Surname Janzen - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering Jewish and Mennonite Roots of Janzen: An iGENEA DNA Analysis Journey
Venturing into my familial heritage with iGENEA DNA analysis, I discovered a remarkable depth and diversity in my family name - Janzen. No longer exclusively German, Janzen unveiled potentially Jewish or Russian Mennonite roots, painting a picture of a rich, diverse ancestry, reinterpreting my understanding of my identity.
A. Janzen
read moreJanzen: What does the surname Janzen mean?
The last name Janzen is a German surname which can be translated to mean “Jans’s son” and likely originated from the medieval German given name “Jans”. It is a patronymic name, where the first part of the name is the father’s name, indicating that the original bearer of the name was the son of someone named Jans.
The first recorded mention of the surname dates back to 1334 in the city of Mecklenburg, Germany, where a man named Johannes Janzen is mentioned in a legal document. Since then, the name has spread throughout the world and various spelling variants have developed, such as Jansen, Jensen, Jentzen, and Yansen.
Today, Janzen is found in multiple countries throughout Europe, Europe, North and South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a fairly common surname and usually belongs to individuals of German or Dutch descent. There are also records of those who bear the name in countries that were former German colonies or those with German immigrants.
The name Janzen is a source of pride for those who bear it and many people use it to identify their German heritage. It is common for those with the surname to trace their roots and investigate their family history to learn more about their lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisJanzen: Where does the name Janzen come from?
The last name Janzen is most commonly found in North America, especially in countries such as Canada and the United States. The highest concentrations of Janzens can be found in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. In the United States, Janzen is mostly present in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, as well as along the East Coast.
In Canada, Janzen is found most prominently in Quebec and Ontario, with 1.7% and 1.4% of the population carrying the surname, respectively. In the United States, Janzen is most common in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, with 0.3%, 0.2%, and 0.2% of the population carrying the surname, respectively.
Today, Janzen is most widely associated with Mennonites, many of whom immigrated to North America beginning in the late 1600s. The Mennonite religion places great emphasis on family values and religious tradition, which has resulted in the upkeep of Janzen as a family name.
In addition to Mennonites, Janzen is also prevalent among German and Dutch immigrants who arrived in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. The prevalence of the name is in part due to the large population of German and Dutch immigrants migrating from the 19th to 20th centuries and settling in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.
Variations of the surname Janzen
The variant spellings and surnames of Janzen are usually found in German-speaking countries. Janz, Jenz, Jentsch,and Jenßen are some of the most common variants of Janzen. These can be further derived into dialect spellings such as Ienz, Ientsch, Yentsch, Yans etc. Many variations also exist in Danish and Dutch, such as Jensen, Jense, Jenze, Jansen, and Janssen.
Other related surnames are Janish, Janisch, Janek, Janas, Janta, Janeiro, Janczyk, Janiszewski, Janowski, Janus, Janousek, Jansky, Jande, Janiga, and Janar.
Janzen or Janssen is thought to be derived from the Old German name Jans, which was originally a diminutive form of Johannes (John). The surname is found in records as early as the 13th century, mostly in the form of family farms and ancestral homes in Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries.
In some cases, Janzen or Janssen may be surnames of other nationalities adopted by German immigrants. Janzen could also be of Jewish origin in some cases.
It is also possible that some bearers of the name are descended from Old Germanic or Germanic tribes such as Franks, Saxons, Swabians, or Thuringians, many of whom migrated to northern Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia from the 11th to the 13th century.
Another source of the surname is Holland, a region in the south of the Netherlands, where the majority of Janzens come from. Initially, the name was derived from the Dutch language and was the name for a horseman or groom. The name is thought to have changed to Janzen in Holland in the 16th century, and the name has since become common in the rest of the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Janzen
- Lee Janzen, professional golfer
- Danny Janzen, film director
- Janzen Jackson, NFL player
- Adam Janzen, YouTuber
- Shelly Janzen, international doctor
- Ben Janzen, musician
- Rebecca Janzen, competitive figure skater
- Eileen Janzen, mountaineer
- Kyle Janzen, professional surfer
- Sarah Janzen, Olympic rugby player
- Pia Janzen, novelist
- Mark Janzen, entrepreneur
- Julius Janzen, special effects artist
- Felicity Janzen, TV director
- Zak Janzen, artist
- Forrest Janzen, wrestling champion
- Kurt Janzen, philanthropist
- Isabelle Janzen, astrophysicist
- Katherine Janzen, motivational speaker
- Sara Janzen, model