In the list of the hundred most common Russian surnames, the naming of Zhukov takes an honorable 61th place. Studies of scientists working in the field of anthroponymy as a science that studies the evolution of names, patronymics and surnames have shown the true origin of the Zhukov surname.
The tradition of the formation of surnames in Russia
Historical background testifies to the late appearance of the surname in Russia. In anthroponymy, the 13th century is considered to be the moment when the custom of the hereditary transfer of the name arose in Slavic medieval society. The surname was based on middle names or the names of fathers and grandfathers, since the patriarchal system demanded respect for the heroes and defenders of the clan, brave fighters who fell in battles.
However, there was another form of the appearance of surnames - a derivative of the nickname, which was given to the ancestor for the quality of appearance or character, profession. The descendants of the person who received the common nickname took the name of the father in possessive form as a surname: they took the cliche name of the ancestor as the basis and, answering the question “whose?”, “Whose?” or “Whose?” added the suffixes -ov / -ev / -in to it, and to form the female version of the surname - the inflection -a. So, a man nicknamed the Beetle laid the foundation for the development of the Zhukovs.
Zhukov: the origin of the surname
The origin of the surname of interest to us originates in medieval Russia. In the XVI-XVII centuries there was a tradition to form worldly names from the names of representatives of the animal and plant world.
Nicknames were given on the fact of "similarity" of a person with an animal or plant in their appearance or behavior. In other words, the names served as a mythological code, preserving information about the nature of the person. So, at the moment there are several theories of the origin of the Zhukov surname, as well as other derivatives of the nickname Zhuk - Zhukevich, Zhukovsky.
One last name - three theories
The first position of scientists studying anthroponymy regarding the Zhukov surname is that the nickname Zhuk was most often given to people on the basis of an expressive external feature - black hair. Another concept of the origin of the surname says that they called dexterous, cunning and sneaky beetles.
The researchers' assumptions about how the Zhukov surname came about also include the theory of dependence on geographical location. So, people from the village of Zhukovka could take a similar name.
About representatives of the Zhukov clan from historical information
Despite the fact that the second theory of where the name “Zhukov” came from has a negative connotation, representatives of the Zhukov clan are enterprising and resourceful people. For example, the Zhukovs, the oldest noble family of Russia, inherited such a nickname from their ancestor, the Greek John Smolvin. There is a legend that, having arrived from Byzantium on Russian lands, he received the nickname Zhuk from the Grand Duke Vladimir for his dark skin and characteristic trick. Generations of descendants proudly bore the name Zhukov, being in the tsarist service as Moscow archers, stolniks and solicitors. Historical documents contain evidence of the presence in the XVI century of several noble families with a name derived from the nickname Beetle.
On the pages of the glorious history of the Zhukov family, landowners Vasyuk and Levshin, peasants Ivashko, Prikhodiy and Prokop were noted. Noteworthy is the contribution to the development of the Russian Empire by the Zhukov clan, who lived in the Caucasian territories in the 18th century. Kolesnikov devoted his life to the study of this family branch. Based on his investigations, it was under the leadership of the Zhukovs in 1707-1709. The Bulavinsky Cossack revolt was raised. Marshal Georgy Zhukov, whose name is written in golden letters in the history of the modern Russian state, also glorified his family.
What is he - the bearer of the glorious name of the Beetles? The origin of the surname testifies to the fact that the representatives of the clan have always been distinguished by a rebellious spirit, love of freedom, and a tough civil position. They possessed powerful creative potential, were the driving force of the country. Is it possible to give a general answer to the question of what lies behind the name of Zhukov? The origin of the surname of a particular family is determined only by restoring the history of the family. Knowing the true secret of forming your own surname requires the availability of information about previous generations, as well as information about the residence and activities of the first nickname bearer.