Pavlenko

Pavlenko is a common Slavic surname. It is believed to be of patronymic origin, derived from the given name Pavlo, which is the Slavic form of Paul. Thus, Pavlenko literally means "son of Pavlo." The surname is particularly prevalent in Ukraine and Russia, as well as in other Eastern European countries.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Pavlenko include a variety of public figures across different fields. In sports, there have been athletes such as Ukrainian footballer Andriy Pavlenko and Russian ice hockey player Yevgeny Pavlenko. The arts have seen figures like Ukrainian painter Mykola Pavlenko. In politics and military history, there have been individuals such as Soviet general Kirill Pavlenko. The surname also appears in literature and academia.

The distribution of the surname Pavlenko is widespread, with significant populations found in countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Due to historical migrations, the name can also be found in communities of the Ukrainian and Russian diaspora around the world, including in North America and Europe. The variations of the surname are generally minor, reflecting regional linguistic differences in Slavic languages.