Surname Jankofsky - Meaning and Origin

Jankofsky: What does the surname Jankofsky mean?

The last name Jankofsky is of Jewish origin and is a name commonly found in Ashkenazic countries such as Germany, Austria and Poland. The name is derived from the given name Jankel, which is a variation of the biblical name Jacob meaning “seizing by the heel” or “supplanter” in Hebrew. It is also believed to come from the Polish words “janka” and “ofsky,” which may have been an old toponymic surname meaning “of or from Janek's place.”

The surname Jankofsky is a relatively rare name, but it is believed to be the combination of two distinct surnames. It is likely that both the Jan and the ofsky components were already single family names during the Middle Ages. In fact, most of the Jankofsky families seem to descended from the Jankel family, likely the oldest and most powerful of the two.

It is also believed that among Ashkenazic Jews, this surname is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States. The Jankofsky families in the United States may have brought this surname from Europe in the late 19th or early 20th century. Many of the Jankofsky families living today are likely descendants of the original Jankel family.

In conclusion, the last name Jankofsky is of Jewish origin, derived from the given name Jankel and is most commonly found in Ashkenazic countries such as Germany, Austria and Poland. Many of the Jankofsky families living today are likely descendants of the original Jankel family.

Jankofsky: Where does the name Jankofsky come from?

The last name Jankofsky is currently most commonly found in Eastern and Central Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It is estimated that there are about 22,500 people with this surname worldwide.

In Germany, the family can be traced back to the 17th century, when Jankofsky began as a small farming community in the 1905s in the former East Prussian region. By the 20th century, the name had become widespread throughout the German Empire, with the greatest concentrations being found in Pomerania and Silesia.

In Poland, the Jankofsky surname is most commonly associated with the city of Lodz and its surrounding area, where it was first recorded in police and public documents from the late 19th century. It is thought the family originated in what is now central Poland and migrated eastward over time.

In the Czech Republic, the surname has been found in records dating as far back as the 15th century. The family is still quite common in this region, particularly in the towns of Liberec and Ostrava and their surrounding areas.

In the United States, Jankofsky is much less widespread than it is in Europe. Nevertheless, the name has a long history in the United States, with individuals bearing the surname being recorded as far back as the late 19th century. Most of those currently using the name can trace their ancestry to German, Czech, or Polish immigrants.

Variations of the surname Jankofsky

The surname Jankofsky has many variants and spellings, as well as surnames of similar origin, including Jancofsky, Jankowski, Jankefsky, Jankofsky, Jankefsky, Jancofski, Yankofsky, Jancofsky, Yankefsky, Yankowski, and Yankofsky.

The origin of Jankofsky is believed to originate in Central and Eastern Europe as an occupational surname, referring to a blacksmith, armourer or metallurgist. The Germanic version of the surname is derived from ‘Jan’ (John) and ‘Kow’ or ‘Kauf’ (smith or steelworker) and the Slavic version from ‘Jeś’ (John) and ‘Kofski’ (blacksmith). It is also a common form of the more common Jewish surname ‘Yankovsky’ which could be a patronymic form of the name Yanko, meaning “God has been gracious.”

The surname is mostly found in countries with large Central and Eastern European Jewish Communities such as the United States, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Germany and the United Kingdom. Most common spellings include Jankofsky, Jancofsky, Jankowski, and Yankofsky.

Jankofsky has also become an Americanized surname, when emigrants from Central and Eastern Europe chose to change the spelling of their name to make it more pronounceable or marketable to Americans. For example, some families with ancestry from the former Czechoslovakia changed their surname to Yankofsky, while others with ties to Poland may have adopted the Jankofsky form.

No matter the spelling or variant, the surname’s origin remains the same – referring to either an armourer or blacksmith.

Famous people with the name Jankofsky

• Kenny Jankofsky — Director, Actor, and Producer is best known for his work directing "The Clearwater Chronicles" and appearing in short films like "Living Quarter(s)" and "Maybe Tuesday".
• Ivan Jankofsky — A physician and scientist who served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Health Care Advancement Network (HCA-Net).
• Stan Jankofsky — An American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1970s and 1980s.
• Alfred Jankofsky — A New York-based comedian and actor who has appeared in a number of films and television series.
• Andreas Jankofsky — An Austrian figure skater who competed at the World and European Championships in the 1970s.
• Yutaka Jankofsky — A Japanese composer best known for his work on films and video games such as "Twilight Syndrome", "Sonic X", and "Resident Evil: Apocalypse".
• Erika Jankofsky — A German-born American actress who has appeared in films like "The Family Stone" and television series such as "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".
• Howard Jankofsky — An American lawyer and legislative assistant in the United States House of Representatives from 1967–1973.
• Yehuda Jankofsky — An Israeli-American sculptor and artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally since 1981.
• Steven Jankofsky — An American journalist and the former editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Times.

Other surnames

JankofskeJankofski