Surname Nikolayev - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'N'
Nikolayev: What does the surname Nikolayev mean?
The surname Nikolayev is derived from the given name Nikolay, a Russian variant of the Greek name Nicholas, which means “victory of the people”. Since its origins stem from Russia, the surname Nikolayev is most commonly found amongst the Russian-speaking population.
The origins of the name can be traced back to medieval Russian saints. For example, some have suggested that the origin of the name may come from its use as a patronymic. At the time when Nicholas was a popular male name throughout Russia, families with the last name Nikolayev may have taken on the surname as individuals with similar given names married into the family.
Nikolayev is an old-fashioned surname that is reflective of aristocratic Russian origins. Its use among some European families may even be related to a noble title that was granted to some families in the 19th century.
Throughout the 20th century, the popularity of the name has declined as many of the families bearing it relocated all around the world, including countries like Australia, England, and many parts of the United States.
Nowadays, the name Nikolayev still remains popular within the Russian-speaking population, particularly in the areas of origin. The name itself can also be seen on monuments of Russian-speaking travelers, such as in the pillars of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in the American city of Galveston, Texas. Additionally, this same name can be found in many forms of urban artwork, as some artists choose to use Nikolayev for their last names in order to make a statement about their ancestral pride.
Order DNA origin analysisNikolayev: Where does the name Nikolayev come from?
The last name Nikolayev is most common in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, with Russian being the predominant language throughout these countries. In Russia, the last name Nikolaev is quite common, especially in the Tver, Voronezh, and Moscow regions. There are also a significant number of individuals with the last name Nikolaev in Belarus, primarily throughout Minsk and Vitsebsk. In Ukraine, the last name Nikolayev is found in the Odessa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernivtsi regions. Additionally, the last name Nikolayev can be found among individuals of Ukrainian and Russian descent living in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
It is believed that the last name Nikolayev traces its origin back to a pre-Christian Slavic name, Nikola. This word is derived from the Greek name ‘Nikolas’, which is itself derived from ‘Nikolaos’, meaning ‘Victory of the People’. Over the centuries, this name has evolved into many different variants, including Nikolaev, Nikolyev, and Nikolayev.
It is likely that the individuals who first adopted the surname Nikolaev were of noble lineage, although the exact lineage remains unknown. The last name has since become a common patronymic in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. In fact, there are numerous streets, monuments, and other public locations named in honor of Nikolayev throughout these regions, and a number of Nikolayevs have become famous figures in Russian and Soviet history.
Variations of the surname Nikolayev
The surname Nikolayev is derived from the personal name Nikolai, which is a form of the Greek Nikolaos. The Nikolayev surname can be written in a variety of ways and has a number of different spellings and variants.
Common variants of the surname Nikolayev include: Nikoleyev, Nikoliáev, Nicolayev, Nikolayeff, Nikulayev, Nikolyev, Nikulayevich, Nikolaieff, Nikolayeva, and Nikulayevna.
A popular alternate spelling is the Russian surname Nikolayevitch, also spelled Nikolayevich, which means progeny of Nikolai. Additionally, the surname can be Anglicized to Nicolas, Nicolasouf, Nicolaev, Nikki, Nickolayeff, and Nickolaev, among others.
Outside of Russia, several other countries have their own variations of the Nikolayev surname. In Ukraine, the surname is spelled Mykolayev or Mykolaiyev. Similarly, in Belarus it is spelled Mikolayev or Mikolaiyev and the Lithuanian version is Mikolovskis.
In Poland the popular spelling of the surname is Mikołajewicz or Mikołajewski. The Bulgarian variation of Nikolayev is Nikolov, Nikólov, or Nikolovà. The Czech variant is Nikolajevi and in Romania it isNikolae.
Overall, the surname Nikolayev has a number of variants and spellings that extend across many countries. It is a very well-known family name that has a long history of use and interesting geographical variations.
Famous people with the name Nikolayev
- Pavel Nikolayev: Russian chess grandmaster
- Valeriy Nikolayev: Russian speed skater
- Rustem Nikolayev: Russian cross-country skier
- Stanislav Nikolayev: Russian football manager
- Ivan Nikolayev: former Soviet hockey player
- Valentina Nikolayeva: Soviet concert pianist
- Pavel Nikolayev: Russian politician
- Andrey Nikolayev: former General of the Russian Armed Forces
- Sergey Nikolayev: Russian baritone
- Vladimir Nikolayev: Russian chess grandmaster
- Sergei Nikolayev: Russian radio host
- Dmitry Nikolayev: Russian head of the Verkhovna Rada
- Olga Nikolayeva: Russian cross-country skier
- Alexey Nikolayev: chief designer of military systems
- Nadezhda Nikolayeva: Russian rhythmic gymnast
- Tatyana Nikolayeva: Russian modern pentathlete
- Alexey Nikolayev: Russian rugby union player
- Yevgeny Nikolayev: Russian sculptor
- Andrey Nikolayev: Russian-Armenian singer
- Irina Nikolayeva: Russian figure skater