Surname Janczak - Meaning and Origin
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Janczak: What does the surname Janczak mean?
The last name Janczak has Polish origins. It is derived from the old Slavic first name Jan which means "God is gracious". The surname Janczak can be found all over Poland, however, it is most commonly concentrated in the regions of Central and Western Poland.
Janczak is thought to have originally been an occupational name ascribed to someone who was a gamekeeper or hunter. Alternatively, some believe the name is associated with an agricultural worker who looked after cottages and smallholdings.
The last name Janczak has spread across Poland since the 1200s when it was first bestowed upon a family who lived near the present day town of Poznan. Since then, the family line has dispersed and branched off to different parts of the country.
Today, the surname Janczak is still common in Poland and is also found elsewhere in Europe, such as Germany, Russia, and the United States. In the United States, the surname Janczak is ranked as the 6,115 most common surname according to the latest US Census.
Overall, the last name Janczak is a reassuring sign of a surname that has been passed down for generations and stands for hard work and dedication.
Order DNA origin analysisJanczak: Where does the name Janczak come from?
Today, the last name Janczak is most commonly found in central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, it is the ninetieth most common surname, with over 27,000 individuals bearing the name. It is also popular in Slovakia, with around 500 individuals bearing the name, and in Belarus, with almost 800 people with the surname.
The name is also prevalent in parts of Germany, specifically in East Prussia and Silesia, where there may be a trace of a German root to the Slavic name. It is believed that this specific name may have been derived from a shortened form from the Polish name "Jan Kazimierz" or "John Casimir" and can be seen as a synonym of the Polish word "Jannik", meaning "Little John".
The Janczak family can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the surname appeared in 16th century documents as "Jankówk", a patronymic name. The surname Janczak in its current iteration has been found in records as early as the 1700s in Prussia, though records of this family are not always reliable and may predate this period.
Today, the Janczak surname is associated almost exclusively with Poland and the surrounding Central and Eastern European countries. It is likely that, due to past conflicts in the region, members of the Janczak family have spread throughout Europe and the world.
Variations of the surname Janczak
The surname Janczak has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Depending on region and language, the surname has been spelled and pronounced differently over time.
The English spelling and pronunciation of Janczak is most likely pronounced as "yan-chock". Common spellings include Janczak, Janczyk, Jankowski, Jankacz, Yanyshock, Yanczak, Yanczuk, Jantschg, Janchsak, Jantschak, and Jantzick.
The surname is also derived from a variety of regional versions such as Jantscu from Romania, Yanchok from Ukraine, Yanchuk from Belarus, Jantschok from Russia, and YÛcak from Turkey.
In Poland, the surname has many different spellings and forms, such as Janczak, Janczewski, Janczyk, Jankowski, Janczewski, Jankacz, Janczakiewicz, and Janczykowski.
The surname has also been common among many other countries of central and eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Croatia. Each of these countries have their own versions of the surname, such as the Czech spelling of Janczik and the Slovak spelling of Janczačik.
In Slovenia, the surname is found as Jancsak, in Germany as Yanczick, and in Finland as Yônsak. In the past, several Romani people used the surname Janczak, and many historically-Polish Jews also adopted the spelling Janczak.
Overall, the surname Janczak has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the country or region, the surname may be spelled and pronounced differently.
Famous people with the name Janczak
- Mike Janczak: college American football player from South North Carolina.
- Joe Janczak: professional football player for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Robert Janczak: retired professional ice hockey player from Minnesota.
- Anna Janczak: Polish Olympic rower, who has competed at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
- Stanisław Janczak: Polish sculptor and painter known for his work in the socialist realism style.
- Zbigniew Janczak: Polish actor, director and voice actor best known for his roles in the films ”The Promised Land” and ”Walesa: Man of Hope”.
- Gregory Janczak: New Jersey based attorney who specializes in family law.
- Matthew Janczak: an American professional basketball player.
- Wojciech Janczak: Polish judoka who competed in the 1999 Judo World Championships.
- Krzysztof Janczak: a Polish footballer who currently plays for Chrobry Głogów.