Surname Jocham - Meaning and Origin
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Jocham: What does the surname Jocham mean?
The last name Jocham is of Germanic origin and is derived from the personal name Jochaim. It is a patronymic name which means "son of Jochaim." This name is an alternate spelling of Joachim and was derived from the Hebrew name ‘Yoyakim’, meaning ‘lifted up by God’.
In Germany, the name Jocham first appeared in documents during the 13th century when it began to appear as a surname. Today, it is most common in the northern German states such as Saxony and Nordrhein-Westfalen.
The surname was also popular in Switzerland during the 15th and 16th centuries. During this time, the name was often used in the religious context. For instance, it gave birth to the Swiss-German expression ‘jochamslieman’, meaning “to make an oath”. It was used in reference to the Biblical oath by the angel known as Joachim.
More recently, families carrying the name have also spread to the United States and Canada, likely due to German immigration to the Americas.
In conclusion, the last name Jocham is most likely a patronymic name derived from the Hebrew name ‘Yoyakim’, meaning ‘lifted up by God’. In Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and Canada, it is still used in its original form and has been popularized in religious circles. It is a strong reminder of the Biblical oath taken by the angel known as Jochaim.
Order DNA origin analysisJocham: Where does the name Jocham come from?
The last name Jocham is not common in any one place today; however, it is spread throughout the world in small numbers. The earliest record of this surname dates back to the mid-15th century in German-speaking countries, mainly in Bavaria and Austria. Throughout the centuries, many Jocham families emigrated to more distant lands. In the 19th and 20th centuries, some moved to the United States where they settled mainly in Texas, California, and Florida.
It is also found in other places around the world such as Australia, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, and Israel. It was even found in South America with emigrants from Germany. The last name Jocham also appeared in France and the Netherlands.
Despite the name's long history, it remains relatively uncommon today. A search on Ancestry.com reveals only a total of 500 people with the last name Jocham living in North America today. In the United Kingdom, there are about 100 people with the Jocham surname according to the 1881 UK census. The highest concentration appears to be in Germany, with about 2,600 people with this last name in 2020.
Variations of the surname Jocham
The surname Jocham has several variants and alternate spellings that are all derived from the same source. The spellings of Jocham include Joham, Joam, Jochan, Jochim, and Jochum. Jocham is a variation of the Germanic given name Jochim which is derived from the Hebrew name Yehoyachin, meaning “Yahweh will establish.” This surname is often found in Germany, Belarus, and Poland, however, there are other locations as well.
In Americanized form, the name Jocham is sometimes spelled as either Jocum or Jocome. It is also known as Jochum or Jochoma. Jochome is the English version of Jocham with the ‘c’ changed to a ‘k’. The name Jochum is another variation of Jocham, but is derived from Eastern Prussia. Surnames such as Jochims and Jochumson are derived from the Jocham name.
Jocham is also found as a patronymic in various locations, such as Poland which takes the form of Jochimiak. This name can be applied to various locations, such as Prussia, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, or western France, as well as Poland.
Another variation of the name is that of the Germanic variant of Jocham, which often appears as Jochem. Jochem is a Germanic variant of the original personal name Jochim, which is also formed from the Hebrew name Yehoyachin. Another form, Jochen, is a German patronymic sourced from Joham.
In sum, Jocham is a surname derived from the Hebrew name Yehoyachin and has various spellings, variations, and patronymic forms that are used in various locations, including Germany, Belarus, Poland, and other regions. These variations are Jochen, Jochim, Jochima, Jochum, Jochem, and Jochimiak, among others.
Famous people with the name Jocham
- Lain Jocham: a YouTube star and fashion influencer.
- Isabella "Izzy" Jocham: a rising singer and held semi-finals for the Voice in 2021.
- Joshua Jocham: a prominent consultant, attorney, and political advisor.
- Karoline Jocham: a German businesswoman, investor and tech entrepreneur.
- Johann Jocham: a German painter, etcher, and draftsman.
- Johannes Jocham: a German musicologist and author.
- Ralf Jocham: a German entrepreneur who co-founded several companies.
- Anna Jocham: a German photographer and media artist.
- Martin Jocham: a German linguist and professor at the Technical University of Darmstadt.
- Laura Jocham: a German fashion designer who specializes in bridalwear.