Surname Janss - Meaning and Origin
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Janss: What does the surname Janss mean?
The last name Janss is of Dutch origin. It is derived from the personal name Johannes, a form of John which means ‘God is gracious’.
The name Janss can be found in records in several countries; however, it is most common in the Netherlands and Belgium. The earliest recorded example of the surname is from 1680, when Jan Janss vanAnsem (or Ansingh) was living in Westerbork, a village in the Netherlands.
Janss is a patronymic surname, meaning that its origin lies in the father’s first name. This type of surname was the most common in Europe up until the 18th century, when permanent hereditary surnames began to emerge.
The name Janss is not particularly common, with only around 500 people bearing the name in the Netherlands, and is believed to have been used by a small number of unrelated families.
It is likely that the name originated as a form of identification for families and individuals from the same area, eventually leading to a shared surname. Today, the name is still used by multiple people; some may be descended from the original families, while others may not be.
Although the last name Janss is relatively rare, it is nonetheless part of the Dutch heritage and carries with it a deep sense of history and connection to the past.
Order DNA origin analysisJanss: Where does the name Janss come from?
The last name Janss is a relatively uncommon surname today, though it appears to have originated in Germany and spread to various countries throughout Europe.
In Germany, Janss descended from the German name Johann and is considered a patronymic nomenclature meaning “son of John”. The name is most prevalent in the former East Germany. Additionally, Janss is a quite common surname in the Netherlands, though its origin there is based more closely on the Dutch given name Jan.
Outside of Europe, the surname Janss has been adopted in the United States, most commonly in Pennsylvania. It is thought that German or Dutch immigrants may have taken the name and variants thereof (e.g. Janssen) to the United States during the 19th century, when several waves of immigrants from Europe sought a better life in America.
Today, the surname Janss is most commonly found in Germany and the Netherlands, though it can also be found in other locations throughout Europe as well as in the United States. An analysis of internet databases indicates that the name is still relatively rare, though it may be seeing a resurgence in recent years.
Variations of the surname Janss
The surname Janss is thought to have originated from the biblical given name John. It is believed to have been common in the Netherlands and Northern Germany and spread throughout Europe, the USA and Japan.
Variations of the name Janss can include Jans, Jansen, Janssen, Janson, Jansouw, Jansoors, Janßen, Janßon, Jaans, Jons, Jonsen, Jonsson and Jonßen. Spelling for the surname can also vary due to regional dialects and languages, such as the Dutch spelling of Janssen and Jansen or Janssens.
In Germany, the name is often written as Janßen, with the double s being represented by the German 'ß' character, while in the Netherlands it is typically written as Janssen or Jansen. Similarly, the Swedish variant of the surname is written as Jonsson, while in Finland it is written as Jansson.
In the United States, some of the more common variants and spellings of the surname Janss are Jansen, Janssen, Janss, and Jonson. Variants and spellings in other countries may vary significantly, however, the surname is likely to retain the root 'Janss' regardless of the particular dialect or spelling.
The surname Janss has several variations based on regional spelling and pronunciation, as well as surname modifications that are derived from the original term. While some of these variations in spelling may seem slight, it is important to check for all possible spelling variants of the name when researching the history of the family.
Famous people with the name Janss
- Werner Janss: an American film director and screenwriter who worked in the Hollywoods motion picture industry, and was active in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Harold Janss: a prominent American real estate investor and businessman. He founded Janss Investment Company in Southern California in 1927 and was a major figure in the development of the San Fernando Valley.
- Wilhelm Janss: a German writer and novelist who wrote the Bird Keeper and the Titan books as well as a number of essays on dessert plants, nature, and country life.
- Ignacio Janss: a Venezuelan vedette, television producer and show business artist, best known for founding the network Televen in 1999.
- Gomel Janss: an American electrical engineer and inventor who founded one of the first integrated circuit fabless companies, League Semiconductor.
- Walt Janss: an American entrepreneur who founded Janss Steps factory in Southern California in 1915. This company designed and manufactured popular wood stairs and railings, which were used in the building of many homes in the San Fernando Valley.
- Harry Janss: an Australian composer and guitarist who released three albums as part of the Harry Janss Band in the 1980s and 90s, and wrote music for films like The Goya Stories, as well as for television.
- Armin Janss: a German politician, writer, and theologian who served as the minister of culture of the Grand Duchy of Hesse from 1867 until his death in 1889.
- Sirenia Janss: an American electronic musician and singer-songwriter from Oregon who produces electronic music and trip hop.