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Meaning & History
Derived from Венелин (Venelin), the surname of the Russian slavist and philologist Yuriy Venelin (1802-1839), who is best known for his research on the language, history and culture of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people. One of his published works has been credited with popularizing the Bulgarian culture and history in the Russian Empire as well as with influencing the national feelings of many Bulgarian expatriates.His surname is said to be derived from the Russian noun венец (venets) meaning "crown, wreath, garland", which ultimately comes from Old Church Slavonic вѣньць (věnĭcĭ) meaning "crown".This name was first used in Bulgaria towards the end of Ottoman rule in the 1870s. Known bearers include the Bulgarian politician Venelin Ganev (1880-1966) and the Bulgarian soccer player Venelin Filipov (b. 1990).