User-submitted Reference

Version 1. What does the name Zaitsev mean.

The Zaitsevs were hunters of hares and knew how to make hats (clothes) from rabbit fur.

Version 2. The history of the origin of the surname Zaitsev.

In pre-Christian times, the hare was revered as a special (totemic) animal, because it was the embodiment of the eyes of the guardian of the forest, perhaps the surname was preserved, due to the fact that the so-called certain tribe or Rod, which lived in the forests and were excellent hunters and jealous guardians of their lands.

Version 3.

With this surname, everything is clear. Its ancestor is either a successful hare hunter, or a master of sewing hats from rabbit skins, or a cowardly man, too cautious. No wonder there are proverbs: 'Cowardly, like a hare', 'A thief like a hare: he's afraid of his shadow.' 'Names': Zaichenkov, Zaichenok, Zaikin, Zaichik, Zaichuk, Zaichikhin, Zayaitsky, Zaetsky, Zayushkin. Since there are different hares (hares, cocks, grouse, steppe, motley), the same number includes: Stepnyak, Stepnyakov, Belyakov, Rusakov, Tumakov, Pestryakov, Pestretsov. Additional information about the origin of the surname: Patronymic of the non-church male personal name Zayats, in the past very frequent among Russians. In the Tupikov Dictionary, only from documents of the XV-XVII centuries considered by him 34 cases of this name are given. There is no reason to associate a surname with a common noun, there are several steps between them: hare> Hare> hares (whose son)> Hares. (H). Zayontskovsky is a Polish surname from 'hare.' (E) Zaikhikhin is the son of Zaichikh, and Zaichikh is the wife of a man named Hare. So they could call a very agile, fast person. Previously, the verb was 'howl' - to jump. In Veselovsky's Onomasticon there is: Hare, Zaitsevs - very common; Dmitry Konstantinovich Hare Dobrynsky, the first half of the XV century .; from his son, who was nicknamed Birdyuk, - Zaitsevs; Zaitsevs, several surnames in different layers of society in the XV century. and later.

Version 4.

This is the German surname Saltsev which Russified in the 20th century.

Version 5.

I have the surname Zaitseva myself and I think that this sports surname was already nicknamed the man because he had once won a sports condolence.

Version 6

The basis of the surname Zaitsev was the worldly name Hare. There are two versions of the origin of the name Zaitsev. According to one of them, the surname is based on the non-church name Hare. Prior to the introduction of Christianity in Russia, the designation of a child with a name representing the name of an animal or plant was a very common tradition. This corresponded to the pagan ideas of man about the world. Old Russian man, living according to the laws of nature, himself represented himself as part of it. Giving the baby such names as, for example, Wolf, Hare, Nightingale, Kalina, parents wanted nature to perceive the child as their own, so that the useful qualities transferred to him by the chosen representative of the animal or plant world pass to him. A hare is an animal endowed with folk symbols erotic symbols and demonic properties. In round dance games, the zayink appears as a groom choosing a bride, he is asked to twist a wreath, kiss a girl. The plot of the marriage of a hare on a marten or on an owl is the basis of some fairy tales and comic songs. During fortune-telling, an obscure song about a hare trapped in the middle portends a wedding. The girl who cannot marry is said to be married then when she catches a hare in the forest. According to another, less plausible version, the surname Zaitsev is derived from the nickname Hare, which goes back to the verb 'bark' - 'jump'. Apparently, the so-called frisky child. Hare, eventually got the name Zaitsev.

Version 7

With this surname, everything is clear. Its ancestor is either a successful hare hunter, or a master of sewing hats from rabbit skins, or a cowardly man, too cautious. No wonder there are proverbs: 'Cowardly, like a hare', 'A thief like a hare: he's afraid of his shadow.' 'Names': Zaichenkov, Zaichenok, Zaikin, Zaichik, Zaichuk, Zaichikhin, Zayaitsky, Zaetsky, Zayushkin. Since there are different hares (hares, cocks, grouse, steppe, motley), the same number includes: Stepnyak, Stepnyakov, Belyakov, Rusakov, Tumakov, Pestryakov, Pestretsov.

Version 8.

Patronymic from the non-church male personal name Hare, in the past very frequent among Russians. In the words Tupikov only from the documents he examined XV-XVII centuries. 34 cases of this name are given. There is no reason to connect a surname with a common noun, there are several steps between them: a hare.

Version 9.

Patronymic from the non-church male personal name Hare, in the past very frequent among Russians. In the Tupikov Dictionary, only from documents of the XV-XVII centuries considered by him 34 cases of this name are given. There is no reason to associate a surname with a common noun, there are several steps between them: hare> Hare> hares (whose son)> Hares. (H). Zayontskovsky is a Polish surname from 'hare'. (E) Zaikhikhin is the son of Zaychiha, and Zaichikh is the wife of a man named Hare. So they could call a very agile, fast person. There used to be the verb 'cry' - to jump. In 'Onomasticon' of Veselovsky there is: the Hare, the Zaitsevs are very common; Dmitry Konstantinovich Hare Dobrynsky, the first half of the XV century .; from his son, who was nicknamed Birdyuk, - Zaitsevs; Zaitsevs, several surnames in different layers of society in the XV century. and later.

Version 10.

Hare hunters or masters of hare fur coats / hats are the ancestors of all the current Zaitsevs.

Version 11 I know Zaitsevs who have rare teeth, i.e. between the upper canines there are only two teeth. I think that their ancestor was called the Hare and, as a result, the surname Zaitsev