Yes, another surname meaning question?

Question

*I realize these annoy people, but, valid part of genealogy or not, they are, for me at least interesting, and I haven't just asked in this category.

What does the surname Osherenko/Oscherenko mean, and is it rare in the Ukraine/Russia?

From my own research online, it would appear it means son of Osher/ Oscher and has the meaning of either "Blessed" or "Happiness." Going by the root form of Ascher, Auscher, et al ( it has something to do with ash trees), it would appear to be German in etymological origin. I know the name is Ukrainian, apparently from Kozelitz, but I'm unsure of the meaning. I've even been told Oscher is an old Russian word that means "bearing of teeth." Please clear this up if able.

We need a surname category.

Answer 1

Personally speaking (which is all any of us can do), surnames are quite appropriate in genealogy. I do try to offer explanation that there IS a distinction between surname etymology (studying the origin of a name) and tracing/studying the origin of someone's ANCESTRY.  I believe many people confuse the two topics.. but one is not more valid than the other. Just DIFFERENT.

New persons OFTEN look to find one origin for a surname, without realizing that it is not always limited to any provable origin.. then, jump to the conclusion that if the name "comes" from such and such, it *must* mean that they are of that origin. Among other examples.. a girl who has a "Irish" last name, considers herself thus to be Irish, and when she finally does some checking, she learns her gr gr grandpa was adopted. She never was Irish to begin with.

If there is one thing that does bother me.. it is the places that sell alleged surname histories, or trinkets. Many of those are completely misleading and rip offs.

I cannot clear up your question, since for the most part, you seem to be working with reliable sources. (I could be wrong *smile*)  The only thing I can offer is that IF the name does have German roots, it is totally possible for persons of the name to have migrated to the Ukraine.  Or.. it is possible that the same word exists in more than one language, but has different meanings  

If it is stated that a name is "first" found in a location.. that does not mean it automatically is the origin. It can mean it is nothing more than the first surviving RECORD, and no reason that it could not have been somewhere else, long before that.  Fine line.. but think about it.

There are databases that do nothing more than count a name (ie from census records) to arrive at some numerical comparison, thus defining a name as common or rare. I cannot say if such info exists for records in the Ukraine.

Answer 2

Ok, check out this site for names it's really good-

http://surnames.behindthename.com/

hope this helps!