Considering the history of the origin of the name Andreev, it should be noted that it is one of the most common in our country. In the list of all-Russian generic names, she occupies the thirtieth place among the hundred most frequently encountered. This is most likely due to the fact that it comes from a well-known Christian name. More information about the meaning, origin of the surname Andreev and spelling it will be described in the article.
On behalf of the apostle
That is exactly, according to linguists, the origin of the name Andreev. The name Andrew in translation from the ancient Greek language means “brave”, “courageous”. It was in the holy calendar and was one of the most popular ones given at baptism.
It was worn by one of the twelve apostles, better known as the First-Called. He first followed the Master, and after that brought Peter to him, his own brother, who became the first pope.
According to legend, he read sermons to the Scythians, that is, the peoples who lived in the Balkans, as well as the tribes that lived on the shores of the Black Sea. Thanks to his labors and prayers, Christian churches were formed, and Christianity was converted.
Studying the origin of the name Andreev, we will consider some details from the life of a saint whose name lies at its core.
Crucifixion
Apostle Andrew was sentenced to death on the cross, which had a form similar to the letter "X". It was from him that the name of the St. Andrew's Cross came from. Despite the impending torment, the apostle did not flinch. On the contrary, he ascended to the place of execution on his own, joyfully offering a prayer to the Lord.
For two days, Andrei, being on the cross, taught the townspeople crowding around him. People listened to him and sympathized with him wholeheartedly. They began to resent, demanding that the saint be removed from the crucifixion. Then the ruler of the city of Patras, fearing a popular rebellion, gave the order to end the execution.
But the saint began to object and prayed to the Lord, asking him to honor Andrew the death of the cross. Despite the soldiers' attempts to remove the apostle, their own hands did not obey them. The crucified martyr praised God, inviting him to accept his spirit. And then the cross was illuminated with a bright Divine light, like the apostle crucified on it.
During the time of Constantine the Great, the relics of the apostle were solemnly transferred to Constantinople and laid in a church dedicated to the holy apostles. Nearby are the relics of the Evangelist Luke and presbyter Timothy, who was a disciple of the Apostle Paul.
Today, St. Andrew is revered as the founder and patron saint of the Church of Constantinople. He is also considered the patron saint of Russia and is especially honored in the Orthodox Church.
Considering the origin of the name Andreev, it is necessary to say about his noble representatives.
Noble birth
According to linguists, the founder of the Andreev clan is a representative of the upper class. This assumption is based on the fact that surnames derived from the name in full form, as a rule, belonged to the social elite, the nobility or the family, which had great authority in a particular locality. Out of respect, their members were called by their full name, while people of other strata of society were called derivatives, diminutive, and everyday names.
Among the noble families, bearing the name of Andreeva, there are also old ones. Some originate from Eustathius, or Ostani. He was a Russian nobleman, diplomat and governor and lived during the reign of Vasily III and at the beginning of the reign of Ivan the Terrible. In the 16-18th centuries. many representatives of this family served as stewards, governors, ambassadors and clerks.
In conclusion, studying the issue of the origin of the surname Andreev, we mention some well-known personalities with such a generic name.
Famous namesakes
Among them are:
- The writer of the Silver Age, the founder of Russian impressionism Leonid Nikolaevich Andreev. His works were distinguished by realism, unexpected plot twists, and sharp contrasts. He was inclined to acting, practical jokes, his hobby was painting, color photography, a gramophone. The writer gave himself to each new occupation with fervor.
- The famous artist - Andreev Nikolay Andreevich, who was born in Moscow in the second half of the 19th century. He taught at the Stroganov school, tried to introduce his own drawing system. The first portrait - “Girl in a shirt”, painted in accordance with his system, brought the painter recognition and fame.
As for the correct spelling of the considered surname, the letter "a" is written in the first syllable, since it is based on the name Andrey. And in the last syllable is written "e", which is included in the suffix "ev". Thus, you need to write "AndreEv", not "Ondreev", not "OndreIv" and not "AndreIve".