panin

Panin is a Russian-language surname. The masculine form is Panin and the feminine form is Panina, reflecting the common gendered pattern of Russian family names. It is used by many Russians and by members of the broader Slavic-speaking world. The surname is part of the wider tradition of Russian names that can derive from given names, nicknames, or occupations, though specific etymologies for Panin are not uniformly documented in English-language sources.

Notable bearers of the name include Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin (1872–1957), a Russian figure skater who won the first Olympic gold medal in men’s singles at the 1908 London Games. Beyond this prominent figure, the Panin surname has appeared across Russian cultural and public life in the 20th and 21st centuries, with bearers contributing to the arts, science, and public service. The name is found throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, reflecting historical patterns of migration and demographic distribution.

In summary, Panin is a historically rooted Russian surname with a feminine form Panina, associated most notably with the early Olympic figure skater Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin, and carried by various individuals who have participated in different spheres of society.