Meaning & History
Makarenko is a Ukrainian surname meaning 'son of Makar'. It is derived from the given name Makar, which is the Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian form of the Latin name Macarius, via the Greek Μακάριος (Makarios), ultimately from Greek μάκαρ (makar) meaning 'blessed, happy'. The name thus belongs to the onomastic tradition of early Christian saints named Macarius.
Notable Bearers
The most prominent bearer is Anton Makarenko (1888–1939), a Soviet-Ukrainian educator and writer who founded a successful system of educational collectives for juvenile delinquents. His methods influenced Soviet pedagogy and his book The Pedagogical Poem is widely read. Other notable bearers include:
- Anton Makarenko (footballer, born 1988), Ukrainian footballer
- Daria Makarenko (born 1992), Russian footballer
- Evgeny Makarenko (born 1975), Russian boxer
- Gloria Macarenko, Canadian journalist
- Herman Makarenko (born 1961), Ukrainian conductor
- Kristina Makarenko (born 1997), Russian athlete
- Mikhail Makarenko (1931–2007), Soviet dissident
- Sergei Makarenko (born 1937), Soviet-Ukrainian sprint canoeist
- Yevhen Makarenko (born 1991), Ukrainian footballer
Etymology
The suffix -enko is a common diminutive or patronymic in Ukrainian surnames, making Makarenko typical of East Slavic naming patterns (compare Russian parallels such as Makarov and Makarova).
- Meaning: 'son of Makar (blessed/happy)'
- Origin: Ukrainian
- Type: Patronymic surname
- Usage regions: Ukraine, Russia, Belarus
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Makarenko