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According to some sources, nicknames were historically the first type of personal naming, the need for which did not disappear even with the advent of personal names. Names were often repeated, and therefore were not always convenient for identifying a person. The surname Kovalev is formed from the nickname Koval, which is based on the Old Slavonic word 'koval' - this is how a blacksmith was called in the south of Russia. Accordingly, the nickname Koval refers to the so-called 'professional' naming, indicating the type of activity of the founder of the family name. From ancient times, blacksmiths enjoyed special honor, and their art was surrounded by legends. People involved in this craft were considered shamans, and later - sorcerers associated with dark forces. It was believed by the people that a blacksmith could not only forge a plow or sword, but also heal diseases, arrange weddings, cast a spell, drive away evil spirits from the village. Due to the fact that almost all peoples had a respected blacksmith (and fairly well off), one of the most common surnames in the world is formed from the name of this profession: the common Russian surname Kuznetsov and Kovalev, English Smith, German Schmidt, French Ferran, Spanish Herrero.The surname Kovalev is very ancient - the first references to family names in historical documents date back to the 16th century: Vologda citizen Mitka Vasiliev, son of Koval, 1568. Koval formed the basis of the surname Kovalev. Already in the XV – XVI centuries, the first surnames began to be passed from generation to generation, which emphasized the person's belonging to a particular family. They certainly pointed to the naming of the head of the family. In the formation of Slavic surnames, affiliation suffixes -ov / -ev, -in were most often used. Koval, eventually got the name Kovalev. Some Kovalevs may have a noble origin. So, the noble family of the Kovalevs is recorded in the genealogy book of the Tver province. The coat of arms of the Kovalev family is included in the XX part of the 'General Tombstone of the noble clans of the All-Russian Empire' (p. 24). Among the famous representatives of the surname are Dmitry Mikhailovich Kovalev (1915-1977), a Soviet poet and poet; Mikhail Prokofievich Kovalev (1897-1967), Colonel General, prominent commander of the Great Patriotic War; Valentin Alekseevich Kovalev (b. 1944), Russian politician, Minister of Justice in 1995-1997.