Surname Lebedew - Meaning and Origin
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Lebedew: What does the surname Lebedew mean?
The last name Lebedew is a Russian surname with German origins. It is derived from the German word “Lebedw”, meaning “swan”. The name Lebedew is believed to have been first used in the German language and later spread to other countries as a surname.
The first known recorded usage of the surname Lebedew in Russia dates back to 1560, when a German immigrant named Christian von Lebedew was identified in Jugor, a region in northern Russia. The name Lebedew spread from there and has been documented in multiple regions across Russia.
The meaning of the surname Lebedew in Russian is “one of the swans”. The surname is most likely symbolic in nature, referring to the symbol of dignity, grace, and rebirth. In art, the swan is also traditionally associated with purity and renewal.
Today, the meaning of the name Lebedew remains largely unknown. However, many people attribute the name to the graceful, strong creatures who are associated with water, beauty, strength, and protection. It is likely that the original people with the surname Lebedew had qualities similar to those associated with the swan.
Order DNA origin analysisLebedew: Where does the name Lebedew come from?
The last name Lebedew is most commonly found in countries of Eastern Europe, especially in Russia and Ukraine. In Russia, Lebedev was the 16th most common name in 2010 and continues to be a very popular surname. It is most popular in the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, and Khabarovsk. As it is a Slavic name, it is also found in countries like Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. In Ukraine, the Lebedev name was the 16th most common surname in 2010 and was more frequent in the central and western regions of the country.
In addition, Russia has a notable Lebedev family, which is one of the most notable in Russian history and is among the most famous old noble families of Russia. Members of this family are descendants of Ivan the Terrible's brother-in-law and retain the title of Duke of Lebedev.
Outside of Eastern Europe, there have been growing populations of Lebedevs who have migrated to countries such as Canada, Germany, Sweden, and the United States. As of 2018, there were over 8,300 people in the United States with the last name Lebedev.
Overall, Lebedev is an extremely common surname among the Slavic peoples. It is most often found in Eastern Europe, and especially in Russia and Ukraine, but is growing in populations in North America and Europe as well.
Variations of the surname Lebedew
The surname Lebedew is derived from the Russian and Belarusian word "lebed" meaning swan. Variants of the surname Lebedew include the spelling variations of Lebedev, Lebedeff, Lebedevich, Labedz, Labedziewicz, Labadz, Labodz, Lebioda, Lebeda, and Lebedi.
It is not uncommon for surnames to change in different parts of the world. People migrating from Russia and Belarus often altered the spelling of their last names. As a result, people with the surname Lebedew can also be known by the surname Loveday, as it is commonly seen in the United Kingdom.
In addition to the variations of Lebedew, other related surnames are Lebedeffsky, Lebedinsky, Lebedinskyy, Lebedyansky, and Lebeda. These surnames are not as common as Lebedew but are still related.
In Ukraine, Lebedew is also another spelling of the surname Lavrentiyev, meaning “son of Lavrentiy”. Similarly, Lavrentiev is a derivative of the surname Lavrentiyev in Slavic countries.
Other similar surnames include Lebenthal, Lebendig, Lebovitch, Labov and Labowitz. All of these surnames are related to the Lebedew surname. Some of these surnames are more common in the United States and others are more commonly found in European countries.
The surname Lebedew is also found in countries such as France, meaning "the feast of swans," and in Poland, meaning "beloved of the swan." So, if someone with the surname Lebedew can trace their family roots back to those countries, the spelling could be different.
In summary, the surname Lebedew has many variants and derivatives, with different spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these surnames are similar in sound and spelling, while others are completely different.
Famous people with the name Lebedew
- Vasily Lebedev-Kumach: a Soviet poet known for his satirical writing and revolutionary spirit.
- Alexander Lebedew: a Russian physicist and author best known for his work in electromagnetism and thermodynamics.
- Nikolay Lebedew: a Soviet geographer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the geography of the Russian Far East.
- Sergei Lebedew: a Soviet and later Russian political and military theorist, he wrote a number of books on the subject.
- Pavel Lebedev-Polyansky: an entomologist and geologist famous for describing many of the species of the Siberian flora and fauna.
- Yury Lebedev: a contemporary Russian actor, best known for his performances in films and television shows.
- Dmitri Lebedev: a celebrated Russian composer, known for his symphonic and operatic works.
- Vasili Lebedev: a Soviet rocket scientist and designer who worked on the development of the R-7 rocket.
- Pyotr Lebedev: a Soviet physicist who made major contributions to theoretical physics, including mathematics and optics.
- Lev Lebedev: a film director and scriptwriter known for his satirical films and satirical comedies.