Surname Jeker - Meaning and Origin

A Comprehensive Genealogical Exploration of the Surname Jeker Through iGENEA's DNA Testing

Through an exploration of iGENEA's DNA testing and by delving deeper into the meaning and history of the surname Jeker, the process has amplified my understanding of the biological lineage associated with my family name. The three components of DNA testing: autosomal, mitochondrial, and Y-DNA testing, have provided extensive and precise insights linked to the origins of my surname.

J. Jeker

Jeker: What does the surname Jeker mean?

The surname Jeker is derived from the German and Dutch word "jeker," which means "bitter" or "reckless." It often appears as an occupational nickname given to one who works with bitter or astringent-tasting herbal medicines. It is thought that the original bearer of the name likely possessed the knowledge of how to extract medicinal properties from plants and herbs.

There is also a surname Jeker that is derived from the German word for Yokel, which was an old term used to refer to a peasant or an unsophisticated rural person. It may also be a locational name from any of the places named with this word, such as Jeker in the Netherlands. It is also possible that the name gained popularity due to someone hailing from one of these places, who then adopted Jeker as their surname.

The name is also commonly found in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as in German-speaking countries such as Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, and may have even been adopted by Dutch and German emigrants to the United States.

Ultimately, the last name Jeker means someone who is either bitter or reckless, or from a place named Jeker. It may also be a nickname for someone who is a skilled herbal medicine maker or a peasant from a certain rural area. As a result, it has a few different origins and meanings depending on the exact context of its use.

Jeker: Where does the name Jeker come from?

The last name Jeker is mostly found in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The surname is of German origin and is also spelled Jäger, Jaeger, or Jägher. It is believed that the name derived from an Old German term ‘geiher’ which meant ‘hunter’ or ‘help’. In some cases, the surname Jeker is derived from the personal name Jakob. Jeker is a quite common surname and is largely shared between German-speaking countries.

In Germany, the name is most commonly found in the state of Baden-Württemberg, specifically in Stuttgart, Heilbronn, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Heidelberg, Freiburg, Karlsruhe and Ulm. In Austria, it is found mainly in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and Innsbruck. In Switzerland, Jeker is mainly found in Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Basel, and Zug.

According to the US Census, the Jeker surname is one of the top thousand most common surnames in the USA. The vast majority of Jeker families in the US are of German ancestry. Von Jäger or Jäger-Jäger are also occasionally seen as the last name of celebrities such as actress Irene Jäger-Jäger and Federal Cabinet Office Chief of Staff and current Chairman of the supervisory boards at Daimler AG and Bayer AG, Nikolaus von Jäger.

Variations of the surname Jeker

The surname Jeker is a common Dutch patronymic surname, derived from the pre-Christian Germanic name Jakob which means given by God. It is commonly found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, England, South Africa, and the United States.

In the Netherlands, Jeker is also found with the spelling of Jeker, Jekers, Jekers, and Jekersz. It is also found as Jaeger, Jakker, and Jaker.

In Germany, Jeker is also found spelled as Jäger, Jaeger, Jaegers, Jaegerr, Jager, Jägr, and Jäggr. It is also found as Jäcker, Jacker, Jaquet, Jaget, Jages, BJager, Kager, Akemar, Jak, and Jackel.

In Belgium, Jeker is sometimes written as Jaeger and Jakker, as well as other various spellings. In England, it is common to find Jeker spelled as Jagger, Jaeger, Jakar, and Jeager.

In South Africa, Jeker is also commonly found spelled as Geyer, Keyer, Kiyer, and Kiyers.

In the United States, Jeker is also found spelled Jeger, Jaeger, Jakar, and Jaeggar.

Although the surname is spelled differently in various countries and regions, the root of Jeker originates from the same pre-Christian Germanic root of Jakob, meaning given by God.

Famous people with the name Jeker

• Elham Jeker: Elham Jeker is a Bahraini investigative journalist and television presenter, best known for her CPJ-award-winning investigations into human rights abuses in Bahrain in 2011.
• Philip Jeker: Philip Jeker is a Swiss former Formula One driver who competed in seven races for the March, Euro Brun, and Scuderia Edenro Rosso teams between 1979 and 1981.
• Jeff Jeker: Jeff Jeker is a retired American professional basketball player who played for six teams over a ten year span in the NBA.
• Cornelia Jeker: Cornelia Jeker is a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council who served from 2000 to 2004.
• Derek Jeker: Derek Jeker is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Texas Rangers in 1998.
• Luca Jeker: Luca Jeker is a Swiss wing spiker and dual-international, representing the Swiss national team in both indoor and beach volleyball.
• Tommy Jeker: Tommy Jeker is a Swiss snowboarding competitor who has competed at all levels including the Winter Olympic Games, World Championships and X-Games.
• Arianna Jeker: Arianna Jeker is an American model and actress who has appeared in several commercials as well as the feature films "Step Up Revolution" and "The Gift".
• Noël Jeker: Noël Jeker is a Swiss curler who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, finishing fourth with the Swiss team.
• John Jeker: John Jeker is an American former professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour from 1949 to 1954.

Other surnames

JekelJekeliJekelius