Liudmila Samsonova: Born on November 11, 1998, in Olenegorsk, Russia, Liudmila is a professional tennis player who has represented both Russia and Italy during her career. She has achieved a career-high WTA singles ranking of No. 12 and has secured five singles and two doubles titles on the WTA Tour. Notably, she played a pivotal role in Russia’s victory at the 2020–21 Billie Jean King Cup, winning all five of her matches.
Zinaida Samsonova: Born on October 14, 1924, in the Moscow Governorate, Zinaida was a Soviet medic during World War II. She was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union for her bravery, having been killed in action on January 27, 1944, while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier.
Tamara Samsonova: Born on April 25, 1947, in Uzhur, Russia, Tamara gained notoriety as a suspected serial killer, infamously known as the “Granny Ripper” or “Baba Yaga.” In 2015, she was arrested in St. Petersburg on suspicion of murdering and dismembering at least two individuals, with investigations linking her to 14 suspected murders. She was subsequently placed under compulsory psychiatric treatment.
The surname “Samsonova” is the feminine form of “Samsonov,” both derived from the male given name Samson. Variations of the surname include Samsonenko, Samsonychev, Samsonyan, Samsikov, Samsonkin, and Samsononychev. In the United States, it’s often spelled “Samsonoff.”