Surname Jatzek - Meaning and Origin

Jatzek: What does the surname Jatzek mean?

The last name Jatzek is a German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname, typically spelled Jätzke in its native German. This surname originates from a patronymic name, meaning that it is derived from the name of a father or ancestor and is typically formed by adding a suffix meaning “son of.”

The root of the Jatzek surname is “Jatz,” which is derived from a German first name meaning “teacher” or “scholar.” This provides an interesting glimpse into the occupation or education level of Jatzek’s earliest ancestors.

In addition to Germany, the surname Jatzek has spread to many other countries throughout its history, including the United States, Canada, England, Russia, Israel, and several other European nations. Although it is not one of the most common surnames globally, those with the Jatzek surname can trace their origins back through many generations and several nations.

Whether you are researching your own family history or curious about the global Jatzek family, the story of this unique surname offers a fascinating glimpse into its distant past. No matter where in the world their family originated, all Jatzeks share common roots and a shared history.

Jatzek: Where does the name Jatzek come from?

The last name Jatzek is relatively rare, but is primarily found in Germany and Central Europe. It's believed to be of Jewish origin, derived from the name Yitzhak, and is an Ashkenazi name.

In Germany, Jatzek is the 282,579th most common name in the country. While there are only a few thousand people with the name living there, it likely originated in Germany or other areas of Central Europe.

Outside of Europe, Jatzek is also found in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, and New Zealand. It is likely that individuals bearing this name emigrated to these countries from Germany or Central Europe.

The United States Census Bureau estimates that there are 1,222 people in the United States with the last name Jatzek. The majority of these individuals, approximately 736, are concentrated in the state of New York. There are also significantly large numbers of individuals living in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois.

Given its Jewish roots, it's likely that many of the individuals living in the United States with the last name Jatzek are descendants of those Jews who left Central Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries to escape persecution.

Variations of the surname Jatzek

The surname Jatzek is of Germanic or Slavic origin, and is believed to derive from the Germanic personal name "Jatzo." The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Jatzek include: Jati, Jato, Jathan, Jatso, Jochems, Yatchek, Yatie, Yatzke, Yatzko, Yatzky, Yatzky, Jatzek, Jatske, Yatske, Jateski, Jaczek, Jaczke, Jackye, Jatzkie, Yatskie, Yotzky, Jotzky, Jennyck, and Zurani.

Notable people with the surname Jatzek include Arnold Jatzek, a German football player and manager; Reinhard Jatzek, an Austrian mountain climber; Heinrich Jatzek, an Austrian physicist; Mathias Jatzek, an Austrian philosopher; and Robert Jatzek, a German novelist and poet.

The spelling of the surname has changed over time and is often seen as "Jatzo" or "Jatzko" according to region and dialect. This is due to the sound shift in the eastern dialects. In some instances, Jatzek is seen spelled as Jatsky or Jatsich. Families often carry the same surname over time, so some variations may be due to the phonetic system of the speaker. In some cases, the surnames have been passed between different generations, resulting in various variations in spelling.

Famous people with the name Jatzek

• Artur Jatzek: Artur Jatzek is a former German footballer who played in the Bundesliga and 2. Liga from 1977-1988. He was part of the 1979 Kickers Offenbach team that won the UEFA Cup.
• Annette Jatzek: Annette Jatzek is a German journalist, television presenter and author. She is best known for her work hosting several popular shows such as the 10 vor 10 and Kulturzeit.
• Ellen Jatzek: Ellen Jatzek is a German actress, best known for playing the role of Katrin Kruger on the popular German soap opera Forsthaus Falkenau.
• Nadja Jatzek: Nadja Jatzek is a German singer and actress. She gained popularity in 1993 when she appeared as a contestant on the popular TV show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar."
• Birgit Jatzek: Birgit Jatzek is a German adventurer, having spent several months alone hiking through the Australian outback. She wrote a book about her experience called "Alone in the Wild: A Journey Through Australia’s Outback.”
• Susanne Jatzek: Susanne Jatzek is a German entrepreneur known for creating the sustainable fashion label Living Blue. She was also part of the sustainability panel at the 2018 Paris Peace Forum.
• Erich Jatzek: Erich Jatzek was a German businessman, having served as the managing director of the Hamburg-based company Beiersdorf for many years.
• Julian Jatzek: Julian Jatzek is a German lawyer and politician, having served as vice president of the Bayern Landtag, the regional legislative assembly of Bavaria.
• Karl Jatzek: Karl Jatzek is a German composer, having written several pieces for piano, violin, and other instruments. His works have been performed in countries around the world.
• Heidi Jatzek: Heidi Jatzek is a German author, having written several novels about the lives of ordinary German women. She is particularly renowned for her 2016 novel Die Zicke, which has been translated into many languages.

Other surnames

Jatzeck