Surname Jaanson - Meaning and Origin
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Jaanson: What does the surname Jaanson mean?
The last name Jaanson is of Scandinavian origin. The meaning of the name is thought to be derived from Old Norse words meaning “son of Jan”, indicating that is was originally a patronymic surname. The given name “Jan” originates from Hebrew and means “God is gracious”.
The name is likely to be associated with the same root word ”Johannes”, which is Greek and Latin for ‘John’. The name is found particularly among families in Scandinavian countries, in addition to some Sara countries, such as Estonia.
In the past, the last name was often written as “Jansson”, which came to be the more commonly used form of the name in Swedish and Norwegian speaking countries.
The name Jaanson can also be found in some English speaking regions as a result of immigration. Those with this surname are thought to likely be descended from Scandinavian heritage, though their families may have originated in any number of countries.
Today, the name Jaanson is relatively uncommon. It is estimated that about 19,000 people worldwide bear this last name.
Order DNA origin analysisJaanson: Where does the name Jaanson come from?
The surname Jaanson is most common today in Estonia, where it is the sixth most popular last name. According to public records, over 8,500 people bear the Jaanson name in Estonia. It is also common in Finland where the most recent records suggest that over 3,500 people have adopted the surname.
In addition, Jaanson is found more widely in Scandinavian, Baltic, and Northern European countries such as Latvia and Lithuania where hundreds of people bear the name. There are also people with this last name in other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany and the UK, as well as in North America.
It is believed the name Jaanson is of Scandinavian origin, derived from a name connected to its wearer’s patronymic; meaning their father's first name. As such, people with the surname Jaanson may be descended from individuals who lived in the Scandinavian countries during the pre-modern period around the 13th and 14th centuries.
The Jaanson surname is also found used in highly-regarded works of fiction such as Pulitzer Prize-winning author Junot Diaz’s novel, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” In this novel, the protagonist Oscar's best friend is named Ybonne Jaanson. Finally, some famous people with the Jaanson surname include Estonian philosopher and politician Hillar Jaanson.
Variations of the surname Jaanson
The surname Jaanson has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Janson, and there are other more specific spellings such as Jansont, Jonsson, and Jensson. To make matters even more complicated, some other surnames that are of the same origin or have been derived from the Jaanson surname include Jansson, Janssens, Jensdotter, and Jansdotter.
The surname is of German origin, and it is likely that the name had been derived from a place name, such as Jahn's town, Jahn's estate, or Jahn's farm. The name has also been associated with lifestyles such as hunting and fishing. Additionally, in some cases, the name has also been associated with the practice of blacksmithing or metalworking.
The Jaanson surname is most common in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, though it can be found elsewhere in Europe and the United States. The name is still reasonably common, and it is estimated that there are around 20,000 people with the family name in Norway alone.
The Jaanson surname is still popular in the Nordic countries, and its use is likely to remain so for many years to come. It is a surname that has endured many changes in spelling, and it is a testament to the strength of families and their ability to survive and thrive for generations.
Famous people with the name Jaanson
- Ewert Jaanson: Estonian philosopher and literary scholar.
- Sven Jaanson: Swedish chess player and the twelfth European Union Chess Champion.
- Marek Jaanson: Estonian entrepreneur, philanthropist and serial investor.
- Maarja Jaanson: Estonian international footballer who plays as a forward for the Estonia women's national football team.
- Wim Jaanson: former field hockey player from the Netherlands.
- Raivo Jaanson: Estonian actor, theatre director and theatre teacher.
- Edvins Jaanson: Latvian chess grandmaster.
- Tave Jaanson: Member of the XII Riigikogu, the modern Estonian parliament.
- Margus Jaanson: Former Chairman of Estonian Basketball Association.
- Urmas Jaanson: Estonian actor, comedian and theatre director.