Surname Grigoryeva - Meaning and Origin

Grigoryeva: What does the surname Grigoryeva mean?

The last name Grigoryeva is a patronymic Russian surname, deriving from the Russian male name Grigoriy, which is derived from the Latin Gregorius. It is similar to other Slavic names such as Grigoriev, Grigorashvili, and Grigorowicz, and is believed to have originated from the Greek name Gregorios.

The surname has a long and varied history in Russia, largely due to its geographic communication links with other parts of the world. During the period of Russian history known as the Grand Duchy of Moscow (1283-1547) the name Grigoryeva was first recorded in 1536, with references to the name appearing throughout the Kievan Rus' area during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Although its origin is uncertain, it is believed to have originated with the Christian Church, as evidenced by its religious connotations in the names of both men and women bearing the surname.

Many bearers of the surname Grigoryeva likely descend from the earliest known bearer, Ivan Grigoryev. He is said to have served in the Russian military, enlisting into the Mstislavskoye Povolzhskoye Corps of the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1536.

Today, the surname Grigoryeva is still a common surname in Russia, representing the proud history of not only the name Grigoryeva, but also of Russia itself.

Grigoryeva: Where does the name Grigoryeva come from?

The last name Grigoryeva is most commonly found today in the former Soviet republics and other post-soviet countries. These countries include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova, Latvia, and Estonia.

Grigoryeva is a patronymic surname of Slavic origin that is derived from the given name Grigory or Gregory, which is originally derived from the ancient Greek name “Gregorios”. The name is often found in Christian contexts, as Gregory is thus one of the names popularly given to saints and martyrs.

The large number of Grigoryevas in the post-soviet sphere is likely due to the influence of Communism and the Soviet Union at the time. After the fall of the U.S.S.R, many people began to adopt surnames, often taking the name of their father or grandfather, which explains why the name is particularly common in the former Soviet Union.

Grigoryeva is also found in some western countries, though in much smaller numbers. These include the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. As for the prevalence of the name in these countries, it is estimated that there are around 2000-3000 people with the last name Grigoryeva in the United States alone. It is also estimated that there are less than 1000 people with the last name Grigoryeva in the United Kingdom.

Finally, the name is also to be found in some other countries across the world such as Israel, Germany, Poland and Bulgaria.

Variations of the surname Grigoryeva

Grigoryeva is a Russian surname and there are several variations and alternate spellings for it. The most common is Gregorev. Other variants and spellings such as Grigorev, Grigoriev, Griogreva, Grygoryeva, Grigoreva, and Grigoriya are also found in Russia. It is also sometimes found as Gregyorova, Gregoreva, and Gregoryeva.

Within the Russian diaspora, Grigoryeva may also be found as Grygoreva, Gronareva, Grigoriou, Gregoryev, Grishina, Goridorova, or Gorgoreva, to name a few.

Grigoryeva is often found in other parts of Eastern Europe and Asia such as the Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and the Jewish diaspora. In these places, it may take the form of Grigori, Grigory, Grigoriy, Grigoruskija, Grigo, Grigole, Grigovic, Grachyak, Grigas, Gryguc, or Gryga.

There are also related surnames such as Grigorova, Grigorovna, Grigorice, Grigorevici, Grigorescu, or Grygorczuk.

Regardless of the spelling or name, all of these variants are derived from the same Russian roots and have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Grigoryeva

• Yelena Grigoryeva: a prominent Russian feminist activist and environmentalist who was killed in Moscow on the night of 21 July 2018.
• Mihail Grigoryev: a Russian swimmer who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
• Aksinya Grigoryeva: a Russian fairytale writer whose works have been translated into several languages.
• Karina Grigoryeva: a Russian singer-songwriter who competed in 2017 Eurovision.
• Oksana Grigoryeva: a Russian dancer and choreographer of modern dance and tango.
• Svetlana Grigoryeva: a Russian athlete who competed in the Javelin Throw at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
• Dmitry Grigoryev: a Russian ballet dancer and principal of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theater since 2018.
• Nikolai Grigoryev: a Soviet-Russian flow physicist, well known for his research in ambulant turbulence.
• Anatoly Grigoryev: a sculptor commissioned in 1975 to restore the Bronze Horseman monument in Saint Petersburg.
• Natalia Grigoryeva: a Russian film actress, best known for her lead roles in the films: 'God in a Box' (1996) and 'The Bride from Odessa' (1998/99).

Other surnames

GrigoryanGrigoryev