Razum

Razum is an East Slavic word and surname. In contemporary Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian, razum (разум; розум) translates to “mind,” “reason,” or “intellect.” The term comes from Old East Slavic roъzъmъ, ultimately linked to Proto-Slavic rǫzъ “order, arrangement.” In Russian folk tradition, “right and razum” is a common collocation contrasting lawful order with rational understanding, and the term has been used in literary, religious, and philosophical discourse to denote sound judgment.

As a surname, Razum is widespread in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. It likely originated as a descriptive nickname denoting a person seen as clever, prudent, or well-reasoned, and later became hereditary. Notable bearers include Russian and Soviet film directors such as Grigori and Sergei Razumny (Rzhevsky), Soviet rower and Olympic medalist Anatoly Razumov, Ukrainian singer Sofia Razumtseva (Sofia Rotaru), and Ukrainian rock singer and musician Andriy “Kuzma” Sklyar. The surname has variants including Razumov, Razumova, and Rozum (Romanized).

Beyond personal names, Razum appears in place names and cultural works. “Razumniki” refers to certain heretical groups in 15th–17th century Russian religious texts, interpreted variably as sects or as epithets for rationalist or dissenting thinkers. In literature, the name occurs in Nikolai Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State” and appears in various Russian-language works as a family name.

In some languages, Razum is also used as a given name, and in Ukrainian folklore and patriotic discourse, the word can symbolize national reason or statecraft, though its core meaning remains “mind” or “intellect.”