterations of the Cyrillic spelling. It can be transliterated in various ways, including: Berezhnaya, Berezhnoy, Berezhnoyi, Berezhnee, Berezhenskaya, Berezhenskiy, Berezhnii, and Berezhniy.

The variations of this surname stem from various dialectic spellings of the name in different parts of the Slavic world. In Ukrainian, the name is more commonly spelled Berezhnaya, while Berezhnoy is the Russian spelling. Berezhnoyi and Berezhnee are frequently found in Belarus.

The surname can also be found in an alternate spelling, Bereshen'. This variation is typically found in Romania. Bereshen' is also the accusative masculine singular form of a more commonly found spelling, Berezhnaya.

The Berezhnoi surname has a few rare variations, such as Berezhy indis, Berezhis'kyi, and Berezhaia. These alternate forms were rarely found in genealogical records, usually amongst individuals of high status or those affiliated with the Russian military.

Lastly, the Berezhnoi surname is often combined with other surnames related in origin, such as Berezhnaya-Korobova, Berezhnaya-Polovinkina, and Berezhnaya-Radzishevska. This common combination was done due to the lack of surnames during the feudal period. Such combinations indicate a familial relationship between two people and were used as identification by authorities of the time.

Famous people with the name Berezhnoi

• Roman Berezhnoi: a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer
• Ivan Berezhnoi: a Belarusian boxer who competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics
• Yaroslav Berezhnoi: a retired Russian professional football player
• Yulia Berezhnoi: a Russian basketball player
• Petr Berezhnoi– a retired Russian professional ice hockey player
• Artem Berezhnoi: a Ukrainian handball player
• Elena Berezhnoi: a retired soprano singer from the Ukraine
• Alexander Berezhnoi: a Russian freestyle ski jumper
• Dmitri Berezhnoi: a retired Soviet decathlete
• Konstantin Berezhnoi: a retired Russian luger and Paralympian
• Ivan Berezhnoi: a Russian ice hockey player
• Oleksii Berezhnoi: a Ukrainian football player
• Boris Berezhnoi– an Ukrainian footballer
• Sergei Berezhnoi: a Belarusian ice hockey player
• Viktor Berezhnoi– a Russian snowboarder

Other surnames

BerezhnenkoBerezhnovBerezhnoyBerezhnyi