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triceratops • yesterday at 8:09 PM • 1 reply • view on HN

Good point. I think Russian surnames are the same right? (Ivanov/Ivanova etc.)

Is it common in these cultures to use surnames as given names?


Replies

thequux • yesterday at 9:32 PM

Those aren't family names but rather patronyms or matronyms (respectively); they directly translate to "son/daughter of Ivan". As I understand though, matronyms are often based on the name of the person's mother, so Ivanova wouldn't be a common name.

That said, I don't speak Russian and have only a passing familiarity with the construction of Russian names, so don't take this as gospel.

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