This name change occurred due to a conversion and allegiance.

Berkey Onikii (?-1301)

Onikii was supposed to be a member of the family of the Berke Khan of the Golden Horde. He befriended Ivan I Kalita who would become Grand Duke of Moscow. In 1301, he entered into Russian service, while his baptism took place by Peter the Metropolitan of Kyiv.

House Of Anichkov

Anichkov: (Russian) descendant of Onikii

The noble family would be associated with St. Petersburg for three centuries.

Sources

  • “Anichkovs.” Wikipedia.
  • V.V. Rummel. V.V. Golubtsov. Genealogical collection of Russian noble surnames. In 2 volumes. T. I. Anichkovs. – St. Petersburg: Edition of A. Suvorin, 1886. – pp. 35-56.