Raskolnikovs

Raskolnikovs is the plural form of the surname Raskolnikov, used to refer to multiple people bearing that name. The surname is of Russian origin, derived from raskol meaning schism or sect, with the suffix -nikov denoting belonging or association. In literature and culture, the name is most widely recognized from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, where Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the central character.

The most prominent bearer in fiction is Rodion Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Crime and Punishment (1866). The character is central to the novel’s exploration of morality, guilt, and redemption, as he contemplates and commits murder and then confronts the consequences for his conscience, decisions, and intellectual justifications. Because of this role, the name Raskolnikov has become strongly associated with themes of moral conflict, rationalization, and the psychology of crime in literary and philosophical discussions.

In real-world contexts, Raskolnikov is a surname found among Russian-speaking populations and in diaspora communities. The plural form Raskolnikovs would indicate more than one person bearing the surname, though outside literary contexts the name is relatively uncommon in English-language sources. The enduring cultural influence of Dostoevsky’s character means that the term is more often encountered in discussions of the novel, its character, or the surname itself rather than as a reference to a distinct real-world group.