Surname Jantzen - Meaning and Origin
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Jantzen: What does the surname Jantzen mean?
The last name Jantzen is of German origin. It is a patronymic surname meaning the "son of Jan" or Johann. This surname is derived from the given name Jan, which is a Dutch and German shorthand for the name Johannes, which means "Yahweh is gracious." Jan was a popular name in Germany from the 10th century onward.
The spelling variations of Jantzen include Janszen, Jansen, Janssen, Jansing, Jantz, Jantze, Jantz, and Jansz. It has become a widely accepted spelling variation as it developed within German-speaking areas of central Europe over the centuries.
The original bearer of the Jantzen surname likely originated around the region of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands along the Rhine River area. It is believed the surname spread and developed with the influx of Germany immigrants to the United States in the 1800s. It is also possible the surname followed members of the Dutch Aristocracy to North America during this period as well.
Today, the Jantzen surname is recognized around the world and has been adopted by people of varying cultural backgrounds. While the Jantzen surname is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, it can also found be found in other countries as well.
Order DNA origin analysisJantzen: Where does the name Jantzen come from?
The last name Jantzen is most commonly found in Germany today. It is one of the oldest family names in the country and has been around since the 12th Century. With roots in Saxony and Thuringia, it remains one of the most common family names in the region.
The name spread throughout Europe via the Hanseatic League which maintained trading links among German cities during the medieval period. From there, different branches of the family spread across the continent. Today, some of the highest concentration of Jantzens are found in Scandinavia, France, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Within Germany itself, most Jantzens are found along the Rhine River, with denser concentrations in the cities of Cologne and Bonn. The name is also fairly common in Bavaria and Saxony. It is estimated that around 80,000 people in Germany bear the Jantzen surname.
In other parts of the world, the name is more sparsely distributed. It is found in about 15-20 countries and it is estimated that around 200,000 people bear the Jantzen surname. Examples of countries include the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The Jantzhen surname remains a popular one in Germany and other parts of the world today and has been a common last name for centuries.
Variations of the surname Jantzen
The surname Jantzen is a given name that originates from Denmark. It can be spelt in a variety of ways including Jantzen, Jansen, Jance, Jahnson, Janzen, and Jansecn.
Jantzen is an old Germanic name that originated in what would become Denmark in 1448, when it was part of the larger German-speaking territory known as the Holy Roman Empire. The name begins with "jan", which means "God is gracious". This name element is most often seen connected with Scandinavian personal names such as Johannes, Jan, or Johan.
The surname Jantzen can also be found under the spelling variants of Jens, Jenni, Janne, and Janes. Jens is a Scandinavian version of John and is a much more common spelling variant. Jenni is a feminine version of John and is found mainly in Sweden. Janne is a diminutive form of John and is found mainly in Norway and Finland. Janes is an interesting spelling variant found mainly in the United States.
The Jantzen surname is found in other countries as well. In Germany, the spelling is usually Jansen and is pronounced "yahn-sen". In Britain, the spelling is usually Jance and pronounced "jan-cee". In the Netherlands, the spelling is Janse and is pronounced "yawn-ssuh".
Regardless of the spelling variant of the surname Jantzen, it is all a reflection of the original Germanic name Jans which, through time, became Janzen and then eventually Jantzen.
Famous people with the name Jantzen
- Hans Jantzen: German football coach and former player from the late 80s/ early 90s
- Mary Jantzen: Canadian philanthropist and past president of the Vancouver Foundation
- Jack Jantzen: former American figure skater and professional ice dancer
- Gary Jantzen: American football coach and former player
- Marc Jantzen: German entrepreneur and former Chairman of the Board of Olpe GmbH
- Marlene Jantzen: German professor and artist
- Christian Jantzen: Austrian film director and cinematographer
- Amanda Jantzen: American singer-songwriter and cellist
- Sven Jantzen: German director, photographer and editor
- Sune Jantzen: Danish film director, illustrator and comic book artist