Surname Kovalenko - Meaning and Origin
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Kovalenko: What does the surname Kovalenko mean?
The last name Kovalenko is a Slavic surname, with variations such as Kovalyenko, Kovalenya, and Kovalina. It is derived from the Ukrainian word for "blacksmith", koval, indicating that its original bearer may have been a blacksmith or otherwise associated with this trade.
The Kovalenko family is believed to have originated in the Poltava region of Ukraine in the mid-1800s, though records are incomplete or non-existent. The Kovalenko name was also adopted by members of the Jewish diaspora, most likely during the 1800s.
The Kovalenko family is traditionally considered to be of Ukrainian descent, however there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that they were likely of mixed origin as they were known to have adopted the surnames of other ethnicities such as Jews and Turks.
Those with the Kovalenko name are spread all around the world, having since migrated to North America, the United Kingdom, France, and many other countries.
Kovalenko is known as a rather old-fashioned surname, which could imply that their ancestors were well-respected for their work. Additionally, as the family has journeyed so far and wide, it implies that members of the Kovalenko family have a fondness for travel and exploration.
Alternatively, people with Kovalenko as their last name could be proud to possess a history of hard work and dedication, earning an enviable reputation for their trade over time.
Order DNA origin analysisKovalenko: Where does the name Kovalenko come from?
The last name Kovalenko is a popular and widespread name in Eastern Europe, particularly in the countries of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia. It is estimated to be one of the top 100 surnames in each of those countries.
In Ukraine, Kovalenko is the eighteenth most common surname, with over 119,000 people sharing this name across the country. It can be found especially in the south-western region of the country, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
In Russia, the last name Kovalenko is also a common surname, ranking twenty-fourth out of all surnames, with over 219,000 people sharing this name across the country.
In Belarus, the surname Kovalenko is the thirty-sixth most common name, with over 28,000 people sharing this name in the country.
The last name Kovalenko can also be found in Lithuania, ranking as the forty-third most common surname, with over 18,000 people sharing this name in the country. The surname is also present in Latvia, ranking sixty-ninth out of all surnames, with over 8,000 people sharing this surname in the country.
In the United States, the surname Kovalenko is also present, but is less commonly encountered. The United States Census Bureau reported around 6,000 people bearing the surname in the United States as of 2019.
Variations of the surname Kovalenko
The surname Kovalenko is a patronymic Russian name meaning “son of Koval” or “of Koval”. It is one of the most popular surnames among Russian-speaking people, and can be found in other Slavic countries as well.
Variants of the surname Kovalenko include Kowalenko, Kovaljov, Kovalcik, Kowalenko, Kovalchuk, Kovalik, Kowalchuk and Koval’ka.
The spelling variants of Kovalenko include Kovalenco, Kobalenko, Kowalenco, Kovalanko, Kownalenkoo, Kovalinko, Kovolanko, Kovolinko and Kowalenco.
Further surnames with the same origin include Koval’ska, Kowaluk, Kowal, Kowalach, Kovalovsky, Kowal, Kowalicks, Kowaluk, Kowalewski, Kowalchuk and Kowalyk.
In addition to various spellings, the surname Kovalenko can be translated to different languages. For example, in Ukrainian, it is Коваленко and in Belarusian, it is Каваленка.
In conclusion, the surname Kovalenko can be found in many different variants, spellings and surnames, all coming from the original patronymic Russian name with the same origin.
Famous people with the name Kovalenko
- Svetlana Kovalenko: An actress best known for her roles in action films Sunstroke (2014), Rzhevsky Versus Napoleon (2012), and The Duelist (2016).
- Dmitry Kovalenko: A Russian journalist and TV host who works at Match TV.
- Oleg Kovalenko: A Ukrainian-Russian footballer who played for FC Arsenal Tula.
- Vsevolod Kovalenko: A Soviet/Russian International Master of chess.
- Dmitry Kovalenko: A Russian former competitive figure skater and 1998 World bronze medalist.
- Oleg Kovalenko: A Soviet and Russian theater and film actor.
- Dmitri Kovalenko: A Ukrainian squash player.
- Aleksandr Kovalenko: A Russian lawyer, banker, and businessman.
- Valentin Kovalenko: A Ukrainian Paralympic athlete, nine-time world champion and record holder in discus throwing, and three-time European champion in the discipline.
- Sergey Kovalenko: A Russian ice dancer who has competed for Russia at four European Championships.