Surname Damjan - Meaning and Origin

Damjan: What does the surname Damjan mean?

The last name Damjan is a Slavic word that is believed to have originated from the Serbian/Croatian word "damjan," which means "taming." It has been suggested by some that the name is derived from the Old Slavic verb "dam," which means "to tame." Interestingly, this verb was also found in Old Croatian, and dates back to at least the twelfth century.

The origin of the Damjan last name is unclear, however; there are documents recorders in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia that date back to around the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries which appear to show that the Damjan family name dates back to this period.

One of the earliest recorded Damjan members of the family was Ilija Damjan, a Serbian who lived in the mid-fifteenth century. Other notable individuals with the Damjan surname include Juraj Damjan, a famous Croatian painter from the eighteenth century, and Grozdan Damjan, a prominent Slovenian playwright from the same period.

The Damjan family name has survived to present day, albeit spread across the Dinaric Alps region, and it still retains its Slavic roots. The meaning of the name Damjan has often been interpreted as “taming” or perhaps even “to tame,” implying a gentle and peaceful demeanor.

Damjan: Where does the name Damjan come from?

Damjan is a surname of South-Eastern European origin. It is most commonly found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The Damjan surname is derived from the medieval personal name, Damian, which was a popular name for a saint in the early Middle Ages. As such, it is a patronymic surname, formed by adding the Slavic suffix -ović to Damian.

Outside of the former Yugoslav territories, the Damjan surname is most common in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. This is likely due to Croatian emigration to these countries following the Bosnian War in the 1990s. While there may be some individuals in the United States with the Damjan surname, its frequency in the U.S. is likely minimal.

The Damjan surname is a testament to the long cultural and historical connections between the Slavic nations of the, now, former Yugoslavia. It is a reminder of the diverse and complex linguistic and ethnic history of the region, and of the families and individuals who trace their roots back there. While coverage of the war-torn region has become less frequent in the news, the unique Damjan surname will remain an enduring reminder of those roots.

Variations of the surname Damjan

The surname Damjan is one of those many surnames that have seen multiple spellings and variants across different countries and regions. Here are some of the spellings and surnames of the same origin as Damjan.

Damyan - The name Damyan is a form of the name Damjan. It is a Bulgarian version of the same name, with the same origin.

Damian - Damian is the most common spelling variant of Damjan, and is a Greek name meaning "to tame, to subdue".

Demian - Demian is an alternate spelling of Damjan that is generally found in Latin American countries and is derived from the Greek elements Demi or Damon, meaning "to tame, to subdue".

Demjan - Demjan is most commonly seen in the Czech Republic. It is derived from the Greek elements Demi or Damon, meaning "to tame, to subdue".

Demyan - Demyan is a Russian variant of the name Damjan. It is also derived from the Greek roots Demi and Damon, meaning "to tame, to subdue".

Damyanov - Damyanov is a Bulgarian patronymic surname, derived from Damyan, the Bulgarian variant of Damjan.

Damjanović - This is a Serbian and Croatian surname, derived from Damjan, and is also associated with the Greek elements Demi or Damon, meaning "to tame, to subdue".

Damjanić - Damjanić is another Croatian surname, derived from the same Greek name Damjan.

All of these variants and spellings have the same origin as the name Damjan, and are built on the same concept of “to tame, to subdue”.

Famous people with the name Damjan

• Lisa Damjanovic: Lisa Damjanovic is a Serbian-born Australian actress who has worked on a variety of feature films, television commercials, and stage performances.
• Damjan Marjanovic: Damjan Marjanovic is a Serbian professional basketball player who has played in the NBA.
• Tamara Damjanovic: Tamara Damjanovic is a Serbian International basketball player who has played in the EuroCup and EuroLeague.
• Nemanja Damjanovic: Nemanja Damjanovic is a Serbian footballer who has played for several clubs including the Serbian SuperLiga.
• Ivan Damjanovic: Ivan Damjanovic is a Montenegrin professional footballer who has played in the Greek Super League and the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group.
• Slaven Damjanovic: Slaven Damjanovic is a Croatian footballer who plays for NK Varteks Varazdin.
• Boban Damjanovic: Boban Damjanovic is a Serbian footballer who has played for clubs such as FK Bezanija and FK Rad in the Serbian SuperLiga.
• Aleksandar Damjanovic: Aleksandar Damjanovic is a former Yugoslav professional basketball player and coach who was a three-time European champion with Soviet teams.
• Nikola Damjanovic: Nikola Damjanovic is a Serbian footballer who has played for clubs in the Cypriot Third Division.
• Vladica Damjanovic- Vladica Damjanovic is a Serbian rugby union player who plays for Russian club Krasny Yar Krasnodar.

Other surnames

DamjanicDamjanovDamjanovic