Surname Jankofske - Meaning and Origin

Jankofske: What does the surname Jankofske mean?

The last name Jankofske is of German origin and is derived from the first name Johann, a Jewish variant of John meaning “God has been gracious.” The last name can be found in the United States, as well as in several other countries, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland.

Descendants of the original Jankofske family have taken up a wide range of professions and trades. Examples include butchers, tailors, bakers, hosiers, shoemakers, watchmakers, and merchants. There are also individuals with this last name who have achieved success in the world of academia, government, and the military.

The Jankofske family's roots have shared connections to Jewish and Catholic populations laboring together in Germany and Central Europe. Many of these individuals eventually found a way to immigrate to the United States, Canada, and beyond, in search of both religious freedom and economic opportunity.

Today, the last name Jankofske still carries a sense of pride for the diverse family background with which the name is associated. Those bearing the name may take comfort in knowing that their roots span multiple countries and numerous occupations. While the original Jankofske family may have been subject to the religious persecution and economic hardship prior to immigrating to the United States, their descendants now proudly uphold the family’s traditions, connections, and successes.

Jankofske: Where does the name Jankofske come from?

The last name Jankofske is most commonly found in Germany, where it is primarily located in the eastern states, including Saxony and Brandenburg. It is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, when families with the surname Jankofske were resident in the region. It is believed that all members of the Jankofske family today can trace their roots back to these original settlers.

The name Jankofske is relatively uncommon in the United States, where it can be found in small pockets of the east coast states, the Midwest and West Coast. The name is mainly concentrated in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. The Jankofske family in the United States likely immigrated from Germany in the late 19th or early 20th centuries in pursuit of better economic opportunities.

In Europe, the name Jankofske is also found in mainly eastern parts of other countries such as Poland, Liechtenstein, and Austria. It is also found in large amounts in Switzerland and The Czech Republic.

Due to its scattered and spread-out nature, the Jankofske family around the world is not particularly close-knit. However, there are some regional reunions and family gatherings held in prescription to keeping the name alive and promoting a connection between those who bear it.

Variations of the surname Jankofske

Jankofske is a surname with a variety of spellings, including Janikovský, Janikowsky, Janikovski, and Janikowski. The earliest recorded usage of the surname as Jankofske dates to at least the late 1800s in the United States.

The name Jankofske may have derived from a Czech variant of John, Jan. The suffix ‘-owski’ or ‘-owsky’ is typically found in Polish and Russian surnames and means ‘descendant of’. Alternatively, the family may have originated in Poland or Russia and adopted the Czech variant of the name.

Various other Polish and Russian spellings and variants of the surname Jankofske exist, such as Yankovsky, Yanikovski, Yakovovubesky, Jankovskij, Yankofskaia, Janikovskaya, Jankowski, and Janikowski.

For people with the Jankofske surname who trace their origins back to Europe, their ancestors might have been farmers or peasants, as the German, Polish, and Czech word for farmer, Bauer or bôr, is often used within the surname.

The Jankofske surname is also found in Slavic countries such as Czechoslovakia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine, and is usually associated with town or city names like Janikovca or Janikovsky.

While the origin of the Jankofske surname is not known for certain, one can infer that it is a variation of the surnames Janikowski, Janikovski, or Janikowsky, which have possible Polish, Russian, or Czech origins. The suffix ‘-owski’ or ‘-owsky’ in the surname sometimes indicates a Polish or Russian origin, but the origin of the family is ultimately unknown.

Famous people with the name Jankofske

• Julian Jankofske: American professional soccer player who currently plays for Forward Madison FC in USL League One.
• Frank Jankofske: American football player who played for the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL.
• Keith Jankofske: American radio personality who currently hosts a show on Sirius XM Radio.
• Rebecca Jankofske: American actress best known for her role as "Rachel" in the film The Social Network.
• Kirk Jankofske: American filmmaker whose work has been featured on ESPN, MTV, NBC, and CBS.
• Bob Jankofske: former American professional ice hockey player who played for the now-defunct Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.
• Marcy Jankofske: American photographer and television producer for the CBS television show 60 Minutes.
• Robert Jankofske: American historian and biographer of Louisa May Alcott and Mark Twain.
• Thomas Jankofske: American jazz keyboard player, recording artist, composer, and producer.
• Anne Jankofske: American artist best known for her sculpture "The Beggar's Bowl" which was featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Other surnames

JankofskiJankofsky