Surname Vasiljeva - Meaning and Origin
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Vasiljeva: What does the surname Vasiljeva mean?
The last name Vasiljeva is of Slavic origin and can be found throughout Eastern and Central Europe. It is derived from the given name Vasil, which is itself derived from Vasiliy, meaning "King" or "Ruler". The surname is a patronymic form, meaning either "son of Vasil" or "son of Vasiliy".
The surname is found in many Slavic countries, including Russia and the Ukraine, but is also found in surrounding areas such as Baltic countries, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia. The spelling of the name can vary slightly from country to country, and individual variations can include Vasiljev, Vasiliev, Vasilyev and Vassilyev.
As with many Slavic surnames, it is believed that Vasiljeva is derived from a profession or habitation. It is possible the name refers to a family who worked at a basilica, or denoted an occupation of managing funds, as "vasil" became associated with the administration of finances. Other interpretations of the surname point to a derivation from the Slavic root "vas", meaning "village" or "countryside", indicating a family of farmers or peasants.
Above all, the surname Vasiljeva denotes a family of nobility, strength and honour - from the true Slavic warrior to the peasant farmer, the name has endured and today is a proud symbol of Slavic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisVasiljeva: Where does the name Vasiljeva come from?
The last name Vasiljeva is a common surname throughout the region of the former Soviet Union. It is particularly common in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, and Latvia. The name is derived from the given name Vasilij, which is a form of the name Basil.
The name is shared by a large number of individuals from the region and is found in many different spellings including Vaseleva, Vaselieva, Vasilyeva, Vassilyeva, Vasiljev, and Vasiljevna.
The name is also found in the United States and Canada. These individuals may have immigrated from the region or are descendants of those who did. The origin and meaning of the name are largely unknown however some suggest that it is derived from the Greek word “basil” which means ‘king’.
The name is still common throughout the region with tens of thousands of individuals bearing the name in Russia and Ukraine alone. It is also more and more widely found in the US and Canada as a result of immigration to these countries.
Variations of the surname Vasiljeva
The surname Vasiljeva is an Eastern Slavic familial name, derived from the male given name Vasil. It is most commonly spelled Vasiljeva, but can also appear in other forms, such as Vasiljev, Vasiljevych, Vasiljevic, and Vasiljevits.
The name is heavily used in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, although records suggest the surname also has a presence in Bulgaria and Romania. The name's precise geographic spread is most likely attributed by the fact that the patronymic forms of Vasiljev were borne by an influential princely family in the 16th century, which likely spread their surname as they eventually migrated across East-Central-Europe.
The patronymic surnames of Vasiljevic and or Vasilic are derived from the given name also, and are used by an even wider spread of families in Eastern-Europe. These surnames often appear with the Suffix 'itsch', such as Vasiljevitsch, as an additional indicator of the Eastern-European heritage.
Additionally, many alternate spellings originated in differing languages or dialects. Vasilchev and Vasilev are two such examples, both derived from the same source but via the Slavic languages of Bulgaria and Slovenia respectively.
The spelling of Vasiljeva has also varied by location over the centuries. For instance, many families in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia use the Altbauer spelling of Vasiljeuf.
In conclusion, while the core spelling of Vasiljeva is used to identify a core group of families from Eastern-Europe, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that families from a diverse geographic spread have derived from the same source. As such, those who bear variations of Vasiljeva may one day confirm a shared heritage.
Famous people with the name Vasiljeva
- Jelena Vasiljeva: a contemporary British-Russian sculptor.
- Nadezda Vasiljeva: a Russian contemporary visual artist.
- Ekaterina Vasiljeva: a Russian contemporary fashion designer.
- Andrei Vasiljev: a Russian professional ice hockey player.
- Boris Vasiljev: a Russian professional ice hockey player.
- Galina Vasiljeva: Russian novelist, poet and playwright.
- Marina Vasiljeva: Estonian actress.
- Katya Vasiljeva: a Russian synchronized swimmer.
- Aleksander Vasiljev: a Russian former ice hockey player.
- Dmitri Vasiljev: a Russian former ice hockey player.