Expert: Olga - 8/30/2007

Question
My grand Mother had an unusual name and I would like to know if it is a Russian Surname as she came from Russia to Latvia to get married. Her full name was Matrjona Sabanova

Answer
Dear Yvonne,
your grandmother's name first of all is russian Matrjona. "Matreshka" has come from the name. Surname SabanOVA should be russian as well as our surnames end for female: -ova; male- ov ; but i'm working with slovak and check people and they also sometimes have surnames  which end to -ova so you see she could also be somewhere from east europa also. Just the name leaves no doubt that she was russian.

regards,