Surname Kiritschenko - Meaning and Origin
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Kiritschenko: What does the surname Kiritschenko mean?
The last name Kiritschenko is of East Slavic origin and is derived from the Old Church Slavonic word kirits or “cross”. It is believed that the name first appeared in the area of present-day Ukraine in the 14th century, when the area was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The name is also found in Belarus, Russia, and Poland, where it is said to have been adopted by those of East Slavic origin.
Kiritschenko is understood to signify a connection to Orthodox Christianity, likely referring to a family or individual’s roots as Orthodox followers. It is possible, however, that the roots of the surname were more complex, as evidenced by some variants of the name, including Kirytsky, Kiruts, Kiryushchuk, and Kiryshchenko. In some cases, these variants may have evolved from the name’s original form.
Other variants may have been created due to differences in pronounciation, as seen in languages such as Russian or Ukrainian. Additionally, the surname likely served as a way to distinguish people in the region, as it was common for villages or towns to be named after a prominent resident or figure, and the surname Kiritschenko may have been issued to a family or individual at such a time.
Overall, the origins of the last name Kiritschenko are unclear, but its association with Orthodox Christianity and its prevalence in East Slavic regions suggest that it held significance for those who bore it. It is likely that the name served as a way to honor the family’s religious faith or other connections to the area in which it originated.
Order DNA origin analysisKiritschenko: Where does the name Kiritschenko come from?
The last name Kiritschenko is a relatively common surname throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It is most commonly found in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
According to the latest population sources, it is estimated that approximately 250,000 people in Russia alone share the last name. Georgians make up almost 18,000 of the Kiritschenko population, followed by Azerbaijan (14,000 people) and Belarus (7,500 people).
The Ukrainian city of Odesa is also home to many Kiritschenkos, with an estimated 20,000 people bearing the name. In Kazakhstan, the Minsk, Almaty, and Novosibirsk regions are also home to an impressive number of living Kiritschenkos.
Additionally, the surname is rather popular in the United States among Americans of Eastern European and Central Asian descent. Based on the US Census, it is estimated that there are at least 2,000 American citizens with the last name Kiritschenko, most of whom are native-born.
All in all, due to its roots in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the last name Kiritschenko remains a popular choice among millions of people around the globe today.
Variations of the surname Kiritschenko
The surname Kiritschenko is a fairly uncommon Ukrainian surname. It can have several alternative spellings and variants, as well as other surnames that may have the same origin.
Kiritschenko may be spelled Kiritchenko, Kyritchenko, Kyritschenko, Korytchenko, and Koryitschenko. The Kyritschenko spelling is often seen in records for individuals living in areas of the former Soviet Union.
Kiritschenko may also be spelled with a “y” at the beginning (Ykiritchenko). This form of the surname is often seen in old records of Ukraine.
The German spelling of Kiritschenko is Kyritschenko.
The Russian and Polish variants of the name are Kiritchenko and Kyritshenko respectively.
The Ukrainian and Belarusian variant of the name is Kurytshenko.
Other surnames that may have the same origin as Kiritschenko include Kiritsevich, Kiritshkevych, and Kyrytschenko.
The patronymic form of the name Kiritschenko would be Kiritschenkoiv, and the female form would be Kiritschenkova or Kyryitschenkoiv.
In some cases, the surname may also go by the nicknames of Krits, Kritsch, and Kyritschenko.
Regardless of the spelling or variant, the surname Kiritschenko is a link to the Ukrainian heritage and one's family history.
Famous people with the name Kiritschenko
- Aleksandra Kiritschenko: Russian actress
- Alla Kiritschenko: Soviet tennis player
- Arseniy Kiritschenko: Russian chess master
- Dmitry Kiritschenko: Ukrainian Soccer player
- Evgenii Kiritschenko: Russian football manager
- Galina Kiritschenko: Soviet Olympic gold medalist
- Irina Kiritschenko: Russian artist
- Konstantin Kiritschenko: Soviet and Russian actor
- SU-24 Anatoliy Kiritschenko: Soviet test pilot
- Vladimir Kiritschenko: Russian actor