Surname Semenova - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Semenova: What does the surname Semenova mean?
The last name Semenova is a patronymic derived from the Russian male given name Semyon, meaning "listen" or "obey". It is a common Russian surname that can be found across former Soviet states, as well as in other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. In some cases, it has been found in America and Australia.
In Russian culture, last names aim to indicate lineage. Semyonova, sometimes spelled as Semenova, implies descent from or familial relation to a man named Semyon. This can be a male ancestor or simply an individual who was somehow associated with one's family.
The surnames was historically associated with humble peasantry and often derived from the name of local nobles who the peasant families were employed by; although this is not necessarily the case today.
Modern Semenovas can be found in many different professions - from dancers to scientists, and many of them have had wide influence on Russian culture. However, there isn't one particular meaning or importance associated with this last name.
In the end, the name Semenova symbolizes a family history with strong Russian roots.
Order DNA origin analysisSemenova: Where does the name Semenova come from?
The last name Semenova is a widely dispersed surname found in many countries including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Moldova, and Tajikistan. It is also found in countries around the world due to migration.
In Russia, the surname Semenova is most commonly found in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kaliningrad, and Novgorod regions. It is relatively common in Ukraine with the highest concentration being in Ternopil and Lviv regions.
The popularity of the name Semenova within the former Soviet Union appears to be much higher than in other parts of the world. In most countries of the world, the name is used quite rarely or not used at all. In the United States, for example, only a small number of people have the surname Semenova, and data from the US Census Bureau show that the name is used much less than typical Russian last names.
The exact origin of the last name Semenova is unknown, as it is a variant of the Semenov surname which could have been derived from a variety of different sources. Semen is a Russian name meaning "seed" and za is a suffix which could mean "son of" or "daughter of". So the surname could be translated to mean something along the lines of "son or daughter of the seed".
Variations of the surname Semenova
Semenova is a Slavic surname derived from the male name Semen, which also means “seed” in Russian. Common variants of the surname include Semënova, Semenoff, Semenov, Semenovich, Semenovitch, Semenovskiy and Semenovskiy.
The spelling of Semenova can also differ depending on the country of origin. For example, Semënova is the spelling version most commonly found in Bulgaria. In Ukraine and Russia, the spelling most commonly used is Semenov or Semenovitch.
Some alternative spellings of Semenova include Zemenova, Samenova and Symënova. These are less commonly used variants, however, and are not considered traditional spellings.
Surnames with the same origin as Semenova include Semënoff, Semenovich, Semenovitsky, Semenovski, Semenchuk and Semynik. All of these surnames are based on the male given name Semen and trace back to Slavic heritage.
In some cases, Semenova can also be seen spelled as Samenova. This variation usually occurs in the United States where the name is Americanized and the letter “S” is replaced with a “sam.” Although this spelling is more common in an American context, it is not necessarily the traditional spelling of the surname.
Famous people with the name Semenova
- Natalia Semenova: Russian volleyball player who won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and also the 2011, 2013 and 2017 Women’s European Volleyball Championships.
- Anastasia Semenova: Russian rhythmic gymnast who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal at the latter.
- Anna Semenova: Russian rapper and Antarctic expeditions organizer.
- Viktoria Semenova: Russian speed skater who won gold at the 2008, 2009 and 2010 European Speed Skating Championships.
- Oksana Semenova: former rhythmic gymnast from Ukraine, who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Inna Semenova: Russian racewalker who won bronze at the 2013 and 2014 World Race Walking Cups.
- Maria Semenova: Russian swimmer who represented her country at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2014 European Aquatics Championships.
- Polina Semenova: actress and TV presenter from Russia.
- Irina Semenova: Russian rhythmic gymnast, who won silver at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Ekaterina Semenova: Russian Paralympic swimmer who competed and won gold at the World Para Swimming Championships and the 2016 Summer Paralympics.