Surname Matwejenko - Meaning and Origin

Matwejenko: What does the surname Matwejenko mean?

The last name Matwejenko is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Matvej. Patronymic names were common in many European countries centuries ago and are often derived from a father's given name. This particular Matwejenko name has its roots in Russian and Ukrainian culture.

Matwejenko is a rare but meaningful name that is believed to have begun with the Slavic word "Mat", meaning gift of god. From this, the surname could be translated as "Son or descendant of Matvej". In some cases, the name was taken from a Polish version of Matvej, which was Matveus.

The surname may have originally been from the area of western Ukraine, near the city of Lviv and villages south of it. Over the centuries, it has been spread throughout Eastern Europe and beyond.

It is common among Ukrainian and Russian communities, and those with this last name often carry a sense of pride for their Slavic heritage. By the twentieth century, the Matwejenko surname had spread to many countries, and is likely to be found in any area populated by Ukrainian or Russian descendants.

Overall, the last name Matwejenko is indicative of a proud and unique Slavic tradition that is shared by many. It is a beautiful and meaningful name, and it is an honor to bear this uncommon yet meaningful surname.

Matwejenko: Where does the name Matwejenko come from?

Matwejenko is a last name typically found in Eastern European countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. The name is an alternative spelling of Matveenko, an ostensible patronymic of the given name Matvey, which is derived from the biblical Greek name Matthew, meaning "gift of God".

Due to the displacement of several Eastern European populations during the Soviet era, Matwejenko is also commonly found in the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the United States alone, there are over 500 people with the last name Matwejenko according the most recent census.

The Matwejenko surname can also be found in Brazil, Argentina, and parts of Europe, such as Germany, Scandinavia, and the UK. Given the diverse range of countries in which the surname is found, it is likely that people with the last name Matwejenko share different cultural, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. For example, while many Matwejenko families in the United States are likely of Eastern European descent, there are likely families with the same last name that are descended from Jewish backgrounds.

Overall, the last name Matwejenko is most common today in Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland, although it is also found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and various parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Matwejenko

Matwejenko is a long-standing Slavic surname of Ukrainian or Russian origin thought to be derived from the given name Matvii or Matvei, variations of Matthew. Matwejenko could be spelled and pronounced in a number of ways, depending on the language it is spoken in; in English, it is sometimes spelled as Matveyenko, Matveenko, Matvejenko, Matviejenko, Matveienko, Matveyenk, and Matvienko. Alternatively, it can also be found under other auspices, such as Matveyenka, Matveenka, Matvejenka, Matviejenka, Matveienka, Matveyenka, or Matvienka.

Outside of its Ukrainian and Russian origins, Matwejenko is a surname known in many other Slavic countries, including Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia. In these places, it can be found under various alternate spellings, depending on the region, such as Matwejenco, Matveenco, Matvojenco, Matviejenco, Matveienco, Matweenko, and Matvenko; or as Matwejenka, Matveenka, Matvojenka, Matviejenka, Matveienska, Matweenska, and Matvenka.

In total, the Matwejenko surname may have as many as sixteen variant spellings and surnames of similar origin. Regardless of which spelling is used, the root origin and heritage of this surname are believed to remain the same.

Famous people with the name Matwejenko

• Savva Matveevich Matveenko (1878–1968), Russian male dancer
• Yuriy Matveevich Matveenko (1944–2006), Russian soldier in the War in Afghanistan
• Aleksandr Matveevich Matveenko (1935–2014), Russian dissident and public figure
• Konstantin Matveevich Matveenko (1871–1915), Russian general in the First World War
• Tikhon Matveevich Matveenko (1893–1937), Russian general in the Russian Civil War
• Ivan Matveevich Matveenko (1903–ca. 1977), Russian fighter pilot who flew alongside German aces in the Spanish Civil War
• Natalya Matveevna Matveenko (1939–2005), Russian film actress
• Yevgeniy Matveevich Matveenko (1947–1999), Soviet guard and Kazakhstani statesman
• Nikolay Matveevich Matveenko (1885–1957), Russian civil engineer and entrepreneur
• Andrei Matveevich Matveenko (1900–1966), Russian architect

Other surnames

Matwejew