Surname Savcenko - Meaning and Origin
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Savcenko: What does the surname Savcenko mean?
The last name Savcenko is of Ukrainian origin and is derived from the name of a Ukrainian Cossack, Savchenko. The word "Savchenko" is thought to originate from the old Slavic word "savka" meaning hawk, thus giving the surname the literal meaning of “son of hawk”.
The Savchenko were a group of Cossacks living in the Ukraine during the 17th Century, and were renowned for their bravery and defiance of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Ukraine. They were sometimes called the Zaporozhian or Free Cossacks.
The Savchenko participated in several battles and wars throughout their history. During the famous Battle of Poltava in the early 1700s, they assisted the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in his victory over Charles XII.
The Savchenko also played a significant role in the creation of the nation of Ukraine and the push for Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, they formed the National Union of Dignified Men of Ukraine (Sustav Ukrainy), a political organization intended to promote Ukrainian nationalist cause nation-wide.
The Savchenko family is still highly regarded in Ukraine and carries with it the proud legacy of a once powerful family. Savcenko is a name of courage, honor, and loyalty, and is a proud symbol of Ukrainian heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSavcenko: Where does the name Savcenko come from?
The last name Savcenko is most commonly found among Slavic speaking countries, particularly Ukraine, Russia, and Belorus. This name is most likely derived from an area known as the "Savcenko district" which is located in the Murovani Kurylivtsi region of Ukraine.
The take up of the spellings of surname Savcenko is likely to be due to its religious significance, as it shares a similar composition to Savci (the Slavic version of the Greek name “Theo”). This name was often adopted by members of the Eastern Orthodox Church who wished to show their devout faith.
The prevalence of the Savcenko surname in Slavic countries like Ukraine and Russia has been increasing since the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is due to the birth of the independent Ukrainian state which allowed for more freedom of expression and identity. Many Ukrainians, especially those of a more religious mindset, embraced the moniker of Savcenko as a way to express their patriotism and devotion to their faith.
The Savcenko surname is still most commonly found in the Slavic countries, particularly in the eastern European region. This is likely due to the predominance of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith in these regions, and many current Belorussian, Ukrainian, and Russian families sporting the Savcenko surname are likely devout members of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Variations of the surname Savcenko
The surname Savchenko (Савченко in Ukrainian, Савченко in Russian, and Savčenko in Serbian) is a patronymic surname derived from the the Ukrainian word for "son of Sava". It is most common in countries with a Ukrainian heritage, including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Serbia.
Variants or alternate spellings of this surname include Savchenko, Savchak, Savychenko, Savychak, Savychyn, Savytsa, Savechka, Savchyn, Savchenko, Savchakova, and Savchenko.
Surnames derived from Savchenko include Savcen-ko, Savchenko, Savchen-ko, Savchenka, Savchen-ka, Savchensohn, and Savchenko-vna.
The surname has been greatly affected by immigration, and can be found in many places around the world. In the United States, spellings such as Savchenko and Savchak have become quite common. In Canada, some of the most common spellings are Savchenko and Savchen-ko.
The surname is also popular in a number of other countries, with various spellings including Savchyn in Hungary, Savecenko in Bulgaria, and Savčenko in Serbia. Moreover, various vowel changes are also seen in several languages, including Savčåk in Croatian and Savčenku in Lithuania.
Famous people with the name Savcenko
- Roman Savchenkov: Ukrainian biodefense specialist in the laboratory of the state lavatory service of Ukraine and Russian whistleblower who exposed the 2016 Russian doping scandal.
- Stanislav Savchenko: Russian footballer who has played for FC Spartak Moscow, FC Rubin Kazan and FC Tom Tomsk.
- Tamara Savchenko: Ukrainian unicycling athlete who won the world's championship in unicycling.
- Yohana Savchenko: American speaker, businesswoman and renowned author of the book "The Courage to Live: How to Work, Love, and Play on Your Own Terms".
- Armen Savchenko: Russian actor, director, theater artist and professor at the State Institute of Theater Arts in Moscow.
- Roman Savchenko: Ukrainian former biathlonist in the Soviet Union who won a Bronze medal in the 20 km individual event at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
- Dmitriy Savchenko: Ukrainian operatic tenor who has performed extensively in Europe in many of the world's most famous opera houses.
- Anatoliy Savchenko: Soviet boxer who competed in the men's bantamweight event at the 1976 Summer Olympics as well as winning gold medals at the 1973 World Amateur Boxing Championships and the 1975 European Amateur Boxing Championships.
- Boris Savchenko: Russian ice hockey player who played in the Russian Elite League with HC Spartak Moscow.
- Aleksandr Savchenko: Russian-Ukrainian football manager who is the current head coach of FC Krasnodar.