If you are of Russian descent, and you believe that your ancestors may have had noble status before the revolution, you will need to ascertain if the male-line ancestor in question was registered with one of the regional Assemblies of the Nobility before 1917.  While there is some information about families that had this status on this site, having the same last name of a family recorded as noble is not sufficient proof.  Ancestry.com, and Geni.com are helpful places to start for confirmation that your ancestor came from Russia, but further information may be necessary.  If that is the case, we suggest our Genealogical research service.