The surname of Kalashnikov is familiar to modern people primarily by the name of the famous Russian assault rifle. There are known incidental cases when people who were asked a question about what the Kalashnikov surname means tried to tell about the history of Russian small arms. However, the roots of this word are much deeper, and they go back to ancient Russia. In that era when firearms have not yet been heard.
Etymology of a surname
The first question for attentive people may arise at school. At the very moment when Mikhail Lermontov and his “Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov” are beginning to be studied at a literature lesson. But the events take place in the era of Ivan the Terrible, that is, long before the birth of the creator of the Russian automatic pistol.
The origin of the Kalashnikov surname is associated with the ancient custom of giving a person a nickname that reflects the important qualities of his personality: character, appearance, unusual events experienced by him. And, of course, a profession. Often the great-grandfather's nickname became the generic name of all his descendants. So in our country appeared the Kuznetsovs, Goncharovs, Tkachevs. The surname Kalashnikov has the same origin. And it is connected with bread.
All kinds of flour products in ancient Russia were popularly called kalachs. A Kalashnik, respectively, is a person baking and selling such products. The standard ending s appeared later, when nicknames began to turn into surnames belonging to each family. "Who are you?" - people asked the stranger. “Vanka, Kalashnikov’s son,” the man answered, and everyone knew right away who he was and how to relate to him. Bakers in Russia, although they belonged to an unprivileged estate, were always held in high esteem.
With a pig's snout and in a high profile. (Proverb)
Versions about the origin of the surname
There were many Kalashnikovs in Russia. This surname was carried by merchants, peasants, and posad people (small city artisans). There was also an old noble family. In this regard, a dispute arose between scientists about what is the history of the name Kalashnikov and why it is worn by representatives of such different social strata. There are several versions.
- The word "Kalashnik" was a professional nickname and only with time was assigned to the family as a generic nickname. That is why among the bearers of this surname there are so many simple artisans.
- Over time, some bakers managed to become merchants, and subsequently to receive a noble title for any merit.
- Serf peasants, according to historians, became Kalashnikovs differently. People of this estate in the old days did not have the right to a surname. So the answer to the question: “Who are you?” they usually sounded in their mouths: “We are Kalashnikovs!” Say, slaves of the boyar Kalashnikov. That is how they were recorded in the documents.
- In 1909, gold was found on the Zeya River, and prospectors poured into those places. A settlement appeared on the shore, named after the founder, Stepan Kalashnikov. Gradually, its inhabitants, who did not have a family name (and there were many such among the common people then), began to use the name of the village as a family name.
Unpopular points of view
Not all theories about the origin of the Kalashnikov surname can be considered scientific. There are many assumptions, interesting but absurd. Nevertheless, they have a right to exist.
For example, some linguists elevate this surname to the Old Slavonic word "kelesh" - "bald spot." That is, Kalashnikov literally means "the son of a bald man."
But A. G. Prokofiev found the answer to this question in the mythology of ancient Egypt. He believed that the surname consisted of several parts: “ka” (reptile) and “lash” (bite) and was the common nickname of people worshiping the crocodile-like deity Nii'k. Thus, the Kalashnikovs may well, if they wish, consider themselves distant descendants of the ancient Egyptians.