Surname Jankovsky - Meaning and Origin
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Jankovsky: What does the surname Jankovsky mean?
The last name Jankovsky is of Slavic origin, most likely originating from the Czech Republic. It derives from the Czech personal name Jan, known as John in English, which translates to “God is gracious”.
The suffix ‘-sky’ was often added to Czech names at the end of the 14th or 15th century to identify a person who originated from a particular village, mountain, or place. It is likely that the Jankovsky surname originated in the Czech Republic due to the presence of the suffix in the name, and the prevalence of the name Jan throughout the country.
As is common for many Eastern European surnames, variants of Jankovsky exist such as Jankowska, Janovky, Janovsky, and Janovska. Today, many people of Czech descent bear this surname, often being proud to trace their ancestry to this beautiful and historic country.
The name Jankovsky itself is a beautiful reminder of a person’s ancestry, and could be a source of pride for many people of Czech heritage. It is likely that by simply hearing the name, people will think of the wonderful culture that exists in the Czech Republic. As such, the Jankovsky last name is an important reminder of a person’s roots and of the wonderful country from which they originate.
Order DNA origin analysisJankovsky: Where does the name Jankovsky come from?
The last name Jankovsky is a Slavic name believed to have originated in Central or Eastern Europe. It is found most frequently today in the Czech Republic and Slovakia where it is the 11th most common name, according to census data. There is also a small concentration in Poland. The name can be found elsewhere in Europe, including Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Russia, as well as in North America.
The Jankovsky name is particularly common among older generations, especially those who lived during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, the name is scattered among those who either immigrated to other countries or whose families emigrated in the early to mid-20th century.
Given the widespread nature of the name, it is no surprise that most people of Jankovsky ancestry come from culturally and linguistically distinct backgrounds. With the dissolution of the USSR and the rise of other European countries, cultural assimilation blended with a more globalized version of the name, making it less and less distinct in some places.
In the United States, the most common place for people with the name Jankovsky is Pennsylvania, where there are a larger number of people with Czech or Slovak ancestry. However, given the long history of European immigration and the large populations of Czechoslovakian immigrants in many other states, like Texas, the name also appears in other areas.
Variations of the surname Jankovsky
The surname Jankovsky is an Anglicized version of the Slavic-language term “Jan-kow-s-ky”. Variant spellings include Jan-kow-z-ky, Jankowski, and Jankowsky. It is a patronymic surname derived from the first name Jan, a form of the biblical name “John”, meaning “the Lord is gracious”.
The surname Jankovsky can also appear under the forms of Jankowksi, Jan-ko-wy, and Jankovich. The Polish version of this surname is Jankowski, and spelling variations include Jankovski, Jan-ko-vs-ki, Yankovsky, Yan-ko-vs-ky, Jankoski, Jan-ko-s-ki, and Yankoski. In Czech, it can be spelled as Honkovec, Hons-ko-v-ec, Hankovce, Han-ko-v-ce, or Hankiewicz, Han-ko-w-ecz. The Russian versions are Yan-ko-vs-kiy and Jan-ko-vs-kiy.
In Slovenia, the surname Jankovsky can appear as Janches, Ya-n-ches, and Yanchlar-š-e. In Romania, it can be found as Ionescu, Io-ne-scu, Ionascu, Io-na-scu, and Ionashcu, Io-na-sh-cu. In Ukraine it is common to find the surnames Ivan-ko-vs-kiy and Jan-ko-vs-kiy.
It can also form into other surnames. One example is Yang-la-jan-ko-vs-ky, which is an alternate spelling of the surname Jankovsky. Also, Jan-ko-s-ky, Jankowski, and Jankowsky can sometimes form together into the surname Yan-ko-s-skiy-Jank-ow-ski.
Famous people with the name Jankovsky
- Ryan Jankovsky: Actor best known for his portrayal of Ranger Ralph in The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle movie.
- Bob Jankovsky: American football player who played for the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Colts.
- Elroy Jankovsky: Voice actor who has done work for various animated shows, including the English dub of Lupin the 3rd as the character Lupin III.
- Christy Jankovsky: Professional wrestler known by the stage name Christy Heights.
- Stefan Jankovsky: German actor who has appeared in several films and television shows.
- Dirk Jankovsky: Brass player and jazz musician active in Germany.
- Mark Jankovsky: American painter and visual artist.
- Felix Jankovsky: Russian conductor and composer, best known for conducting the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra.
- Gail Jankovsky: Award-winning poet and author who has published various works of fiction and non-fiction.
- Joe Jankovsky: Surfer, skater and musician from California.