Surname Johntke - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Johntke: What does the surname Johntke mean?
The last name Johntke is derived from the French name Jean (John). It is believed to be an occupational name derived from "Johannes," which is a German and Dutch personal name derived from the Hebrew name "Yochanan," meaning "God is gracious." As the name spread throughout Europe, it evolved and transformed into other derivatives, such as Jon and John, and eventually into the form of Johntke.
Though its specific origin is unclear, many in the Scandinavian countries attribute Johntke to a person who worked as a "Yontk," which was a nickname used to refer to one who operated a sailing tank vessel. During this period, the occupation of professional sailors was thought to be a prestigious one and those sailors were held in high regard by their peers and the public.
The Johntke name has spread throughout Europe and eventually to the United States over the years. Today, many families bearing the Johntke name can be found throughout the United States and certain parts of Europe. Though the name has changed over the years, the origins and meanings of the name remain the same and still carry a sense of pride and tradition with those who bear it.
Order DNA origin analysisJohntke: Where does the name Johntke come from?
The last name Johntke is most commonly found in German-speaking countries, particularly in western and central Germany. In the United States, it is a much rarer name and is found mainly in states with a high population of German-Americans, such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. It is also possible to find Johntke families in many of the areas settled by German immigrants in the early 1900s, such as parts of New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
In Germany, the name is most commonly associated with the small village of Seiffen located in the Ore Mountains of Saxony. Records of the name going back to 1620 indicate that the village was populated largely by the Johntke family. The name was likely derived from the local dialect term for "son of John" - Johntkending - explaining the popularity of the name in this area.
Today, the Johntke family is widespread throughout central Europe, although exact numbers cannot be determined as the name is relatively uncommon. It can also be found in scattered pockets in the United States as a result of waves of German-American immigration.
Variations of the surname Johntke
The surname Johntke is an anglicized German name of either Slavic or Prussian origin. It has a complicated history, with various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, as summarised below.
Variants of the surname Johntke include Yohnke, Yohncke, Yontzke, Jontzke, Yonke, Jontke, Yoncke, Yunk, Yunken and Yonken.
It is also spelled variously as Johntke, Jontke, Jontzke, Yontzke, Yonke, Yohntke, Yohncke, Yahnke, Yahnk, Yoncke, Yunk, Yunken, and Yonken.
Surnames of the same origin include Gonecke, Gnenke, Goneke, Gonick, Gohnick, Goenicke, Gohnnicke, Gontke, Jonkow, Joncke, Yontzki and Yontske.
The variants of the surname and the surnames of the same origin all vary slightly from each other, yet all share the same underlying origin. The names are an Anglicized version of the surnames found in German, Prussian, or Slavic regions of Europe, and a variety of different spellings evolved over time from these regions. The spelling of the surname is, therefore, an area of considerable complexity, and different spellings are often employed in different countries.
The spelling of the surname Johnske, in particular, has undergone a number of alterations over time, and some early records list the surname as Yohnke, Yohncke, or Jontzke. Different countries have also produced different variants, with some spellings appearing more frequently in certain countries than others. It is, therefore, important to pay attention to the exact spelling of any name of this origin, in order to ensure that the correct origin is attributed to the surname.
Famous people with the name Johntke
- Bill Johntke: American retired tennis player.
- Gordon Johntke: American musician, producer, songwriter, and recording engineer, known for his work with numerous popular artists across the country.
- Gregg Johntke: American entrepreneur, television producer, and philanthropist.
- Adolf Johntke: German journalist and writer who contributed to several magazines and newspapers.
- Hans-Jürgen Johntke: German classical music composer best known for his symphonies and operas.
- Joachim Johntke: German cyclist who competed in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games.
- Leopold Johntke: Austrian operatic baritone who performed in operas and operettas during the early twentieth century.
- Marco Johntke: German professional footballer who has played for clubs in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States.
- Tom Johntke: American artist and art teacher who specializes in abstract expressionism.
- Uwe Johntke: German playwright, author, and director who has written plays for the stage and radio.