Surname Jantgen - Meaning and Origin

Jantgen: What does the surname Jantgen mean?

The surname Jantgen is a German or Dutch surname, derived from the personal name Johannes. It is derived from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yochanan) meaning "Yahweh is gracious".

The surname Jantgen first appeared in German records in the late middle ages, with notable bearers including Wedderkopp Jantgen, Hans Jantgen of Rigswittenburg in 1574, and a Johan Jantgen who died in 1583. A Johannes Jantgen was born in 1611 in Guilzem, Germany and moved to the Netherlands in 1636.

Other variants of the name include Janz/Janzen, Janschen, Jansen, and Jantje/Jantsje. All of these variants are derived from the same root, with the major difference being dialects of the Low German language.

Today, the name Jantgen is most predominantly found in Holland, with smaller numbers found in the United States and Germany. This surname is associated with the strong Christian tradition in Europe - Jantgen being derived from the Hebrew word for God being gracious. Despite the surname originating centuries ago, its legacy can still be seen today, with families all over the world carrying the name Jantgen proudly.

Jantgen: Where does the name Jantgen come from?

The last name Jantgen is likely of German origin and is still common in Germany, especially in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. It can also be found in other parts of Europe, although the frequency reduces significantly outside of Germany. The presence of Jantgen is also noticed in North, Central, and South America, especially among descendants of German immigrants who settled in these regions centuries ago.

Apart from Europe and America, Jantgen is also present in countries like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and Argentina. These countries were mostly colonized by European settlers who carried their family names with them, and the Jantgen surname is one of them.

Most people with this surname are believed to have derived from the medieval name Jan or Johann, both of which have Slavic roots. There is also a belief that the name originated from the surname "Gantgen" in Switzerland which eventually became "Jantgen" with time and usage.

Overall, with its roots in Europe, it is safe to say that the Jantgen surname is mainly concentrated in countries with a strong German cultural influence. This includes Germany itself and parts of Europe as well as many other countries across the world.

Variations of the surname Jantgen

The surname Jantgen is an anglicized spelling of the Dutch, German, and Scandinavian surname Janzoon or Janzen. It can also be spelled Jantsen, Jansen, Jansen, Janssens, Jüngen, Jansoon, or Jensen. Other variations include Jentgen, Jancten, Jantzman, Jantsman, Jentsen, Jansma, Jontgen, Jentzsch, Jensema, Jantzsch, Jensche, Janz, and Jongen.

The surname is derived from the personal name Johannes, which is the Latin form of the Greek name Ioannes, meaning “God has been gracious”. As a patronymic the surname Jantgen literally means “son of John”—Jantgen’s father was known as John or Johan.

The use of the “-sen” suffix was traditional in some areas, such as west Friesland in Holland, where Dutch names with this suffix are not considered unusual. This gave rise to Jansen, Janzoon, and Jansoon, as well variants using other suffixes such as -ma instead of -sen and -sma instead of -ma.

Variants with the spelling Jentgen or Yentgen can be found scattered around Europe, predominantly in areas where Dutch immigration was significant. These spellings are geographically-specific, deriving from the Middle Dutch ‘Jen’, a pet form of Jan (John).

For those of Scandinavian origin, the variants Jonsen, Jungen, or Jongen are commonly used. These spellings, although still anglicised, honour the Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish alternative for the personal name Johannes, which is Johan, Jon or Jørgen.

Jantzsch is encountered in Germany and may derive from the Middle High German personal name Jance, found in older records as Jan(t)s and related to the personal name Hans. While Janz is a common spelling amongst those with German Jewish ancestry, particularly from the Posen district.

Famous people with the name Jantgen

• Harald Jantgen, a contemporary German writer
• Ernst Jantgen, a former German race car driver
• Martin Jantgen, a German artist
• Philipp Jantgen, a German composer
• Wilhelm Jantgen, a German politician
• Christopher Jantgen, an American video game developer
• Christian Jantgen, a French-German architect
• Klaus Jantgen, a German naval officer
• Johann Peter Jantgen, a 17th century composer
• Wilbur Jantgen, an American composer and music educator

Other surnames

Jäntges