Ivanov, Petrov and Sidorov - these three names are usually called by people when they want to emphasize that we are talking about the most ordinary Russians. And if there are no questions regarding the first two "visiting cards" of the inhabitants of our country, then the very common surname Sidorov is not at all as simple as it seems at first glance. It can be formed from several different words, names and place names.
Gift of Isis
According to the generally accepted version, the surname Sidorov arose quite simply. It was given to the children of a certain Sidor. This name is very ancient. It is rooted in the Egyptian mythology of the era of the pharaohs.
Sidor (original form - Isidoros) is the gift of Isis, translated from Greek. This name came to Russia from Byzantium. The fact is that in ancient times the inhabitants of many countries of the Mediterranean and Western Asia worshiped the personification of the feminine principle - the goddess of fertility, commanding the forces of nature.
The cult of Isis (Isis) - the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus - originated in Ancient Egypt. Subsequently, she was identified with Demeter and a number of other pagan goddesses, on whom the harvest, prosperity and wealth, the well-being of children and many other aspects of life associated with the feminine principle depended.
The name "Isidor" was widespread among the Greeks, in Russia it was transformed into a simpler form - Sidor. It is possible that the inhabitants of our country were well aware of the pagan meaning of this name. They hoped for the protection of a powerful goddess, naming their sons in her honor.
However, this fact alone does not explain the popularity of the surname formed on behalf of "Sidor", because the number of its carriers in Russia has never been significant.
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In honor of the saint
With the spread of Christianity in our country, babies began to be baptized according to the church calendar, where Saint Isidore of Chios is mentioned, who is popularly called “the saint Sidor”. He was born in the city of Alexandria in the first half of the 3rd century. Lived on the island of Chios (Greece). In 249 he entered the military service.
Since the army of the Roman Empire at that time consisted mainly of pagans, participation in the ceremonies of sacrifice to the gods was mandatory for all warriors. As a Christian, Isidore refused to worship idols. For this, in 251 he was martyred. The Orthodox Church commemorates this sufferer for his faith on May 14, according to the Julian calendar.
However, Russian boys could receive the name Sidor in honor of another saint. The Estonian city of Tartu (the Russian name is Yuryev) in the 15th century was an arena of struggle between Orthodox and Catholic religious leaders. The victim of this ideological confrontation was the priest of the local St. Nicholas Church Isidor Yuryevsky. He was drowned along with 72 parishioners in the Omovzha River by the decision of the Catholic authorities.
None of the Orthodox have renounced their faith. The tragedy happened in 1472. The Day of St. Isidore Yuryevsky according to the Julian calendar is celebrated on January 8.
Duffel bag
The popularity of the surname Sidorov can be explained by the fact that it came not only from a male name. In the army of the Russian Empire, the word "sidor" meant a duffel bag with everything necessary, which every soldier had. It is assumed that the name of this part of the trekking belongings was formed as an abbreviation - Individual Expensive Bag. Say, the army supplies did not rack their brains, coming up with a new word.
The soldier sidor was a cloth duffel bag with two straps, which was worn behind the back. It was supposed to contain everything you need: a change of linen, footcloths, hygiene products, cartridges, dry rations for three days. Subsequently, such hiking backpacks began to be given out to exiles and convicts. Tramps also went with them.
So the surname Sidorov could be the son of a simple soldier, prisoner or vagabond, who received the nickname because of the duffel bag that he constantly carried with him. Since there have always been quite a few military men, exiles, convicts and wandering travelers in Russia, one should not be surprised at the prevalence of the nickname "Sidor", from which the popular surname originated.
It is noteworthy that in a thug hair dryer (the spoken language of criminal elements in Russia), a thief who steals bags at the station is called a "sidor".
Order in Hebrew
The Hebrew word "סידור" means order. In Hebrew it is pronounced "siddur", in Yiddish it is "cider". This word, translated into Russian, can have several additional meanings. In particular, this is a strict sequence of religious actions adopted in Judaism, and a collection of prayers "for every day."
Perhaps, because of a similar sound, the surname Sidorov was taken by Jews who wanted to emphasize that they strictly follow the canons of their faith and lead a respectable lifestyle.
Silver jewelry
The village of Sidorovskoye in the Kostroma region has been famous for the work of its jewelers since ancient times. Inexpensive silverware, jewelry and household items have always been in great demand among the population. In the 19th century, at the Nizhny Novgorod fair, a special row was allocated for craftsmen from the aforementioned village.
It is possible that the surname Sidorov could have been received by a person who had something to do with the sale or manufacture of jewelry with a bizarre coinage. After all, the people even have a stable expression “Sidorov's product”.
North wind
In the north of European Russia, in pre-revolutionary times, the Olonets province was located. It bordered on the Vologda, Arkhangelsk and Novgorod lands. The inhabitants of those places have a special dialect. In their dialect, the word "sidor" means a harsh north wind.
Presumably, people could personify and even deify the elemental force of nature, capable of causing serious harm. Such a wind, from which you can freeze to death, was called in the direction from which it came - north. Not wishing to provoke it with unnecessary mention, the inhabitants of the Olonets province deliberately distorted this word. That is why the "sidor" has turned out.
Such a nickname could only be given to a person with a harsh character, and his children and descendants became the Sidorovs.
By place name
Many Russian surnames were formed from different toponymic names. If a person came from the village of Sidorovo, then he was given the appropriate nickname. There were always a lot of settlements where the future owners of such surnames lived in Russia.
Almost every region has its own Sidorovka. In Adygea there is the village of Bolshoy Sidorov, in the Belgorod region - Sidorov, and in Udmurtia - the village of Sidorovy Gory.
iron Man
Since Byzantium had a significant impact on the formation of Ancient Rus, some words were also borrowed from the inhabitants of this empire who spoke Greek. The word "σίδερο" (sidero) in Russian has its equivalent - the adjective "iron". This is how the Greeks speak of a person with an unbreakable will, very good health, and a strong character.
The Byzantine could call a brave and physically developed Russian warrior, practically a hero, by the word "sidero". From this glorious nickname, modified into a more familiar form, the surname Sidorov subsequently arose.
As you can see, not only a rather rare name in Russia gave rise to numerous dynasties. The ancestors of the Sidorovs - purely theoretically - could have been military men, criminals, vagabonds, jewelers, as well as simply stern and strong people.