Khanenko family


Khanenko family first became prominent as members of the Cossack starshyna in the Hetmanate. During the 19th and 20th centuries the family's representatives attained fame as important cultural figures in Ukraine.

History

The family descended from Stepan Khanenko, a Zaporozhian Cossack. His son Mykhailo took part in the Khmelnytsky Uprising and in 1656 was appointed colonel of Uman, before eventually rising to become hetman of Right-bank Ukraine as a contestant of Petro Doroshenko. In 1674 Mykhailo moved to Left-bank Ukraine. Stepan's grandchildren Fedir and Danylo would serve as officials in the Cossack regiments of Kyiv and Lubny.
Danylo's son Mykola, a grand cousin of Mykhailo Khanenko, was an important politician and diplomat of the Hetmanate and became known for his memoirs. Mykola's sons Vasyl and Ivan served as officers under Peter III and Rumyantsev, becoming major landowners in the Russian Empire. Ivan's son Alexander received a good education and worked as a foreign affairs councelor under Alexander Bezborodko, being active in Ukrainian autonomist circles. After 1800 Alexander worked at the Russian embassy in London, and upon his return systematized the family's archive. His nephew Mykhailo authored articles on economy and published part of the documents from the family archive in Chernihiv. Mykhailo also co-operated with Osyp Bodiansky, providing him with materials on Ukrainian history. Two of Mykhailo's brothers Alexander and Ivan also created works on historical topics.
Ivan 's son Bohdan became known as an art collectioner, archaeologist and philanthropist. During the late 19th century Khanenko family was active in the sugar industry, and in 1897 its members were among the founders of the All-Russian Union of Sugar Producers in Kyiv. The family's archive, until 1918 stored in Gorodishche, was in 1926 transported to Homiel, and later to Kyiv, where it remains to this day.

Family tree