Surname Chernyak - Meaning and Origin
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Chernyak: What does the surname Chernyak mean?
The last name Chernyak is derived from the Russian language and literally translates to 'black'. It is sometimes seen spelled as "Черняк". The origin of the surname is most likely from the Ukrainian and Russian word "chernie" or "cherny", which means "black".
The loosely translated meaning of Chernyak as "black" carries multiple symbolic interpretations. In traditional Slavic or Biblical symbolism, the color black often denotes sorrow, foreboding, and mourning. It can denote mourning of a loved one or a sense of impending doom that is rooted in a spiritual sense of mortality.
Black can also be seen as a color of strength, power, and mystery, which is why it so often serves as a popular choice for clothing and accessories. As a metallic color, black often symbolizes eternity, as it can go on forever and never lose its sheen. It also has a certain regality amongst the Slavic and Russian cultures that is sometimes displayed through using the Chernyak surname.
At its most basic, the last name Chernyak means "black". Those who carry the surname may often identify with any of the aforementioned symbolic interpretations of the color. It is not limited to any particular profession or social class, having been around since 1263 in the Ukraine. Meanings may vary regionally and over time, but Chernyak stands as a strong yet mysterious and powerful surname.
Order DNA origin analysisChernyak: Where does the name Chernyak come from?
The last name Chernyak is a variant of the name Cherniak and is a patronymic surname of Slavic origin. It is most commonly found in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe, particularly the former Soviet Union. The families with the surname Chernyak in Russia are mainly from Ukrainian or Belarusian ancestry.
In the 19th century, after a mass exodus from the Russian Empire, many of the Chernyak family members were resettled in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now located in Ukraine, Belarus, and parts of Poland and Romania. Families of the same surname were also found in the former Soviet Union, mostly in the republics of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
Today Chernyak is an uncommon surname in most parts of the world but still relatively common in areas of its origin, such as Russia and Eastern Europe. According to a 2019 study, the Chernyak surname is most common in Russia, followed by Ukraine, Belarus and the United States. In Russia, the Number One place is Moscow, followed by St. Petersburg and Krasnodar, while in Ukraine it’s Lviv, Kiev and Poltava.
The Chernyaks of the United States are mainly immigrants or descendants of those who came from different countries in Eastern Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, descendants of these families have spread across areas of the United States, including New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, and other states.
Variations of the surname Chernyak
The surname Chernyak is an Eastern European surname and is said to be derived from the name Cherny means 'black' in Ukrainian. This surname comes in several different variants and spellings, each of them having the same origins.
The Ukrainian spelling of the surname Chernyak is Черняк and it is also known to be spelled as Chernyakov, Chernei, Tcherniac, Черніак, Černiak and Tscherniak. The Belarusian equivalent spelling of the name is Tscherniack while the Yiddish spelling is Tscherniakov.
The Russian version of the surname is Черняк and is also known to be spelled as Cherniak, Chernek, Cherniakova, Charniak, Tcherniakov, Cherneka, Cherniack, Tčerniaks, Chorniak, Chernyakova, and Chainiak.
In Poland, the surname is spelled as Czerniak, Czemniak, Czerniać, Czemnić, and Czemian. The variants in the Czech Republic are Černiak, Černík, and Černý.
In Slovakia, the surname is spelled as Černík, while the Germanized surname is Schwarzen.
The surnames originating from the Chernyak name are found in countries such as The United States, Canada, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Examples of such surnames include Chernyakovsky, Cherniakovsky, Cherniak, Cherniakow, Czerniakow, Czerniakowski, Czemniak, Czerniazyk, and Chernowicz.
Famous people with the name Chernyak
- Liana Chernyak: Ukrainian figure skater, born in 2002
- Tatiana Chernyak: Ukrainian track and field athlete, born in 1993
- Agnessa Chernyak: Russian-Cuban journalist
- Ksenia Chernyak: Olympic swimmer, born in 1979
- Sergey Chernyak: Russian actor, born in 1967
- Garry Chernyak: Ukrainian weightlifter who competed in the 2006 Olympic Games
- Olesia Chernyak: Ukrainian beach volleyball player, born in 1989
- Elizaveta Chernyak: Russian figure skater, born in 1996
- Olga Chernyak: Ukrainian swimmer who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Yury Chernyak: Soviet football player and coach