Surname Jonkhans - Meaning and Origin
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Jonkhans: What does the surname Jonkhans mean?
The last name Jonkhans is an occupational surname of Dutch origin, derived from the Dutch word ‘jonge’ meaning ‘young’. It signified a young man or the son of someone. It is possible that the original bearers of this name were involved in some kind of craftwork or trade.
In medieval Europe, one of the common ways of identifying someone was by their job. Most of the occupational surnames described the kind of work the original bearers had or were associated with in some way. In case of the last name Jonkhans, it is likely that the family were engaged in some kind of trade or craft that was relatively new or in its early stages of development. This could include anything from a new type of farm implement to working in a newly emerging type of industry.
Apart from being associated with the Dutch language, the last name Jonkhans could also be found in other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, as the German form of the name, Jungōs, was widely used.
It is possible that the original bearers of the last name Jonkhans could have gradually moved away from their original work and started pursuing other kinds of work, such as blacksmithing, tanning, beekeeping, etc. Over the past few centuries, the original meaning of the surname has largely been forgotten and the last name is now used mainly as an identifiable and distinguishable mark to identify families.
Order DNA origin analysisJonkhans: Where does the name Jonkhans come from?
The last name Jonkhans is believed to have originated from the Netherlands and Germany, primarily around the North Rhine-Westphalia area. It is believed to be a Dutch patronymic surname, with the root name being Jonkman, meaning “young man”.
Today, the surname Jonkhans has spread to many countries, including the United States. Here, it is commonly found in the states of Arizona, Washington, California, Illinois and Wisconsin. In these areas, the surname is most often co-located with large Dutch or German populations. According to MyHeritage.com, there are nearly 1,000 people living in the US today with the name Jonkhans.
The last name is also found in other countries around the world, such as Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil. Here, it is most likely detected in regions populated with citizens that have some sort of Dutch or German heritage. It is also believed that many individuals with the last name Jonkhans have emigrated to these countries from their original homes in the Netherlands and Germany.
Due to its origin in the Netherlands and Germany, the surname Jonkhans has spread throughout the world over time. It can still be found today in the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Brazil, with large concentrations in certain regions, particularly those with large Dutch or German populations. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 people living in the US with this name.
Variations of the surname Jonkhans
The surname Jonkhans (also spelled Jonckans) is of Dutch origin. Variants of this surname and alternate spellings include Jong, Jongen, Jonge, Jankens, Jonkheere, Jonk, Jonger, Jonck, Jonckaert, Jankers, and Janneckes. Depending on the country and region, various spellings have evolved over the years.
The surname is likely derived from the Middle Dutch word Joncker meaning "young lord," "lordling" or "knight," which comes from the Old Germanic language and can also be spelled Joncheere. This title was bestowed upon people of noble birth, and is also found in the form "Jonkheere" in some variants of the name.
The surname is most common in the Netherlands, which is its country of origin, where it can be found in both urban and rural areas. It is also found in Belgium and other parts of Europe, but is comparatively rare in many other countries around the world.
Within the Netherlands, this surname can be found in a variety of regionalized spellings and variant forms, such as heading and Jong. In the Netherlands, variants of this surname may also be related to the conjugated verb "jongen," which means "to young," as well as words with similar pronunciations meaning "to go, send, or be sent." This could explain why some variants of this surname, such as Janneckes, Jonckaert, or Jankers, may be found predominantly in the Netherlands as well.
Given the popularity of this surname in the Netherlands, it is also likely that many descendants of its original bearers now live in countries all over the world.
Famous people with the name Jonkhans
- Willem Jonkhans, Dutch former footballer
- Willem Jan Johan Jonkhans, Dutch visual artist
- Wim Jonkhans, Dutch former professional footballer
- Rens Jonkhans, Dutch ice hockey player
- Simon Jonkhans, Dutch professional footballer
- Marieke Jonkhans, Dutch visual artist
- Ria Jonkhans, Dutch fashion designer
- Sanne Jonkhans, Dutch comedic actress
- René Jonkhans, Dutch entrepreneur
- Robin Jonkhans, Belgian horticultural researcher