The history of family names in Russia is very similar to that in European countries. The period of their formation fell on the 15-17th century. The wealthy estates became the first owners of clan names, a little later this privilege also affected the peasants. Surnames were formed from personal names, nicknames, professions, geographical names. All Russian generic names consist of a semantic basis, which is supplemented by an ending, suffix, prefix. The value of the base indicates the source of its origin. The article will discuss the meaning and origin of the surname Nikulin, its history and eminent representatives.
Origin of Generic Naming
The origin of the surname Nikulin is associated with the personal name of a person and is a common type of Russian generic names. The formation of a surname on behalf of an ancestor is the most common way of forming family names.
The origin of the surname Nikulin is associated with one of the forms of the name Nikolay, people called Nikula in the people. Probably, this name appeared in Russia in the form of the name of the Holy, but over time it was supplanted by a more faithful form - Nikola.
Some scholars believe that the origin of the surname Nikulin is associated with the Belarusian version of the proper name, since this surname is widespread there.
The church baptismal canonical name Nicholas is of Greek origin, formed from "Nikolaos", which translates as "conquering people."
In Greece, the name sounds like Nikolaos, in Hungary - Miklos, in France - Nicolas, in Germany - Klaus, in the Scandinavian countries - Niels.
The patron saint is St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Most likely, it is with the name of this saint that the origin of the surname Nikulin is connected.
St Nicholas
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Christian world is the patron saint of sailors and travelers. This is no coincidence! According to legend, a young man went to study in Alexandria, and in his sea voyage he saved the life of a sailor who escaped from a ship during a storm in the sea. When they arrived in the city of Miru, Nikolai and the sailor went to church. They entered the temple in which the bishop had recently died. The fathers of the church were instructed in a dream to choose the next bishop of the "man of victory", in Greek, "Nicaea."
While Nicholas was praying, the sailor told everyone how he was saved by a man named Nikei-Laos, after what the church fathers heard, they immediately proclaimed Nicholas the new bishop.
Tatar version
The origin of the surname Nikulin, according to the Tatar version, is due, according to some scholars, to the fact that it is based on the Tatar word “nyk-kulli”, which translates as “hard hand”. That is, probably, the ancestor or progenitor of family names was a man with a firm hand.
Jewish version
According to another version, the Jewish surname Nikulin is associated with the assertion of scientists that it was granted to some Jewish families. In Russia, Gabriel Derzhavin suggested giving surnames to Jews . He insisted that they should sound in Russian and reflect the character, occupation or appearance or be educated on behalf of his own. In 1804, a provision was signed on the mandatory assignment of surnames to the Jews of the Russian Empire, and after 50 years they were forbidden to change their surnames, even if they moved or changed their faith. So, many families were given surnames formed from their own names, geographical names, occupation. Many Jewish families received generic names, such as Nikolaev, Mikolaev, Nikulin, and so on.
Famous Nikulins
Among the representatives of this generic name there are many creative and talented personalities. For example, Yuri Nikulin is an outstanding clown, a brilliant actor, famous for the films of Leonid Gaidai.
Yuri Nikulin was born in the city of Demidov in 1921 in a family of theater actors. Parents were known in the city as comedic actors. When Yuri was 4 years old, the family moved to Moscow. My father got a job as a correspondent, where he composed reprises for the circus and theater. He often took Yuri to the circus, it was then that the boy decided to devote his life to entertaining people and giving them joy.
Immediately after school, Yuri Nikulin joined the army, during the Russo-Finnish war, his battery defended approaches to Leningrad, during the Great Patriotic War he also fought near the city. In 1946 he was demobilized as a senior sergeant.
After the war, Yuri Nikulin decided to enter the Institute of Cinematography, but on exams he was told that he was not suitable for cinema. He heard the same thing at theatrical institutes. After which he submitted documents to the clownery studio at the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. For the first time he entered the arena in 1948. In total, Nikulin worked in the walls of his native circus for more than 50 years.
In 1958, a director for the film "Girl with a Guitar" needed a comedian for the cameo role, which was played by Yuri Nikulin. The actor really liked the audience - this was the decisive factor in his film career.
In 1997, Yuri Nikulin had heart problems, it was decided to have an operation, but after it complications started, and in the same year he died. He was buried in the Novodevichy cemetery. In memory of him, a monument and memorial plaques are installed on his grave. In honor of Yuri Nikulin, the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard is named.