Surname Lebedeff - Meaning and Origin

Lebedeff: What does the surname Lebedeff mean?

The last name Lebedeff is of Russian origin and is of noble Aristocratic descent. In most cases, people of this name were members of a famous family of Russian ministers. The literal meaning of Lebedeff is ‘son of the white-bearded’ and it is believed that the surname was derived from a personal name given to a patriarch of the family.

The Lebedeffs were well-known Russian families who held powerful positions in the court of Tsar Nicholas I who ruled Russia from 1825 to 1855. This highly influential family had a large presence in the cultural, educational, and political life of late-nineteenth century Russia. They were involved in the publishing of popular publications and the running of Russian universities and music schools.

Prince Nikolay (Kougen) Lebedeff was one of the sons of Prince Pyotr Lebedeff and was a well-known Russian-Jewish entrepreneur and philanthropist who played a major role in the advancement of Jewish culture in Russia. Under his patronage he established homes for the socially and economically disadvantaged Jewish population. This is just one example of the many contributions the Lebedeffs have made to the advancement and enrichment of Russian culture.

Despite the fact that the Lebedeff family is believed to be of noble descent, many people have been able to rise to fame without the use of a distinguished last name. However, it is interesting to note that many of this family’s descendants have retained their ancestral name and are still active in the social and political circles of Russia today.

Lebedeff: Where does the name Lebedeff come from?

The surname Lebedeff is most common in Russia and Belarus today. In these countries particularly, the surname is derived from the root word meaning ‘swan’, and has very ancient roots.

The surname was used by various branches of this large extended family, who previously held noble status or were of high social standing. Over the centuries their owners have spread to various parts of Europe.

In 2019, nearly 2700 people in Russia had the surname, with the majority being in the Belgorod region of western Russia. It is also very common in Belarus and Ukraine, where it is estimated that over 3000 people have the name.

Outside of these countries, the surname is very rare. It can be found in some parts of Germany, Poland and the United States, where it was taken with immigrants coming from Russia or Belarus.

Overall, the surname Lebedeff is still most common in its homeland of Russia and Belarus, but with varying populations elsewhere. With its strong roots and associations with the past, this family name will endure far beyond the current distributions.

Variations of the surname Lebedeff

The surname Lebedeff is a Russian and East European name, which can be written in several different ways. The most common spelling is Lebedev, with an e being used instead of the double e at the end. This is the most commonly encountered form of the surname in Russia and several other eastern European countries. Other common spellings are Lebedevich, Lebedevna, Lebedeva, and Lebedyev.

In some cases, a spelling variation of the Lebedeff surname can indicate where a person with the name originated from. For example, people from Novgorod might spell the surname something like Lebedef, or from the Volga region it might be spelled Lebedeff. Variants of the Lebedeff surname can also be found outside of Russia. Such variants are often seen in western European countries such as France, where Adde, Ledebur, and Filbée might be used.

The most common surnames in Russia that are related to Lebedeff include the following: Levitin, Lebedinsky, Levitsky, Lubenov, Levikov, Lebedevich, Levchenko, and Lebedyev. All of these surnames are derived from the same root name, Lebedeff, and generally indicate the same family origin.

Other related surnames in other countries can also be derived from the Lebedeff surname. These include Lebrel in France, Ledewitz in Germany, and Beledoi in South America and Canada. With this range of variants and related surnames, it is likely that the Lebedeff surname will remain widely used and recognised in many different countries throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Lebedeff

• Vitaly Lebedev: Russian actor
• Valery Lebedev: Russian TV director
• Ilja Lebedev: Russian politician
• Konstantin Lebedev: Russian businessman and philanthropist
• Igor Lebedev: Russian politician and deputy speaker of the State Duma
• Rostislav Lebedev: Russian musician and composer
• Alexander Lebedev: Russian businessman and philanthropist
• Oleg Lebedev: Russian actor
• Ivan Lebedev: Russian actor
• Sergei Lebedev: Soviet pilot
• Andrey Lebedev: Russian actor
• Svyatoslav Lebedev: Russian ice hockey player
• Nikolai Lebedev: Russian director
• Dmitry Lebedev: Russian ice hockey player
• Alexander Lebedev-Kumach: Soviet/Russian poet
• Tatyana Lebedeva: Russian long jumper and triple jumper
• Pyotr Lebedev: Russian physicist
• Mikhail Lebedev: Georgian scientist and historian
• Nikita Lebedev: Russian actress and singer
• Dmitry Lebedev-Kumach: Soviet/Russian poet and writer

Other surnames

LebedevLebedevaLebedewLebedewa