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Re: I have a very common russian surname what does it mean
in reply to a message by Val
Smirnov is probably from one of the many places that bear that name in Russia. You'll find the origin of Chaban at http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Chaban-family-history.ashx.
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Reportedly the second commonest Russian surname. It is said to be from the word smirnyi, meaning "quiet, meek, docile".
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