Surname Wassilewsky - Meaning and Origin

Wassilewsky: What does the surname Wassilewsky mean?

The surname Wassilewsky is derived from the Slavic words was (giant) and slaw (glory), which together mean "glorious giant." The name is indicative of the Russian nobility and of a family that has achieved a certain level of respect and honor.

The Wassilewsky family has its roots in the Russian nobility, first appearing in documents during Tsar Peter the Great's reign in the 18th century. At that time, the family was given the title of "Count of the Crown" by the Tsar, which indicate that they held a high level of prestige and influence.

In the 19th century, the Wassilewsky's power and influence increased, even extending into the areas of politics and law. By the early 20th century, the family held dozens of titles and was instrumental in the expansion of the Russian Empire.

The Wassilewskys continue to be a prominent family in Russia. Their name evokes a sense of tradition and respect, and their legacy is remembered in the many places around the world where their descendants have settled. In the United States and Canada, the Wassilewsky name has become adapted to the form of Waselesky or Wassilesky. This, in a way, is the family's living legacy, as they continue to be remembered and celebrated for their hard work, influence, and glory.

Wassilewsky: Where does the name Wassilewsky come from?

The last name Wassilewsky is most common today in Eastern Europe. It is a Slavic surname derived from the root word 'vasil', meaning 'royal', plus the suffix '-sky', which is a patronymic ending meaning 'son of'.

The Wassilewsky family was originally found in Ukraine and eastern Russia. One branch of the family was from Poland, which split off during history's many military battles and political movements. Later, some of the Wassilewskys migrated to Germany, primarily in the 1800s and 1900s, while others stayed in the historically Eastern-Bloc countries.

Today, the last name Wassilewsky is most prominent in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. In the last census, the name Wassilewsky was:

- The 8101th most common name in Russia.

- The 10715th most common name in Ukraine.

- The 1392nd most common name in Belarus.

- The 5341st most common name in Poland.

In addition, there is a significant Wassilewsky presence in Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Latvia. These figures indicate that the last name Wassilewsky is still fairly common, primarily in Eastern European countries.

Variations of the surname Wassilewsky

The variants, spellings, and surnames of Wassilewsky are Wasilief, Wasiliew, Wasiliewski, Wasilievski, Wasiliewsky, Wasillievsky, Wasiljew, Vasiliev, Wasiluk, Wasyliw, Wasyliwsky, Vasilijevski, and Vasyliwsky.

The Wassilewsky surname originated in what is now the Ukraine. It is derived from the Slavic personal name Vasyl which means king or emperor or from the occupational surname of one who was in charge of royal lands, a steward. The suffix “-e-wsky” is derived from the common Slavic and Ukrainian language suffix “-wsky” meaning son of.

Variations of the Wassilewsky surname are relatively common mainly in Slavic countries from which the surname is derived and within the United States, Canada and other countries to which individuals bearing this surname have migrated. There may be some differences in spelling related to translation difficulties or culture clashes when emigrating, or related to someone’s hearing difficulty or mishearing when the spelling of the surname was recorded. It is interesting to note that the United Kingdom is not a major country of origin for individuals with the Wassilewsky surname, however, as the surname was adopted in the United States, there are some variant spellings that are preferred by Atchison’s in England. Many of the Wassilewsky’s in England have adopted a British spelling variant of Vasilliewsky.

In the United States, some members of the Wassilewsky family may have had their name changed at Ellis Island or later due to linguistic and cultural forces. It is also possible that some Wassilewsky's changed their names due to pressure to assimilate in a society unfamiliar to them. These changed surnames may have been based on common English words and names, or some more obscure, seemingly unrelated names.

Famous people with the name Wassilewsky

• Alfred Wassilewsky (1860–1913), Russian military engineer, specialist in fortifications, and later a general
• Dimitri Wassilewsky (1910–1978), Russian-born French painter, designer and writer
• George Wassilewsky (1854–1949), Lithuanian politician, diplomat, and member of the Seimas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
• John Wassilewsky (1891–1980), Russian-born American Christian missionary, teacher, and union organizer
• Lydia Wassilewsky (1880–1943), Russian sculptor, considered one of the Soviet Union's leading female sculptors
• Mikhail Wassilewsky (1846–1915), Russian glaciologist and Arctic explorer
• Nikolai Wassilewsky (1855–1899), Russian zoologist, specializing in copepods
• Oleg Wassilewsky (1902–1989), Russian-born French chess master
• Pavel Wassilewsky (1850–1920), Russian entomologist, specializing in parasitology
• Raoul Wassilewsky (1890–1931), French painter, considered to be part of the School of Paris
• Wassily Wassilewsky (born 1937), Russian-German pianist and composer

Other surnames

WassilewWassilewski