Surname Stepanenko - Meaning and Origin
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Stepanenko: What does the surname Stepanenko mean?
The last name Stepanenko is believed to originate from the personal name Stepan, with the suffix -enko added as a patronymic ending. The name Stepan is a common Slavic given name derived from the Greek name Stephanos meaning “crown” or “garland”. This is an apt meaning, as the patronymic endings -enko, or also -ych, traditionally signified the bearer of the name being the “son-of” the father named Stepan.
The Slavic language origins of this surname are suggested too by its variant forms of Stepanow and Stepanowycz. Both of these are also common surnames in the countries of the former Soviet Union, where this surname is common, as well as Poland, Ukraine and Belarus.
The Stepanenko surname is borne by multiple prominent people. For example Roman Stepanenko of Russia is an internationally renowned physicist, specializing in theoretical solid state physics and condensed matter science. Other bearers of the Stepanenko name have had more tragic fates, including those of the Stepanenko family from the town of Gorodishche in Ukraine, which suffered the entire family members being taken to a concentration camp and killed during the Great Purge of 1937-38.
The surname Stepanenko therefore has a deep and varied history, representing a range of meanings, people, misfortunes and successes. Its origin in the beloved Greek name Stephen makes it a noble name, honoring those who have bore it over centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisStepanenko: Where does the name Stepanenko come from?
The last name Stepanenko is most common today in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as other countries with Russian-speaking populations. It is a patronymic name which derived from the given name Stepan, meaning “crown” or “garland” in Slavic languages. Stepanenko is a patronymic, meaning the son of Stepan, much like the English last name Johnson, derived from the given name John.
Stepanenko is a fairly common last name in Russia, with 11,854 people registered in 2017. It is also used in other former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. There is also a sizable Ukrainian Stepanenko population, with 3,531 people bearing the last name. In Belarus, the last name Stepanenko was the 56th most popular name in 2018.
Today, the last name Stepanenko can be found across the globe, but is most common in countries with a Russian-speaking population. It is especially prevalent in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, where it is one of the most popular surnames in the region.
Variations of the surname Stepanenko
Stepanenko is a patronymic masculine surname of Russian origin and is derived from the name of Stepan, a popular variant of the name Stephen. The surname Stepanenko is uncommon outside of Russia and other Slavic countries.
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Stepanenko are diverse and may vary based on geography and language. The most common spelling in Russian is Степаненко, but the letter “e” can be replaced with a “ya” in some areas. In addition, the surname “Stepanenko” can also be spelled as “Stepienko,” “Stepanenka” or “Stepaniuk.”
In countries where the Latin alphabet is used, Stepanenko is sometimes spelled “Stefanko” or “Stefanenko.”
There are other surnames of the same origin such as “Stepanov,” “Stepin,” “Stepanova,” “Stepankova,” “Stepanek,” “Stepanovic,” “Stepian,” “Stepanic,” and “Stepen.”
In other languages, Stepanenko can also be spelled as “Stjapanenka,” in Polish, “Stjepanenko,” in Czech and “Štěpánenko” in Ukrainian.
Stepanenko is a common surname among several Eastern European countries including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Russia. This surname is also found in ethnic Ukrainian communities in other countries such as Canada, the United States, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
Famous people with the name Stepanenko
- Yevgeniy Stepanenko: Ukrainian pole vaulter who competed in the Summer Olympics in 2016.
- Anatoliy Stepanenko: former Minister of Interior of the Ukraine from 1994-1995.
- Irene Stepanenko: American singer and vocalist, recorded with esteemed Russian conductors and composers.
- Yuliya Stepanenko: Russian rhythmic gymnast who competed in the 2008 Olympics and has since become a coach.
- Andrey Stepanenko: Russian judoka, bronze medalist at the 2014 World Judo Championships and two-time European Judo Championships gold medalist.
- Stanislav Stepanenko: Ukrainian butterfly swimmer and medallist at the 2012 European Short Course Swimming Championships.
- Evgeny Stepanenko: Russian football defender who plays for FC Ufa and the Russian national team.
- Volodymyr Stepanenko: blogger and public speaker from Ukraine, best known for his page about Ukrainian history.
- Andrey Stepanenko: Ukrainian former handball player.
- Andriy Stepanenko: one of the founders of the musical ensemble “The Owl”, based in Ukraine.