Surname Jekelius - Meaning and Origin

Jekelius: What does the surname Jekelius mean?

The last name Jekelius is believed to have originated from Germany. It is a variation of the German surname Jaekel. This surname literally translates to either “hook” or “fishing tackle” and is derived from the Middle Low German words “jaeke” or “jaekelin” meaning “hook”. It was likely adopted as a surname by someone who was employed as a fisherman, or who specialized in the manufacture of fishing equipment.

Over time, due to various spellings, the variations on this surname have expanded to include Jekelius. It is a less common spelling than Jaekel or Jeckel, but still exists in Germany and is more popular in Dutch-speaking countries.

The surname Jekelius is associated with Silesia, a former region in Central Europe. Families with this surname are found in Silesia’s Thuringian Region, which is now part of southern Saxony in Germany and Lower Silesia now situated in western Poland. Those with this surname are thought to have immigrated to many different places such as the Czech Republic, Netherlands, France, and the United States.

Overall, the last name Jekelius has Gothic and Germanic history, originating from a person likely to have been employed in the fishing industry. It is not a very common surname, however some families with this surname have immigrated and have spread the name to different countries and regions.

Jekelius: Where does the name Jekelius come from?

The last name "Jekelius" appears to be most commonly found in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The Jekelius name has been passed down through generations in the Nordic region since the mid-1500s, with records showing the first official record of Jekelius in Denmark in 1559.

The surname is associated with a number of distinguished figures in Scandinavian history, from famous political figures to influential businessmen. Today, Jekelius descendants continue to hold various positions of power as high-ranking civil servants, businessmen, politicians, and academics within their home countries.

In the United States, the surname Jekelius is found in the Scandinavian-American community, as well as communities with Scandinavian ancestry. The Jekelius family name is associated with the many Scandinavian communities found throughout the Midwest, such as the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Dakota.

For those individuals with the Jekelius surname, they have the ability to research their family heritage and records, as well as connect with other Jekelius families found in the United States and other countries. The Jekelius family name often brings with it a sense of identity to those of Scandinavian descent.

Variations of the surname Jekelius

Jekelius is a rare surname with multiple spellings, variations, and surnames of the same origin. These include Jaklius, Jakalius, Yakelius, Jakulius, Yakalius, and Jekelius. This surname is thought to originate from Lithuania, where it is still found today.

The Jaklius variant of the Jekelius surname is thought to come from the Lithuanian word “jakas” meaning “musician”. The Jakalius variant may also come from the same root, or it may be derived from “jakas” plus the Lithuanian word for “beauty”.

The Yakelius variant of the Jekelius surname likely comes from the Lithuanian word for “eagle”. This could refer to the heraldic eagle that is often used in Lithuanian coats of arms.

The Jakulius variant of the Jekelius surname may have originated as a patronymic name; the name is derived from the personal name Jakule, which was a common Lithuanian name during the early part of the Middle Ages.

The Yakalius variant comes from the same root as the Jaklius variant, but with the addition of the Lithuanian word for “life”. This suggests that the Yakalius name may have been used to denote someone who was “lively” or “full of life”.

Finally, the Jekelius surname is the most common variant of this family name; it is also the most likely to be found in other countries outside of Lithuania. This variant is thought to come from the Old Germanic personal name “Jekel”, meaning “Strong Lord”.

Famous people with the name Jekelius

• Paul Jekelius: German former footballer who played as a defender for Kaiserslautern in the 1980s.
• Alexander Jekelius: German storyboard artist and filmmaker, best known for his work on films such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
• Franz Jekelius: Austrian former professional football goalkeeper who represented Austria at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
• Fredrik Jekelius: Swedish former professional hockey player who played for the German first division club ERC Ingolstadt from 1994 to 1997.
• Frank Jekelius: German legal scholar and entrepreneur who served the mayor of Berlin for two terms from 1996 to 2004.
• Hans Jekelius: German professor of medicine at the University of Mainz, credited with pioneering the early use of chemotherapy in medical treatments.
• Franz Emanuel Jekelius: Austrian film director and screenplay writer, best known for his work on the silent film A Small Town in the Carpathian Mountains.
• Tammy Jekelius: American poet and author who wrote for many prominent magazines, including the Harvard Review, the American Poetry Review, and the Paris Review.
• Augusta Jekelius: German sculptor, best known for her monumental sculptures of animals.
• Gaetano Jekelius: Italian composer of the Baroque period, who is particularly known for his operas.

Other surnames

Jekeli