Surname Janza - Meaning and Origin
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Janza: What does the surname Janza mean?
The last name Janza is an Italian name derived from the Latin word "Gansa," which means "goose." The Italian patronymic surname "di Janza" literally translates as "(son) of Janza." The surname Janza also has a similarly sounding variant, called Iansa, which is also derived from the same Latin word.
There is no definitive origin for the name itself but it is thought to possibly have stemmed from the Apennine Mountains region, which is located in central Italy. This would have been around the 8th century, when many families from the area were migrating elsewhere. Many of these migrants may have included the Janza family, who, like many immigrants from that time period, could have taken on a new surname in order to start anew.
The Janza last name initially spread further south within Italy, to regions like Sicily and Calabria, before spreading to other countries in Europe. Today, the surname is common in parts of the United States, especially around the cities of New York, Chicago, Miami, and Los Angeles.
Overall, the last name Janza is thought to be of Italian origin from a migration in the 8th century, stemming from the Latin word "Gansa" which means "goose." It is spread across many countries today, traces of its origin still remaining in its namesake.
Order DNA origin analysisJanza: Where does the name Janza come from?
The last name Janza is of European origin and currently most common in Slovakia. The easiest way to find out where exactly it is most commonly found is by looking at a global surname distribution map.
There is evidence of Janza's spread across the centuries, from Slovakia across Europe to Russia, with a significant number of profiles in countries like Italy and Germany.
Today, Janza remains primarily concentrated in central and eastern European countries, particularly Slovakia. According to a 2020 data analysis, Janza is the 4,007th most common surname in Slovakia, which makes it one of the country's 500 most popular surnames. Despite its modest rank in the overall world surnames chart, Janza is still one of the most popular surnames in Slovakia, with more than 8 people per 1,000 having this surname.
Apart from Slovakia Janza can still be found in Poland, Romania, Hungary, and more recently the United States of America. This evidence indicates that Janza is still a fairly common name in the respective countries.
In conclusion, the last name Janza is most commonly found in Slovakia, followed by Poland, Romania, Hungary, and the United States of America.
Variations of the surname Janza
The surname Janza can be spelled in several different ways - Janza, Jansa, Janca, Janecar, Jancea, Jancar, and Janczar - and is commonly found around parts of Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia.
The variant of Janza more often spelled Jansa is mostly found in Slovenia and the surrounding areas, while the alternate form Janca is commonly associated with Serbia and Croatia. The other spellings - Janecar, Jancea, Jancar, and Janczar - are found mainly around Croatia and Slovenia, as well as parts of Hungary and Slovakia.
Surnames derived from the original Janza include Janak, Jansak, Janoska, and Jansou. Each of these variants differs from Janza in only minor ways; Janak is an alternate spelling of Jansa and is more common to Croatia, while Jansak and Janoska are again slight variations more often used in Slovenia and parts of Austria and Ukraine. Jansou is more frequently seen in Croatia and Slovakia.
Janza is a name traditionally associated with people of Slavic descent, though the surname could apply to anyone, regardless of their heritage. Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin allow for a greater range of variation within the surname and make it easier for individuals to trace their ancestry.
Famous people with the name Janza
- Jessica Janza: Jessica Janza is a professional American acrobat and aerialist. She has been performing since the age of six and has had many successful shows around the world including appearances on America's Got Talent and CBS' The Late Late Show.
- Matthew Janza: Matthew Janza is an American professional soccer player and current assistant coach of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He also played professional soccer for teams such as Accrington Stanley, Energie Cottbus, and the Harrisburg City Islanders.
- Katharine Janza: Katherine Janza is an American actor, producer, and director. She is best known for her work on the ABC show Nashville, Amazon's "Child Of Our Time," and the movie "Things Heard & Seen."
- Gino Janza: Gino Janza is an Italian professional soccer player currently playing for the Serie B club Cosenza. He has also played for clubs such as Lazio, Internazionale, and Modena.
- David Janza: David Janza is an American soccer coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the men's soccer team at Wake Forest University and the volumes’ assistant coach of the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League.
- Brad Janza: Brad Janza is an American television executive. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Development and Production at ESPN and was previously the head of the scripted department at Sony Pictures Television.