Surname Jonkus - Meaning and Origin

Jonkus: What does the surname Jonkus mean?

The last name Jonkus is a Lithuanian surname. It is a patronymic name derived from the original Lithuanian personal name “Jonas”, which means “John”. The first recorded spelling of the surname was in 1561, when Jonas Jonkus appeared in Vilnius records.

In Lithuania, surnames were adopted relatively late in its history. Originally Lithuanians used patronymic names, which changed with each generation. This system of last names eventually evolved when the country began to westernise.

The eastern region of Lithuania, known as Aukštaitija, was the area where the Jonkus surname first appeared. Aukštaitija is a region abundant with forests and lakes, and it remains an important part of Lithuanian culture. Its inhabitants are proud of their independent spirit, and their economic and cultural independence over the centuries. Folk singers, poets, and dancers come from this region, and the language still spoken there has its own distinct dialect.

By examining the origin of the last name Jonkus, we can gain an insight into the diversity of Lithuania and the culture that makes it unique. Through knowledge of its history, we can appreciate the environmental, economic and cultural climate of Aukštaitija region that shaped the etymology and meaning of the surname Jonkus.

Jonkus: Where does the name Jonkus come from?

The last name Jonkus is originally of Lithuanian origin. Today, it is most commonly found in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there are over 4,000 Americans with the Jonkus surname. According to their data, the majority of Jonkuses are concentrated in the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, n New York, and Illinois, with Pennsylvania having the highest proportion of people with the Jonkus surname.

However, the Jonkus name is not just found in the United States. Individuals with the Jonkus surname can also be found scattered throughout Central and Eastern Europe. In countries such as Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Ukraine, Jonkus as a surname is still relatively common.

In addition, there is evidence that the Jonkus family originally had its roots in Scotland and England. Although traces of the Jonkus family can still be found in some of these countries, it appears that the family moved on and eventually established itself in the East, thus explaining why the Jonkus surname is a lot more common in countries such as Lithuania.

Overall, the Jonkus surname is mainly concentrated in the United States, but is also scattered throughout Central and Eastern Europe, and has roots in the British Isles.

Variations of the surname Jonkus

The surname Jonkus is an old and variously spelled variant of the Lithuanian name Juonkus. The name Juonkus has been spelled in many different ways as it has made its way through history, particularly in the United States where many of its bearers emigrated. Common variations of the surname include Jonkus, Jonkusas, Juonkus, Juonkusas, Jonkevicius, Jonkevicus, Jonkusius, Yonkus, Jonkaitis, Yunkus and Iunkus.

The origin of the name Jonkus is believed to be related to the Lithuanian word “juon”, which translates to hedgehog. This suggests that the surname may have first been associated with someone who kept an abundance of the spiny mammals or perhaps was seen as closely resembling the cute hedgehog.

Tracing the family name further back to its origins, we can also see that the root of the name “juon” has existed in multiple languages and cultures for centuries. This root appears in various forms in other languages such as German (Jung), Danish (Junk), Russian (Yunka), Polish (Junka), Latvian (Junka) and Spanish (Young).

In conclusion, the surname Jonkus has a plethora of variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin. For example, the various spellings of its original form, Juonkus, and various languages’ versions of the name's root, which is believed to be “juon”.

Famous people with the name Jonkus

• Jonkus Brothers: Timmy and Tommy Jonkus, professional mixed martial arts fighters
• Kishore Jonkus: Kannada actor and stand-up comedian
• Rob Jonkus: American professional ice hockey player
• James Jonathan “Jonkus” Jones: professional skateboarder
• Shaker Jonkus: American professional wakeboarder
• George Jonkus: Australian professional rugby union player
• Bryan Jonkus: American professional lacrosse player
• Marius G. Jonkus: Lithuanian squash player
• David Jonkus: British–Australian professional volleyball player
• Zach Jonkus: American professional snowboarder

Other surnames

Jonkuhn