Surname Semjonov - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Semjonov: What does the surname Semjonov mean?
The last name Semjonov is a patronymic slavic name, which is derived from the first name Semyon. The origin of this name is Hebrew and it means "God has heard". It is predominantly found in Russia and other East European countries, and is commonly used as both a patronymic and an occupational surname. It can also be spelt Semyonov, Semionov, Semenov, Semjonov, Simionov, Symenov, or Simonov.
Semjonov is an occupational surname derived from the Russian word 'seminy', meaning mason. This would indicate that the original bearer was a skilled stone mason in a medieval settlement. It could also refer to someone who worked on a wall or other significant structure, such as a fortress or bridge. It is possible that the surname originated from a nickname, given to someone who worked in theses professions or was known for their superior masonry skills.
The name Semjonov is fairly common in Russia and surrounding countries and is still in use today. It has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the increasing number of Eastern European immigrants entering the United States. Many people from this region, especially those of Russian-Jewish descent, often carry the name Semjonov as part of their heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisSemjonov: Where does the name Semjonov come from?
The surname Semjonov is most commonly found in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine today. It’s a patronymic name derived from the given name Semjon, or Simon, which is of both Hebrew and Greek origin and means “hearkening” or “listening”.
In Russia, the surname is found mostly in an area stretching from St. Petersburg to the Crimean Peninsula, and is predominantly associated with the city of Kursk in the south. In Belarus, Semjonov is widely found in the southeast around Minsk and Mogilev, as well as in the north, near Polatsk and Vitebsk. In Ukraine, the Semjonov surname is most commonly found in the southwest, in the cities of Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, and Kyiv.
The name had its highest frequency in Ukraine in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when records indicate that nearly 4 percent of Ukrainian men had this surname. This is a much higher rate than today, with the surname only making up about 0.3 percent of the total population in all three countries combined.
In the diaspora, Semjonov is widely found in other Eastern European countries, such as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, as well as in North America, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Australia. It’s likely the result of centuries of emigration, as well as the population shifts and forced deportations of the Soviet era.
Variations of the surname Semjonov
The surname Semjonov is believed to have originated in Russia and is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Semjon," which in turn, comes from the Hebrew name "Simon," meaning "hearing". It is also related to the ancient Hebrew name Shemu'el, from which the English and French name Samuel is derived. The surname can be found spelled in many variants, including Semjonova, Semionov, Semionovs, Semjonov, Semionoff, Simionov, Simonov, Semonov, and Simionova.
For those who speak Russian, it is pronounced "Sem-yoh-no". It is also occasionally Anglicized as Semons, Simmons, or Simons. The Lithuanian variant of the name is Semėnas, and the Latvian variant is Semjonovs. The surname is widespread, not just confined to Russia, and can be found in many other Slavic countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
Semjonov is relatively rare as a surname in the United States, but its popularity is growing. In western Russia, it is most popular in the Moscow region, where it's found in nearly one in a thousand households.
Regardless of the variant spelling, it is clear that the surname Semjonov is derived from the ancient Hebrew name, Shemu'el. It is a patronym, and its origin lies in Russia, with its popularity spreading throughout other Slavic countries. It continues to grow in popularity in the United States, where it is a rarer sight.
Famous people with the name Semjonov
- Sergei Semjonov: Soviet biathlete and hockey player
- Valeri Semjonov: Soviet Union sprint canoeist
- Maksim Semjonov: Russian Paralympic swimmer
- Timur Semjonov: Russian professional ice hockey player
- Nikolay Semjonov: Russian chess grandmaster and multiple world champion
- Alexander Semjonov: Russian painter
- Ilya Semjonov: Russian contemporary artist
- Konstantin Semjonov: Russian twentieth century poet
- Ivan Semjonov: Russian-born American actor and dancer
- Mikhail Semjonov: Russian politician and diplomat, representative of the oblast of Moscow in the State Duma for Ivanov-Voznesensky Oblast
- Stanislav Semjonov: Soviet and Russian film director, screenwriter and actor