Surname Janovitsch - Meaning and Origin

Janovitsch: What does the surname Janovitsch mean?

The last name Janovitsch is a surname of Slavic origin. It is typically found in regions such as Austria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The name is derived from the Slavic personal name Jan, which is a form of John. The suffix -ovitsch is indicative of the patronymic naming system, meaning that the bearer is the son of the male with the given name Jan.

The name Janovitsch often appears in records as early as the 14th century, suggesting a long-standing family history in the region. People with the surname Janovitsch have likely had a strong connection to their origins for some time.

It is possible the name first appeared as a result of Slavic settlers in the area, many of whom were part of the migration westward from Slavic lands during the Middle Ages. As a result, people with the name may have roots in several Slavic countries, given the prevalence of the name in regions that are or were once Slavic-speaking.

In some instances, the name Janovitsch may have been adopted at a later time by immigrants from Slavic countries who then settled in other parts of Europe. This is particularly likely if the surname is found in other regions such as Germany or the United States.

The most famous bearer of the surname Janovitsch is Robert Janovitsch, an Austrian tour operator who achieved great success in the mid-twentieth century. His legacy lives on today in the namesake Robert Janovitsch Prize, which is awarded to high-achieving Austrian entrepreneurs.

Overall, the surname Janovitsch has strong ties to Slavic heritage, although its presence in certain regions suggest it has been adapted and adopted by non-Slavic descendants in more recent times.

Janovitsch: Where does the name Janovitsch come from?

The last name Janovitsch is most commonly found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Yugoslavia. This includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia. The country with the highest concentration of Janovitschs is Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it is estimated that there are around 150,000 people with this surname. The name is also found in Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, but is much less common in these countries.

In the United States, the last name Janovitsch is not common. According to the US Census Bureau, there are only 176 people in the country with the last name Janovitsch. The majority of those individuals can be found in the states of New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

The surname Janovitsch is a patronymic name derived from the first name Jano and is also spelled Janovic or Yanovits. The name has Slavic roots and is derived from the word Jan, which means 'God is gracious'. The name is most commonly used as a surname, though it can also be found as a given name.

The surname Janovitsch is found in countries around the world, but is particularly concentrated in the former Yugoslavian region. It is much less common in other parts of the world, such as the United States.

Variations of the surname Janovitsch

The surname Janovitsch (or variations thereof) has a number of variant spellings and surnames of similar origin, which can be broken down into two distinct categories.

The first group of alternative spellings of the surname includes the following: Janowitsch, Jankowitz, Janovick, Janovik, Janovikin, Janovikov, Janowicki, and Yannovichek. These spellings are all Slavic in origin, and are derived from the personal name Ivan, which is a less common version of the more widely used John.

The second group consists of other surnames of the same or similar origin: Janovitsky, Jankov, Jankovic, Yankovitch, Jankovik, Yankovich, Yankovin, Yankowitz, Janikovitz, and Yankovitz. These surnames are mostly derived from Eastern European surnames of Jewish origin, derived from the short form of the Yiddish personal names Yankev and Yankl, which both mean "John".

Overall, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Janovitsch are quite numerous, and illustrate the dynamic evolution of surnames as a result of migration and different forms of linguistic adaptation.

Famous people with the name Janovitsch

• Ryan Janovitsch: Canadian actor and voice actor best known for roles in films such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul and Max & Shred.
• Marek Janovitsch: Polish professional football player, currently playing for Zagłębie Sosnowiec in the Ekstraklasa.
• Sarah Janovitsch: American singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, whose original music has been featured in shows like Orange is the New Black and Shadowhunters.
• Julia Janovitsch: Austrian actress who has starred in films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and A Most Wanted Man, as well as television shows like Disenchantment and the German-language series Tatort.
• André Janovitsch: Brazilian professional football player, playing as a goalkeeper for the Brasil de Pelotas club in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
• Thomas Janovitsch: Austrian tennis player, who has competed in ATP Tour, ITF Futures and Challenger tournaments.
• Zuzana Janovitsch: Slovakian ice hockey player, playing for the Minnesota Whitecaps in the National Women's Hockey League.
• Julian Janovitsch: German Internet celebrity who is known for his YouTube channel “JulianTV”, which has gained more than 130,000 subscribers.
• Christophe Janovitsch: French sculptor and visual artist, his work has been exhibited in galleries across Europe.
• Erik Janovitsch: Dutch professional football player, he plays for Heracles Almelo in the Eredivisie.

Other surnames

Janovits