Surname Jovanovics - Meaning and Origin

Jovanovics: What does the surname Jovanovics mean?

The surname Jovanovics is of Slavic origin. It is derived from the personal name Jovan, which is a variant of the Hebrew name John and the Slavic name Ivan. The suffix -ovics is Slavic and is a patronymic surname, meaning the son of Jovan.

The name is popular among various Slavic-speaking countries, including parts of Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Slovenian. It is also found in Hungary and elsewhere in central and eastern Europe. It is pronounced differently depending on the language.

The meaning of the name Jovanovics is often associated with God's grace because it sounds similar to the word ‘grace’. It often describes someone who is cheerful, kind, and faithful. Additionally, it is believed to represent a person who takes on challenges with a positive attitude and enthusiasm.

Jovanovics can have several variations, including Jovanovic, Yovanovich, Yovanov, Ivanovics, and Ivanovic. Depending on the country and language, it can have a variety of other variations.

In conclusion, Jovanovics is a Slavic surname derived from the personal name Jovan. It indicates the son of Jovan and has a positive meaning associated with God's grace and attaining challenges with enthusiasm. There are several variations of the name depending on the country and language.

Jovanovics: Where does the name Jovanovics come from?

The last name Jovanovics is commonly found throughout Eastern Europe with larger populations in Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia. Jovanovics is a patrynomic name derived from the common given name Jovan, which is of ancient Slavic origin and is found throughout many Eastern European countries.

In Hungary, Jovanovics is found primarily in the Great Hungarian Plain (Alföld) region of Hungary, though there are other pockets of the population scattered throughout the country. The name can also be found primarily in Croatian cities and towns in Slavonia such as Vinkovci, Vukovar, and Osijek, as well as in towns on the Dalmatian Coast such as Dubrovnik, Split, and Zadar. Serbia is also home to a relatively large population of Jovanovics, concentrated primarily in the city of Belgrade and northern and central Serbia.

Jovanovics is also relatively common throughout continental North America, especially in the United States. The most populated states are New York, California, Florida, and Illinois. In Canada, the majority of Jovanovics are located in Ontario with smaller populations found in British Columbia and Alberta.

Those with the Jovanovics surname can trace their roots back to the Imperial Austria-Hungary Empire, of which Hungary was a part until 1918. The name's roots in this empire can also explain the pockets of Jovanovics population found in Serbia and Croatia.

Variations of the surname Jovanovics

Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Jovanovics include Jovanovic, Jovanovitch, Jovanovich, Jovanovick, Jovanovik, Jovanovski, Jovonovich, and Jovonovick. These surnames are all derived from the root surname Jovan, itself derived from the ancient Greek personal name “Ioannes”, meaning “Jehovah has been gracious”.

The outgrowth from Jovan is a very common result, with slight variations and spelling mistakes occuring due to variations in language, pronunciation, and cultural influences. Almost all of these derivatives of the original surname can be tracked back to their root.

The variant Jovanovik is perhaps the oldest form of the name as it has its origins in the Gothic language. It is believed to have originated from an earlier version—Ioanovic, a cushlite version of the Greek name Ioanis which directly translates to John.

Jovanovick, Jovanovski, and Jovonovich all come from the same root and all come from the variation of the name. Jovanovick is derived from the Serbian word Jovanovic, meaning ‘son of the man John.’ Jovanovski takes this further with side ‘ski’ meaning ‘son of the pure one’, and Jovonovich simply adds an ‘h’ at the end.

Overall, it is clear to see that all of the surnames and spellings stem from the same root. Through minor changes in pronunciation or spellings, derivatives of the name have spread all across Eastern European cultures and ancient languages.

Famous people with the name Jovanovics

• Branko Jovanovics: A former football defender from Gola, Montenegro, who made more than 200 appearances in the Yugoslav League and later the Slovenian League.
• Daniel Jovanovics: A Hungarian football manager and coach, Daniel has managed teams in Hungary and Slovakia.
• Dragan Jovanovics: A former Serbian water polo player who was a member of the Yugoslavia Water Polo National Team.
• Ivan Jovanovics: A Montenegrin professional footballer who plays as a striker for Palermo.
• Josif Jovanovics: A retired professional basketball player who played for various clubs in his native Serbia and abroad.
• Laszlo Jovanovics: An Olympic gold medalist in the Hungarian national basketball team in 1953 as well as a two-time FIBA European Championship champion in both 1953 and 1955.
• Marko Jovanovics: A Serbian professional basketballer who currently plays for the Partizan Belgrade team in the Basketball League of Serbia.
• Miloš Jovanovics: A well-recognized Serbian actor known for his roles in films such as “Senke Uspomena/Shadows Of Memories” and “Limunovo Drvo/Lemon Tree”.
• Miodrag Jovanovics: A retired Montenegrin-Serbian professional footballer who played in Yugoslavia and abroad.
• Mitch Jovanovics: A professional poker player from Florida, United States, who has competed in tournaments around the world.

Other surnames

Jovanovic