Surname Jokubaitis - Meaning and Origin

Jokubaitis: What does the surname Jokubaitis mean?

The last name Jokubaitis is a Lithuanian patronymic family name derived from the personal given name ‘Jokūbas’. The given name Jokūbas itself has biblical origins, coming from the book of Acts in the new testament as a shortened variation of ‘Jokūbaitis’, which in Greek means ‘Son of Jacob.’ As a surname it generally denotes descendants of a Jacob, and is an example of a hereditary family name based on a personal given name.

The surname Jokubaitis is found mainly in Lithuania and regions of the former Lithuanian Commonwealth and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Lithuanian surnames often give hints about their origin and the occupation of their ancestor, but in this case there is no obvious occupational reference.

The level of popularity of the surname Jokubaitis has fluctuated over the last four centuries, probably reflecting the dramatic changes witnessed in Lithuania’s population due to religious and political unrest. From the 18th century onwards, many Lithuanians emigrated to the United States, taking their surnames with them, and this could explain some of the occurrences of the Jokubaitis surname in the New World.

Other than the derivatives of the given name Jacob, a person with the name ‘Jokubaitis’ would often be identified with Lithuanian heritage as the surname is mainly found in this region. One interesting feature of the same surname is that variations also occur across the world - from Europe to North and South America. For example, Jokubaitis may be spelled as Jakubaitis, Yokubaitis, or even Yokubaitis in different regions.

Jokubaitis: Where does the name Jokubaitis come from?

The last name Jokubaitis is most commonly found in Lithuania today. Jokubaitis is derived from the Lithuanian word for Jacobite, and the surname is most likely of Germanic origin. It is believed to have been first adopted by a person of Lithuanian origin in the 15th or 16th century.

The name Jokubaitis is increasingly common in Lithuania today, being especially prevalent in the capital city of Vilnius and its surrounding areas. It is also becoming more widely seen in other parts of the country and has spread as far as the United Kingdom, where people of Lithuanian origin have settled.

In the United States, the name is most common among those descended from Lithuanian immigrants, particularly in states like Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. It is also possible to find historical records of individuals bearing the last name Jokubaitis in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where people of Lithuanian origin may have settled.

As the name is derived from the Lithuanian language and culture, and is still most commonly found in Lithuania, it is safe to assume that the last name Jokubaitis is still most closely associated with Lithuanian culture today.

Variations of the surname Jokubaitis

The surname Jokubaitis is a Lithuanian surname which originates from the given name, Jokubas (Jacob). There are various spellings and surnames of the same origins of Jokubaitis, across different countries.

In Lithuania, the surname is spelled Jakubaitis, which is derived from the given name, Jakubas. This spelling is quite common in Lithuania, along with the forms Jakubavicius and Jakubavicius. In Latvia, the surname is usually spelt Jakubovičs. In the United States, the Lithuanian surnames were often Americanized, leading to various spellings such as Jakubovicius or Yacobovicius. In some old documents, the surname can also appear as Jacubovitz or Jacobowitz.

In certain other countries, such as Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, there are forms which have been Russified such as Yakubovitch or Yakubovich. In Belarus and Poland, it is spelt as Jakubowicz. In addition, there are some spellings influenced by particular dialects, such as Yakubaitis and Yakubaitiene.

Along with the different variations, there are also related surnames which originate from Jokubaitis, such as Jokubonis, Jokubanauskas, and Jakubauskas. All these surnames are derived from the same original Lithuanian surname, Jokubaitis.

Famous people with the name Jokubaitis

• Justas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian basketball player.
• Arvydas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian composer and professor in music.
• Andrius Jokubaitis: Lithuanian basketball player and champion.
• Arnoldas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian politician and sculptor.
• Gediminas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian musician and composer.
• Petras Jokubaitis: Lithuanian basketball player and coach.
• Lukas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian track and field athlete.
• Tomas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian footballer.
• Gintautas Jokubaitis: Lithuanian weightlifter, Olympic competitor.
• Eugenijus Jokubaitis: Lithuanian basketball player.

Other surnames

Jokubait