Surname Kovaleva - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'K'
Kovaleva: What does the surname Kovaleva mean?
The last name ‘Kovaleva’ is derived from the Russian word ‘Koval’, which most commonly means ‘Blacksmith’. The suffix -eva is thought to be derived from the female form of the name Ivan, which is Ivanna. Therefore, in most cases the surname Kovaleva would refer to a blacksmith who is a female.
The name can be traced to the 1600s, when the trading of goods began to take place in what is now known as Russia. The Kovaleva family were classed as guilders, meaning that they were artisans and craftsmen who produced items of a high quality. It is likely that the family at this stage acted as both smiths and traders, bartering the metals and goods that they would have made.
More recently, the Kovaleva family has been associated with the creation of tools and machinery for industrial use. This is typical of many Russian surnames that are derived from words relating to craftsmen and artisans such as blacksmiths, carpenters and metalworkers.
In short, the surname Kovaleva is derived from the word ‘Koval’ meaning blacksmith and usually refers to a blacksmith who is a female. The name has been associated with the trade of goods and the creation of tools and machinery since at least the 1600s.
Order DNA origin analysisKovaleva: Where does the name Kovaleva come from?
The last name Kovaleva is most commonly seen in countries where the Russian language is spoken. It is a patronymic (Ковалева) derived from the male given name “Kovaly” or “Kovalyov”, meaning “smith”.
The Kovaleva surname can be found throughout the former Soviet Union including Russia (Ковалева), Belarus (Кавалёўа), Ukraine (Ковальова), and Kazakhstan (Қовалев). It may also be encountered in countries such as Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland due to previous historical migrations and settlement of Russians in those regions.
It is estimated that there are around 573,567 people bearing the Kovaleva surname in Russia. In Ukraine, the surname is even more common with an estimated 997,957 people holding it. The earliest known record of the Kovaleva surname dates back to 16th century in the Russian Empire during the reign of Grand Duke Vasily III.
In modern times, the Kovaleva name may be used as a professional or occupational surname as well as a patronymic. It is not uncommon to find people in fields such as blacksmithing, metalworking, and engineering to be named Kovaleva. Similarly, members of families with the surname have often passed it down to future generations as a form of respect.
Variations of the surname Kovaleva
The surname Kovaleva (Kovalev) is an East Slavic surname originating from the word koval, which means “blacksmith”. Variants of this surname include Kovalevich, Kovalevd, Kovalevskij, Kovalchuk, Kovalenko, Kovaljov, Kovalik, Kovalov, Kovalova, Kovaluhov, Kovaluk, Kwalibog, and Kovalukh.
The spelling of the surname is also variable. The surname can be spelled as Ковалева or Ковалев in Russian, Kovałewa in Polish, Kovalevych in Ukrainian, Kavalavica in Latvian, and Коўалеў in Belarusian. Variants of the surname in other Cyrillic alphabets may also exist (e.g. Ковалевъ in Old Church Slavonic).
In addition, the surname Kovaleva (Kovalev) may have additional surnames derived from the same root. These include Kovalevsky, Kovalsky, Kovalovskaya, Kovalovskaya, Kovalji, Kovalchuk, and Kovalova. Additionally, variants of the surname may exist which contain the root “koval” in combination with other words. Examples include Kovalenko, Kovalenkov, and Kovalinskaya.
The surname Kovaleva (Kovalev) is common in many countries, especially in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, and the former Yugoslavia. It is also common among the Russian diaspora. In some communities, the surname may be anglicised or shortened (e.g. Kov or Kovaleski).
Famous people with the name Kovaleva
- Irina Kovaleva: a musician from Russia and member of the Kino rock band.
- Tatiana Kovaleva: a Russian Paralympic swimmer.
- Svetlana Kovaleva: a Soviet film actress.
- Yelena Kovaleva: a Cuban ballet dancer and choreographer.
- Anastasia Kovaleva: a Russian rhythmic gymnast.
- Maria Kovaleva: a Russian chess grandmaster.
- Anastasia Kovaleva: a Russian Olympic biathlete.
- Olga Kovaleva: a Russian film actress.
- Yuri Kovalev: a Russian football manager and former footballer.
- Natalia Kovaleva: a Russian animator, filmmaker and artist.