Name «Druzhyna»

The name "Druzhyna" has Slavic origins and derives from the noun "druzhina," which is used to mean "close companion, friend." In Ukraine, this name became known in the 17th century. For example, in 1649, a Druzyna Naumovych, a Lutsk nobleman, is mentioned, as well as a Cossack named Yarosz Druzhyna from the Kropyvnyanskyi regiment in 1654. In the same year, the patronymic Fedka Druzhynin, a Bila Tserkva Cossack, is also mentioned.The masculine name Druzhyna was quite common in Russia from the 16th century. Additionally, the name Druzhyna is noted as an ancient Russian name, although rare. In the Croatian language, the simple names Druża, Druźina, Druśnik have been recorded since the 12th century, and among the coastal Slovenes in the 14th century, there existed the personal name Druśko.