Vasiliev is a common Russian surname, typically an alternate transcription of Vasilyev (Russian: Васильев). As a patronymic surname, it means "son of Vasil" (also spelled Vasiliy), a Russian form of the Greek name Basil 1, derived from βασιλεύς (basileus) meaning "king" or "royal". The name Basil has deep Christian roots, with Saint Basil the Great (4th-century bishop of Caesarea) among its foremost bearers, and was also used by two Byzantine emperors, further cementing its royal and ecclesiastical associations. History and Distribution The surname Vasiliev (and its variants) belongs to the large class of Russian patronymics formed from baptismal names, particularly those of saints. The given name Vasiliy was extremely popular in Russia due to its association with St. Basil, which led to the proliferation of the surname across all social strata. It is among the top 10 most common surnames in Russia today, with bearer numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Outside Russia, the name appears in communities of the Russian diaspora, from Eastern Europe to North America, often transcribed as Vasiliev, Vasilev, or Vassilieh depending on the host language. Notable Bearers Numerous notable individuals carry the surname or its forms. Alexander Vasilyev (born 1969) is the lead singer of the Russian rock band Splean; Boris Vasilyev (1924–2013) was a Soviet writer known for The Dawns Here Are Quiet; Vasily Chuikov (1900–1982) was a Soviet marshal and World War II hero (often mentioned with the name). In sports, Dimitry Vassiliev (born 1979) is an Estonian-born former ski jumper who competed for Russia, and Dmitry Vasilyev (born 1962) is an Olympic biathlon champion. Acclaimed mathematician Vladimir V. Vasiliev and two other notable works in neuroscience