Surname Janowitsch - Meaning and Origin

Janowitsch: What does the surname Janowitsch mean?

The last name Janowitsch is of German, Polish, and Belarusian origin. It is derived from the Middle High German forename "Jannewicz" and is a combination of the names Jann or Johann (both derivatives of the name John) and the diminutive suffix "witz".

Generally the Janowitsch surname was attributed to people of craftsman status or members of the lower merchant class, and could have been adopted by German or Slavic families sometime before the 18th century. Janowitsch is an uncommon surname, most often found in areas that were historically German-speaking, such as parts of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

By the 19th century, the surname Janowitsch began to appear in records in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and more recently migrated to the United States and countries in the former Soviet Union. The surname is more common in Poland than in other parts of Europe, with many individuals residing in the capital of Warsaw.

The name Janowitsch is commonly seen as a patronymic - meaning that it was bestowed by a father to his son to signify his lineage. Subsequently it became a surname and a marker of identity for generations of Janowitsch families.

Janowitsch: Where does the name Janowitsch come from?

The last name Janowitsch is most commonly found in Germany, where it is an ethnic German name. Within Germany, it is most common in the state of Saxony. This may be due to a larger ethnic German population in this area of Germany. It is also found in other parts of Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, where it is historically also an ethnic German name.

Janowitsch is not limited to Eastern Europe, however. It is present in parts of the United States, particularly California and Texas, and other countries such as Canada and Australia. People bearing the name Janowitsch in the United States likely descend from German immigrants who settled in the country in the nineteenth century.

The name is not extremely common around the world, with only a few thousand people bearing the name recorded in 2020. It still holds its presence in eastern Europe and North America. In the United States, members of the Janowitsch family can be found in areas with larger German-American populations such as the Midwest.

Variations of the surname Janowitsch

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin that share the same root as Janowitsch include:

Jannewits – This spelling is found mostly in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Janowitz – This spelling is found mostly in the United States.

Janowiec – This spelling is found in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Ukraine.

Janovics – This spelling is found mostly in Central European countries such as Hungary and Austria.

Janovicz – This spelling is found mostly in Ukraine.

Janowitzky – This spelling is found mostly in the United States.

Janovski – This spelling is found in Eastern Europe.

Janowski – This spelling is found mostly in Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania.

Janowy – This spelling is found mostly in Ukraine.

Janosi – This spelling is found mostly in Hungary.

Janzer – This spelling is found mostly in Hungary.

The surnames commonly found with the same root as Janowitsch are Janowsky, Janowski, Jankowski, Janko, and Janoŭsky. These are found mostly in Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Janowitsch is usually found in Central and Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Poland, Austria, and Ukraine. It is also sometimes seen in the Netherlands and Belgium.

In the United States, the names Janowitz and Janowitzky are often encountered, which are derived from the same root as Janowitsch.

These names and spellings are all versions of the same surname, all likely stemming from the 12th century in Eastern Europe. Common among them is the last syllable, "-witz," which is linked to the German and Slavic words for “son of.”

Famous people with the name Janowitsch

• Talisa Janowitsch: Talisa Janowitsch is a German musical artist and songwriter, best known for her 2019 song “Magnetisch”.
• Tristan Janowitsch: Tristan Janowitsch is a professional action athlete, trainer and entrepreneur based in Australia. He owns and operates T.J. Adventure Company specializing in extreme sports experiences.
• Claus Janowitsch: Claus Janowitsch is a German clinician and professor of surgery and clinical anatomy at the Department of Surgery at the University of Frankfurt.
• Thomas Janowitsch: Thomas Janowitsch is a boar advisor and entrepreneur helping companies grow their digital presence.
• Alexandra Janowitsch: Alexandra Janowitsch is a German painter and printmaker, best known for her experimental printmaking.
• Christoph Janowitsch: Christoph Janowitsch is a journalist and photographer based in Berlin, Germany.
• Andrea Janowitsch: Andrea Janowitsch is a German social media influencer and lifestyle blogger, best known for her blog “andreasinamichelle.com”.
• Kaes Janowitsch: Kaes Janowitsch is a Swedish-born artist, best known for his paintings depicting everyday life in his home country.
• Ines Janowitsch: Ines Janowitsch is a German actress and theater director, best known for her work at London’s Royal Court Theatre.

Other surnames

Janowitz