chenko

Chenko is a surname of Slavic origin, most commonly found in Ukraine. It is typically rendered Chenko in English-language texts from Cyrillic Ченко. The surname is formed with the diminutive-patronymic suffix -enko, a common element in Ukrainian and Belarusian surnames, which historically denotes lineage, often translated as "son of" or "descendant of." The exact root of Chenko is uncertain; it may derive from a given name, nickname, or occupation attributed to an ancestor.

Geographically, Chenko is concentrated in Ukraine, with smaller clusters in neighboring countries such as Russia and Belarus. Through emigration and diaspora communities, bearers can be found in Canada, the United States, Poland, and other parts of Europe and the Americas.

Variants and related forms include Chenkov, Chenkov, and other transliteration variants that arise from differences in alphabets and phonetic rendering. In genealogical and historical records, Chenko appears in civil registers, census records, and immigration documents dating from the 19th century onward, reflecting standard Slavic naming patterns.

In use, Chenko functions as a hereditary family name rather than a descriptor of occupation or location. The name's frequency and distribution vary over time, influenced by regional migration, historical borders, and transliteration practices.