The surname Protsenko is of Ukrainian origin, originating in the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Ukrainian word "protsy," meaning "to arise" or "to emerge," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who had recently arrived in a new area or risen to prominence.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Protsenko can be found in historical documents from the Poltava region of central Ukraine, where it was particularly prevalent among the Cossack population. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled alternatively as Protsenko, Protsenko, or Protsenko, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time.

One notable early bearer of the surname Protsenko was Ivan Protsenko, a Cossack leader who played a significant role in the Khmelnytsky Uprising against Polish rule in the mid-17th century. He was born in the early 1600s and served as a military commander, leading Cossack forces in several battles against Polish and Tatar armies.

Another historical figure with the surname Protsenko was Hryhoriy Protsenko, a prominent Ukrainian writer and poet who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was born in 1778 in the Chernihiv region and is best known for his contributions to the development of the modern Ukrainian literary language.

In the 19th century, the surname Protsenko can be found in various historical records from different regions of Ukraine, including the Kharkiv, Poltava, and Chernihiv provinces. One notable figure from this period was Oleksandr Protsenko, a Ukrainian painter and art teacher who lived from 1842 to 1916. He was known for his landscapes and portraits, and his works can be found in several art museums in Ukraine.

Another prominent bearer of the Protsenko surname was Petro Protsenko, a Ukrainian composer and choral conductor who lived from 1857 to 1942. He made significant contributions to the development of Ukrainian choral music and is particularly known for his arrangements of traditional Ukrainian folk songs.

Towards the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century, the surname Protsenko began to spread beyond Ukraine, with some individuals bearing the name emigrating to other parts of the Russian Empire and later to other countries around the world.