"Many people throughout the entire world have this name, and we live all over," he says on the site. "We are all totally different: Every one of us has their own interests, desires and possibilities. But we all have one thing in common -- this fabulous surname."
Lapin gathers and publishes information on other Lapins along with their photographs. So far some 20 people have responded to the web site, which was set up in mid-2002.
"The more well-known the site becomes, the more Lapins will click on it," he said in an e-mail interview. "I don't publish Lapins that I found myself on the Internet, I need their permission."
Lapin has received messages from as far away as France, "but so far I have not done any promotion beyond Russia.
"The English version of the site is still not finished, but will be ready soon."
And that English version should bring plenty of new Lapins to the site.
"My friends were in America and said that in Chicago alone there were two pages in the phone book with the name Lapin," Lapin said.
The meaning of the name Lapin remains a mystery, and in modern Russian there is no definition, he said.
"In practically every country there are people with that surname -- the Finns even have a Lapin Kulta beer," he said. "Each country translates the surname Lapin in its own way."
But the Lapins he has talked to so far are quite happy about the site nonetheless, he said. "Everyone is very glad that ... they can come together on the project. A few offer their help in continuing it, but so far there haven't been any web masters or anyone to work on the design. I do it myself."
Lapins not only unite in cyberspace, but in the real world as well.
"I met a pretty girl that I found attractive," Lapin said. "We met accidentally outside a store -- I helped her carry a bag -- and while talking I discovered that she is a Lapina!
"Actually she doesn't know my surname -- so far I haven't told her."
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