Surname Vasilev - Meaning and Origin
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Vasilev: What does the surname Vasilev mean?
The last name Vasilev is a common Slavic surname, primarily found in Russia and other countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. The name is derived from the given male name "Vasiliy" or "Vasily". This masculine name has origins in the Greek word "basileus", which translates to "King". It is believed that the name initially became popular during the time of the Russian Empire, as many families adopted the name in order to show their loyalty to the monarch.
Today, the last name Vasilev is associated with a strong work ethic and patriotism. With the strong influence of the Orthodox Church, many of these families place faith and family as their top priorities. The name has a benevolent connotation and is seen as a sign of strength, resilience, and fidelity.
People with the Vasilev name tend to excel in both the academic and professional arenas. In addition to teaching, many are accomplished artists, professionals (especially in engineering and finance) and politicians. It is not uncommon for those with the Vasilev name to pursue medical research, explore outer space, and write music.
The most common occupation amongst people with this last name is business or engineering. This is because the Vasilev name symbolizes hard work and strong leadership skills. The success story behind this name will continue to thrive as long as the family members remain loyal to their traditions and values.
Order DNA origin analysisVasilev: Where does the name Vasilev come from?
The last name Vasilev is a patronymic name that originated in Russia. It is most commonly found in that region as it continues to be the most populous nation in the world by a large margin. In addition to Russia, Vasilev is found in various other Slavic nations,including Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, as well as other countries where members of the Slavic diaspora have settled, such as Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania.
Vasilev is also occasionally found in Scandinavia, primarily in Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, where Russian immigration and intermarriages have brought the surname along with other forms of Russian names. Finland in particular has had a considerable influx of Russians into the country, especially around the Helsinki metropolitan area, in conjunction with events such as the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Outside of Eastern Europe, Vasilev can be found in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and other countries where portions of the diaspora have established roots. This has been due largely to increased immigration during the last several decades, with Russian speakers making their way to other nations for various reasons such as to escape economic or political hardship or pursue higher education or career opportunities. In some cases this diaspora has even been made up of individuals whose ancestors have already been settled in various parts of the world for a long time, but still use forms of the Vasilev name as an indicator of their cultural background.
Variations of the surname Vasilev
The surname Vasilev is derived from the Christian name Vasily and is an Eastern Slavic form of the name Basil or Basilius, both of which have Biblical origins. (Basil is derived from the Greek 'basileus' meaning "king" or "royal.") It is also the patronymic name of the son of Vasily.
Vasilev is most commonly encountered in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, Bulgaria and some other Eastern European countries. Variants of the surname include the following spellings: Vassilev, Vassiliev, Vassilyev, Vasylev, Vasylyev, Vasyliev, Vasyljev, Vasylov, Vassileff, Vassileva, Wasyljow, Wasiliev and Wasyliw.
In Russia, Vasilev is also found as a given name, and its various forms are frequently confused and often used interchangeably with other surnames derived from Orthodox Christian names such as Smirnov or Sidorov.
In Belarus, Vasilev is used as both a given name and a surname. Belarusian variants of the name include Vasilyevich and Vasilyevna.
In Ukraine, the surname is often spelled Vasylyev and Vasyljev.
In Estonia, the surname is usually spelled Väsilev.
In Bulgaria, Vasilev is sometimes written Vassilev, Vassileff or Vassiliev.
Common surnames of similar origin are Basyltsev, Vayssel, Vosylius and Wassil.
Famous people with the name Vasilev
- Ivan Vasilev G., Bulgarian chess grandmaster.
- Mityo Vasilev, Bulgarian pole vaulter.
- Sergei Vasilev, Soviet Olympic volleyball player.
- Nikolai Vasilev, Soviet film director.
- Vasily Vasilev-Azbelev, Soviet and Russian film and theater actor.
- Stanislav Vasilev, Bulgarian-Norwegian basketball player.
- Tihomir Vasilev, Bulgarian handball player.
- Miroslav Vasilev, Bulgarian football player.
- Pavle Vasilev, former Archbishop of Skopje.
- Krasimir Vasilev, Bulgarian footballer.
- Aleksei Vasilev, Russian ice hockey player.
- Konstantin Vasilev, Russian ice hockey player.
- Alexander Vasilev, Belarusian football player.
- Yordan Vasilev, Bulgarian general and Prime Minister.
- Mikhail Vasiliev, Soviet and Russian painter.