Name «Kokhan»

The name "Kokhan" originates from the passive participle of the verb "kohaty," which means 'to love' or 'to caress.' This same word serves as the basis for names such as Bazhan, Zhdan, Nayden, Prodan, and others. It is likely that this name was brought to Ukrainians from the Polish language, where it has been recorded since the 13th century; however, it is no longer used in modern Poland. Its disappearance may be related to the fact that the root of the name "Kokhan" is widely represented among Polish surnames and geographic names (onymic). In Ukraine, the personal name "Kokhan" has been documented since the 16th century. For example, documents mention Kokhan Vasilyevich in 1565 (Archive of YZR 1/1 7), Kokhan Sergeyevich in 1595 (Archive of YZR VII/1 251), and in 1649, Cossack Kokhan Shchokanenko of the Poltava regiment (RVZ 431). Since the 16th century, the anthroponym Kokhan has been used as an additional designation for a person alongside their first name. For instance, in 1570, a serf named Stefan Kokhan is noted in the village of Midianitsa, Irshansk district (Chu Surnames 295), in 1649, Cossack Kurilo Kokhan (RVZ), and in 1680, Philip Kokhan in the city of Lutsk (Archive of YZR VII/1 127). This name also frequently forms patronymics, such as Cossack Recyk Kokhanenko from the Chernihiv regiment in 1649, and Cossacks Matviy Kokhanenko and Pylyp Kokhanenko from the Poltava regiment (RVZ 483, 410).