Rusyn Genealogy
Resources

Son of Andrei (Andrew)

Ram / sheep — likely a shepherd or livestock marker

Fair-haired or light-complexioned

From the given name Borys — venerated saint in Rusyn church tradition; also written Борис in church records

Shepherd — from Turkish çoban via Hungarian

Disputed; possibly a place-based or ethnic identifier

Pockmarked — a descriptive nickname that became hereditary

Diminutive of Fedir (Theodore)

Son of Fedor (Theodore)

From the archangel Gabriel — via Hungarian Gábor, common in border regions

Bagpipe player — hayduk/gajdos musical tradition

Little dove — term of endearment or nickname

Diminutive of Hryhorii (Gregory)

Musician or fiddler — hudak played at weddings and village festivals

Diminutive of Yakiv (Jacob / James)

Innkeeper or tavern-keeper

Blacksmith — one of the most widespread Slavic surnames

From kravets (tailor) — one of the most common Slavic occupational surnames; the -yn/-in suffix is a Rusyn diminutive form

Furrier or fur craftsman

Possibly from laska (grace, favor) or a place name

From Lehota — a common Slovak/Rusyn village name meaning "exemption from taxes"

From the given name Luka (Luke) — via Hungarian Lukács

Diminutive of Matvii (Matthew)

From the name Nikita — venerated Russian and Rusyn Orthodox saint

Diminutive of Mykhailo (Michael)

From the given name Olena (Helen) — a matrilineal marker

From Panteleimon — a venerated saint's name in Rusyn tradition

Diminutive of Petro (Peter) — apostle whose name was extremely common in Greek Catholic communities

Possibly from repa (turnip) — a farming household marker

Rusyn person — ethnic self-identifier, extremely common in diaspora records

Rusyn person — a variant of Rusnak with a different suffix; both mean "the Rusyn one." Found especially in Lemko and Prešov Region records

Diminutive of Semyon (Simon)

Diminutive of Symon (Simon) — distinct from Semko despite similar sound

From Isidore — a beloved saint in Byzantine Catholic tradition

Village headman or mayor — an inherited administrative title

Magpie — a bird, likely a nickname for a talkative person

Diminutive of Stefan (Stephen)

Weaver — a common textile craftsman in Rusyn villages

Slovak or Hungarian person — an ethnic identifier applied by neighbors

Cobbler or shoemaker — from Hungarian varga

Origin disputed — possibly from varcholiti (to stir up). Andy Warhol's parents were Lemko Rusyns from Miková, Slovakia; their name was Warhola in America

Son of Vasyl (Basil) — royal saint venerated throughout Greek Catholicism

Diminutive of Jan / Ivan (John)

Diminutive of Yuriy (George) — Saint George (Yuriy) is the patron of many Rusyn villages

Cuckoo bird — a nickname, possibly for someone who called out or wandered

Little tooth — possibly a nickname for a dentist or biting personality