Surname Janhunen - Meaning and Origin
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Janhunen: What does the surname Janhunen mean?
The surname Janhunen is a patronymic surname which originates from a Nordic language, most likely Finnish. It is derived from the given name Jani, a traditionally male name for which no precise etymology has been determined. However, Jani is typically believed to come from the Hebrew name John.
The most literal definition of Janhunen is ‘son of Jani’. It is thought to be a rather common surname throughout Finland, the northern Baltic states, and the Karelian regions of Russia. The earliest known reference to the name was in 1250 in the Torneå parish in the Norrbotten county in Sweden, where a man of the name ‘Jani Hune’ was recorded as a witness.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the surname was fairly uncommon and didn’t extend beyond these regions. Historians believe this was due to rural communities having a limited selection of given names, so surnames were not necessary.
However, in the nineteenth century, migration from rural communities increased. Many families with the surname Janhunen spread all around the world, with clusters of the name appearing in the US, Canada and Australia.
In summary, the last name Janhunen is a patronymic surname which originates from a Nordic language, most likely Finnish. It is derived from the given name Jani, and literally means ‘son of Jani’. The earliest reference is 1250 and the name is especially common in Finland, the northern Baltic states, and the Karelian regions of Russia. The surname was also spread around the world during the nineteenth century due to migration.
Order DNA origin analysisJanhunen: Where does the name Janhunen come from?
The surname Janhunen is most commonly found in Finland. It is estimated that there are approximately 1.2 thousand individuals with the last name Janhunen living in Finland, making it the 127th most common surname in the country.
In addition to Finland, the last name Janhunen has been recorded in other Scandinavian countries, including Norway and Sweden. In Norway, Janhunen is considered a variant of the more commonly seen surname Jønsson, and is generally found in the northern part of the country. In Sweden, the last name Janhunen is considered to be a variant of Janhun, and is most commonly found in the counties of Norrbotten, Västerbotten, and Västmanland.
Outside of Scandinavia, the last name Janhunen has also been recorded in parts of Germany, primarily in the border towns near the Polish and Czech Republics.
In the United States, the last name Janhunen is relatively rare, but can still be found. It is especially common in the Midwest and New England regions of the country. According the US Census Bureau, approximately 307 individuals living in the country in 2020 reported the surname Janhunen as part of their household.
Variations of the surname Janhunen
The surname Janhunen is a Finnish patronymic surname meaning “descendant of Jan”.
The name Janhunen is thought to have originated from Denmark but is commonly found in Finland where it is the seventh most common surname.
Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin are: Janhonen, Janhonen, Janhonin, Jahnin, Jahninen, Janhinen, Janhinin, Jahninin, Janhinen, Jahnin, Jaanhonen, Janhusten, Jannin, Janhusten, Janninen, Janenen, Janhuni, Janhunninen, Janiski, Janisko, Janiske, Janiskein, Janiskin, Janiskeinin, and Janiskinin.
The most common spelling of the name in the US is Janhunen, but in Finland,the most common variation is Janhonen.
Many variants of the surname still reside in Finland, such as Janhonen in Sastamala and Janhuni in Hämeenlinna. Jahnin in Iisalmi and Janhiske in Oulu are also common variations that are found in Finland.
In the US, the variants Janhunen, Jannin, and Janhinen are found most commonly. The surname Janhunen is found in many other countries as well, such as Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia, and Canada.
The name can also be seen as Janne and Jannen, which are more uncommon variants. The name can also be seen with the added suffixes -la and-nen, which are both common in Finland.
In conclusion, the surname Janhunen has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variations of the name in Finland and the US are Janhonen and Janhunen, respectively, but there are many other variations found in other countries.
Famous people with the name Janhunen
- Eero Janhunen: a Finnish computational linguist and Dialectologist
- Elina Janhunen: a Finnish archaeologist
- Jukka Janhunen: a Finnish software engineer, entrepreneur and professor
- Tuomas Janhunen: a Finnish composer and musician
- Toni Janhunen: a Finnish hockey player
- Ville Janhunen: a Finnish actor
- Miika Janhunen: a Finnish musician
- Jari Janhunen: a Finnish football player
- Ari-Matti Janhunen: a Finnish football player
- Kalle Janhunen: a Finnish football player
- Juha Janhunen: a Finnish footballer
- Elisa Janhunen: a Finnish ski jumper
- Olli Janhunen: a Finnish curler
- Pete Janhunen: a Finnish politician
- Timo Janhunen: a Finnish civil servant and author
- Henrik Janhunen: a Swedish diplomat
- Ahti Janhunen: a Finnish film director
- Eero Janhunen: a Finnish film director and actor
- Johanna Janhunen: a Finnish tennis player
- Maiju Janhunen: a Finnish musician