Surname Jonek - Meaning and Origin
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Jonek: What does the surname Jonek mean?
The last name Jonek is of Slavic origin, coming from the Czech language. The name translates as 'son of Jon', or 'son of Johan'. This given name is derived from the name 'Johannes', a form of the Latin 'Iohannes', meaning 'God is gracious'.
Also common in Polish-speaking countries, this surname is derived from the root name 'Jon', which predates Christianity and is thought to be associated with the Old Testament's Book of Jonah. Variants in Slavic languages include Janek, Jończyk, Janeczek, Janiczek, Januška and Jonec.
The Jonek name appears regularly in the Genealogical Database of Czech Surnames, dating back to the early 18th century. It is also featured in records kept by noble families in Wroclaw, Poland.
The Jonek family could be found in historic records from Dolnoslaskie, Opolskie and Wielkopolskie provinces, which are situated in the south-western regions of modern-day Poland. The spelling of the surname also varies in current usage, from Jonek to Jonik and Jonick.
The surname is most likely to have been found among land-owning families in the region and is still common in the Czech Republic and southern Poland. It is also found in the United States of America, where the spelling of it has had variations throughout the years, from Jonecke to Jonecki.
Order DNA origin analysisJonek: Where does the name Jonek come from?
The last name Jonek often appears throughout Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, particularly in Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. It is believed to be derived from the Polish first name Jan or Johannes, or from the German name Johann, both meaning “God is gracious.”
In Poland, the surname is common in places like Masovian Voivodeship and Greater Poland Voivodeship, both regions with large populations in the country. Within Germany, the name is found to be prominent in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg.
In terms of Scandinavian countries, the last name Jonek is seen to be widespread in Denmark. It can be found to be quite common in regions like North Denmark region, Central Denmark Region, South Denmark Region, and the Capital Region.
Furthermore, the surname is also seen to be quite common in many other western European countries such as Iceland and Belgium.
Outside of Europe, the last name Jonek is mainly associated with Americanized descendants from various European countries, especially those with Polish, German, and Scandinavian heritage. As such, it is particularly concentrated in regions like the Midwest, the west coast, and the northeast. It is also quite common among those who have ties to these regions.
Variations of the surname Jonek
The surname Jonek is most commonly associated with people from Lithuania, Poland, and other Slavic countries. It is also commonly seen in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, as immigrants from those countries settled there.
The variants and spellings of the surname Jonek are Jonak, Jonec, Joneck, Jonick, and Jonik. Some of the surnames that can be derived from Jonek include Jonski, Jonecki, Jonezki, Jonkowski, Joniszewski, Jonczyk, and Joneczek. It is common for surnames to also be changed slightly when immigrants come to a new country, resulting in spellings such as Juenik, Yonek, and Yoneck.
Variations of the surname Jonek are more likely to show up in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as immigrants adjusted the spelling when they arrived in those countries. Additionally, some variations may be the result of different regional dialects, as some countries and regions may have different pronunciation of the same word. For example, the Lithuanian pronunciation of Jonek is Yonek.
Despite the variations, the meaning remains the same for all versions of the surname Jonek - they all mean "son of John". The name John itself is a Hebrew name, derived from the name Yehochanan, meaning "God is gracious".
Famous people with the name Jonek
- Dave Jones (English radio host and television presenter)
- Mike Jones (American rapper)
- Mo'Nique Jones (American comedian, actress and talk show host)
- Oliver Jones (Canadian jazz pianist)
- Rob Jones (Irish footballer)
- Shaun Dooley (English actor)
- Tyra Banks (American model, media personality and actress)
- Harry Jonek (Norwegian cross-country skier)
- Karl Jonek (American biathlete)
- Christine Jonek (Swedish figure skater)
- Hanz Jonek (German downhill skier)
- Rose Jonek (Israeli diver)
- Nora Jonek (Czech skeleton racer)
- Joseph Jonek (Polish equestrian athlete)
- Connor Jonek (Australian swimmer)
- Samantha Jonek (Italian triathlete)
- Larry Jonek (American race car driver)
- Marlene Jonek (British long jumper)
- Emma Jonek (American Paralympic swimmer)
- Alexander Jonek (Canadian gymnast)