Levchenko (Ukrainian: Левченко) is a Ukrainian surname derived from the given name Lev, meaning "lion" in Russian and Ukrainian. The surname was formed by adding the Ukrainian patronymic suffix -enko to the diminutive Levko, indicating "son of Levko." This suffix is common in Ukrainian surnames and denotes descent or lineage, similar to Slavic -ovich or -ov. PeopleNotable bearers include Anatoli Levchenko (1941–1988), a Soviet-Ukrainian cosmonaut who flew on the Soyuz TM-4 mission; Andriy Levchenko (born 1985), a Ukrainian volleyball player; Gordey Levchenko (1897–1981), a Soviet naval commander and admiral; Ihor Levchenko (born 1991), a Ukrainian footballer; Irina Levchenko (1924–1973), a Russian tank commander and Hero of the Soviet Union; Kseniia Levchenko (born 1996), a Russian basketball player; Nadezhda Levchenko (born 1931), a Soviet sprint canoer; Sergey Levchenko (born 1953), a Russian politician who served as Governor of Irkutsk Oblast; Serhiy Levchenko (1981–2007), a Ukrainian footballer; Stanislav Levchenko (born 1941), a Russian KGB major who defected to the United States; and Vitaliy Levchenko (born 1972), a Ukrainian footballer. Meaning: derived from Lev, meaning "lion"Origin: UkrainianType: patronymic surnameUsage: predominantly in Ukraine and Belarus