Top Ukrainian surnames you'll hear across America - You probably know one
Top Ukrainian surnames most common in the United States (photo: Freepik.com)
The Ukrainian diaspora in the US is one of the oldest and strongest. Today, the surnames of Ukrainian descendants can be found in politics, business, science, and show business. Some have remained nearly unchanged, while others have been adapted to the English language. Here are the most common Ukrainian surnames frequently encountered in the US, with what they mean, and why they became so recognizable.
Top 10 Ukrainian surnames in the US
Koval
Derived from the profession "koval" – a blacksmith. This surname arrived in the US as early as the 19th century and has since evolved into "Kowal," "Kowalczyk," or "Kovalchuk." It has Polish and Ukrainian variants and is common among immigrants from Halychyna, Bukovyna, and Volyn. Among the most notable bearers is U.S. Army veteran and activist Andrew Koval.
Melnyk
Means "miller" – one who ground grain at a mill. This surname is widespread among descendants of Ukrainian immigrants, especially in Canada and northern US states. One of the most famous bearers is Eugene (Yevhen) Melnyk, a Canadian businessman and former owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team.
Shevchenko
An iconic surname that became a symbol of Ukrainian culture thanks to Taras Shevchenko. Today in the US, the surname Shevchenko is found among scholars, athletes, and politicians.
Bondar
In ancient times, a "bondar" in Ukraine was the name of a master of barrel making. In the US, the surname often retains its original spelling, though it is sometimes modified. It appears in employment records and fields like construction and logistics, especially among working-class families in Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland.
Honchar
Means "potter" – a craftsman who makes ceramics. This surname has undergone several transliterations: with an English "G" (Gonchar) or "H" (Honchar), depending on how the bearer pronounced the Ukrainian "г." Variants with the suffix "-uk" are also common. One of the most notable is American tech entrepreneur and Augmented Pixels founder Vitalii Goncharuk.
Petrenko
A typical patronymic surname derived from the name Petro. It appears among immigrants from various waves and is common in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Often adapted to "Patrenko" or "Petrenka."
The Ukrainian diaspora in the US is quite large and diverse (photo: Freepik.com)
Tkachenko
It comes from the word "weaver" (a craftsman working on a loom). It is popular among people from central Ukraine. In the US, it most often belongs to immigrant families who arrived after World War II.
Among the most well-known is Michael Tkachenko, an American startup entrepreneur and founder of several tech companies in San Francisco. He has been on Forbes as an "emerging tech voice from Ukraine."
Sydorenko
A patronymic variant was derived from the name Sydir (Sydor). The surname is frequently found among immigrants from Slobozhanshchyna and Donbas. In the US, the variant "Sydorenko" is more common among more recent immigration waves.
Kravchuk
Derived from the profession "kravets" – tailor. This surname gained international recognition thanks to Leonid Kravchuk, the first president of independent Ukraine. While not widespread in the US, bearers of this name are often connected to politically active diaspora families. Among the notable is Dr. Olha Kravchuk, a community activist in New York's Ukrainian community.
Ivanchenko
Another patronymic surname was derived from "Ivan." It is rarely adapted in the US, so it often retains its original form. It appears among Ukrainian scholars and academics. One of them, Bohdan Ivanchenko, is a young American programmer, recipient of the Google AI Residency scholarship, and a speaker at MIT and Stanford University.
Why these surnames matter
The presence of Ukrainian surnames in the US is not just a trace of immigration but also a sign of the global recognition of Ukrainian identity. Often, Americans with such surnames begin searching for their roots, learning the language, and exploring the culture and history.
Moreover, Ukrainian heritage has become an additional "point of pride" in recent years, especially after the full-scale invasion by Russia, when Ukrainians gained a reputation as a resilient nation.
Sources: data from the US Census Bureau, Pew Research Center, and the Ukrainian National Association.
