Surname Jankowska - Meaning and Origin
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Jankowska: What does the surname Jankowska mean?
The last name Jankowska is a Polish surname which has derived from the masculine Polish given name Janko. It is derived from the diminutive version of Janusz, a popular Polish given name originally derived from Latin name Iohannes. This variation with a diminutive suffix is commonly used in Eastern and Central Europe and conveys familiarity and endearment.
The root of the surname Jankowska is the Latin word “byo,” meaning “I live,” which has been ascribed to small towns in rural Poland and Czech Republic. It has been speculated that the family’s roots could be traced back to a village whose name referred to its inhabitants, in this case, “Janko’s people” or “Janko’s homes.”
Jankowska may be a patronymic name also, meaning “son of Janko”. Patronymic names were commonly found in Poland before the 19th century and were used to denote father-son relationships.
Jankowska is a popular Polish family name today. As with many surnames, some Jankowska families have had their name shortened to the more commonly used Jankowski. People with this surname are proud of their Polish heritage and most people bearing the name Jankowska can be found in Poland. (197Words)
Order DNA origin analysisJankowska: Where does the name Jankowska come from?
The last name Jankowska is most common in Poland, with over 5,000 people carrying the name. As Poland has historically been one of the most populous countries in Europe, this makes sense. The majority of those who carry the Jankowska name live in the southern and central part of the country, such as Krakow, Warsaw, Nowy Sacz, Lower Silesia, Podkarpackie, and Pomerania. The most densely populated city with the surname Jankowska is located in Lower Silesia, a region in the far southwest of Poland.
Outside of Poland, the name Jankowska can also be found in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Germany, and Australia. In each of these locations, the name is typically derived from Polish immigrants who came to these countries in search of a better life. The presence of Jankowska in countries outside of Poland speaks volumes about the extensive nature of the diaspora of Polish people around the world.
In the US, the number of people with the Jankowska surname is not as high as in Poland due to the low number of Polish immigrants. Nonetheless, the past decade has seen a small but steady increase in Jankowska density. It is expected that this trend will continue to grow as more people of Polish descent make their home in the country. Indeed, this family name continues to remain a presence in several countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Jankowska
The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Jankowska are Jankowsky, Jankowski, Jankowsk, Janówka, Jankovská, Jankovska, Jankovský, Jankowskie, Jankowský, Jankovskaja, Jankovski, Jankowskii, Jankovskaya, Jankofsky, and Jankofski.
Jankowski is a Polish surname meaning "son of Jan (John)". Janówka is a Slavic, Polish-language version of the surname. Jankovsky and Jankovská are a Russian derivative of the surname. Jankovska and Jankovský are the Slovak and Czech derivations of the surname, respectively.
Jankowskie is the Belarusian version of the surname, while Jankowskii is the Lithuanian form. Jankovskaja and Jankovsky are the Belarusian and Ukrainian variations, while Jankofsky and Jankofski are the Ukrainian and Russian forms. Jankowskii and Jankovski are not considered true variants, but they are possible spellings of the surname.
In some cases, the various spellings of Jankowski can be confusing. However, by researching the different variations of the surname, one can easily determine how they are all related and typically find the correct spelling quickly.
Famous people with the name Jankowska
- Agata Jankowska: women's rights activist and former Member of the Sejm (Polish Parliament)
- Anna Jankowska: Polish actress
- Kamila Jankowska: swimmer, world championship medalist
- Justyna Jankowska: Paralympic athlete, specializing in the discus
- Natalia Jankowska: singer
- Justyna Jankowska-Cupryś: basketball player
- Ewa Jankowska: actress
- Katarzyna Jankowska: discus thrower
- Małgorzata Jankowska: academic, professor of French, Polish, and Comparative literature
- Joanna Jankowska: former editor of the Polish language newspaper Rzeczypospolitej
- Krystyna Jankowska: journalist, essayist, and decorator
- Barbara Jankowska: actress
- Jadwiga Jankowska: modern dancer
- Magdalena Jankowska: Polish painter and photographer
- Mariola Jankowska: actress
- Barbara Jankowska-Cieślak: Olympic swimmer
- Ewa Jankowska-Cieślak: middle-distance runner
- Karolina Jankowska: Polish diplomat
- Marta Jankowska: theater director
- Teresa Jankowska: Olympic silver medalist in gymnastics