Lukianivske Civil Cemetery was officially established in 1878, although burials were known of since 1871. On July 01, 1994 it was declared the Lukianskyi State Historic-Memorial Reserve, to preserve it as one of the oldest necropolises within the capital city of Kyiv, and its location near the historic location of Babyn Yar. 

Over the years, the cemetery has repeatedly changed names — names used included Novo-Lukianivske, Tsentralne-Miske, Ioanivske, Armiyske, Lukianivske-Ruske, and Starobratske. It began to be called Lukianivske tsyvilske kladovyshche in 1945, after the creation of the Lukianivske military cemetery nearby.

Most, if not all, of the tombstones and sculptures were created by famous artisans of the time. Many from Kyiv, but also many from all parts of Ukraine. 

Since 1994, more than 290 gravesites, tombstones and mausoleums, now have the status of "historical monument" for their significance to historical art and architecture of Ukraine and are now protected by law. 

Lukianivske kladovyshche was originally founded as an Orthodox cemetery, but burials have always included those of both different nationalities and different religions — amongst others, they include those of Jewish, Kazak, Karaite, Lutheran, Eastern and Roman Catholic faiths. Nationalities such as Armenian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Estonian, French, Georgian, German, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Rusyn, Ruthenian, and Turkish. 

It holds the remains representing almost all of the old Ukrainian noble families and includes multi-generational family plots or mausoleums, called a "sklep" and some are still added to today. 

Its central location within the city, made it popular as the final resting place of many

famous professors, composers, poets, authors, scientists, politicians and many church figures. Burials also include those originally removed from Askold's grave, transferred here from the Pokrovsky Monastery. Mass graves include those of the students and residents of Kyiv who were tortured by the NKVD. 

In 1917, a section was allocated for burial of those who died in or were killed in the Lukianivska prison. In 1878, Mykola Beverlay was buried here after being shot trying to escape from prison. 

A few so-called mass graves exist, and include those of students killed in the battle at Kruty. 

New burials continued until its closure in 1962. Since 2004, it is only possible to bury relatives in existing family plots.

As of 2001, the State Historical and Memorial Reserve "Lukianivske kladovyshche" was includedi n the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine.