Surname Jagiello - Meaning and Origin

Jagiello: What does the surname Jagiello mean?

The last name Jagiello is of Polish origin and means "son of Jagiełło". This ultimately comes from the given name of Jagiełło, which is probably derived from the ancient Germanic word “gisla” that means vow or hostage.

The Jagiello dynasty emerged in the late fourteenth century and was named after Władysław II Jagiełło, also known as Ladislaus II of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. He reigned from 1386 to 1434 and was the first King of United artium of Poland and Lithuania. One of the most important aspects of his reign was his union with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which strengthened ties between the two nations.

The Jagiello dynasty was a prominent political dynasty of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and played a significant role in the history of Central and Eastern Europe. Fifteen rulers of the Jagiello dynasty governed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from its formation in 1386 until the Russian Empire annexed the two countries in the late eighteenth century.

The Jagiello dynasty had many notable accomplishments. Their reign is credited with the preservation of cultural diversity in Europe; helping shape the nation's economy and military power; promoting foreign policy; championing religious tolerance; and forging closer ties with Western Europe.

As it stands today, the last name of Jagiello symbolizes a proud family line that has had a significant impact on the history of Poland and Lithuania. It is a respected name and many in the two countries view it with admiration and pride.

Jagiello: Where does the name Jagiello come from?

The Jagiello name is most commonly found in parts of Eastern and Central Europe, particularly in Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The Jagiello surname has historical roots that date back to the 13th century, when Poland and Lithuania were united under the rule of King Ladislaus Jagiello. Through intermarriages with other noble families, the Jagiello name can be seen as far back as the 10th and 11th centuries.

In the present day, the Jagiello surname is still prevalent in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, the Jagiello name is the 31st most common family name. Several cities have streets, plazas, and parks named after the Jagiello family. Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland is named after the Jagiello dynasty as well.

In Lithuania, people of the Jagiello surname are mainly concentrated around Vilnius and several other cities in the country's south. The Jagiello surname is also present in smaller numbers in Belarus, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

The Jagiello name is also celebrated in the United States. Several Polish immigrants bearing the Jagiello name arrived in the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Currently, the Jagiello surname is found in several parts of the United States, including New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

Variations of the surname Jagiello

The Jagiello surname has various spellings and variants depending on the language of origin. In Polish, the common spelling is "Jagiełło," with other variants including the agnate "Jagiełła" and "Jagiello" or "Jagielo." In English, the most common spelling is "Jagiello." In Lithuanian the name is usually spelled as "Jogaila" or "Jogailo," and in Latin the surname can be written as "Yagailo," "Yagello," or "Gajailo". Additionally, the surname is sometimes spelled with a “y” instead of a “j”, such as "Yagiello" or "Yagiella".

The surname "Jagiello" is also an anglicized version of other surnames, stemming from Central and Eastern Europeans of Jewish origin. In Yiddish, the surname appears as either "Yageilov" or "Yagello" while in Hebrew it can be "Ya’akobov" or "Ya’akovson." In Ukrainian, "Yahiel" is a variation of the name. In Romania, the surname is "Gagiu." Other anglicized variants are "Jagel," "Jagal," "Yagley," "Yegley," or "Yagel."

The "Jagiello" surname is often associated with the House of Jagiellon, a royal dynasty which emerged in the later Middle Ages in Royal Prussia and Lithuania. The Jagiellon dynasty had many branches, including "Szczotka" (Jagiellonka); "Lanckoroński" (Jagiellonki); "Witolczyk" (Jagiellonczyk); "Toporczyk" (Jagielloniec); "Mąż" (Jagiellon); and "Przezdziecki" (Jagiellonica). Its lineage continues to the present day, with the current king of Poland, Władysław IV (Jagiełło IV), being the most direct descendant of the House of Jagiellon.

Famous people with the name Jagiello

• Władysław II Jagiełło (King of Poland and Lithuania, b.1362: d.1434)
• Casimir IV Jagiellon (King of Poland and Lithuania, b.1427: d.1492)
• Sigismund I the Old (King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, b.1467: d.1548)
• Zygmunt II August (King of Poland, b. 1520: d.1572)
• Jagiellon dynasty (Poland and Lithuania from 1386 to 1572)
• Sigismund II Augustus (King of Poland, b.1520: d.1572)
• Sigismund III Vasa (King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, b.1566: d.1632)
• John II Casimir Vasa (King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, b. 1609: d.1672)
• John III Sobieski (King of Poland, b.1629: d.1696)
• May Jagiello (Polish-born American journalist and interior designer, b.1930s)
• Władysław Jagiełło (Polish writer, b.1940s)
• Peter Jagiello (Polish politician, b.1944)
• Józef Jagiello (Polish politician, b.1945)
• Krzysztof Jagiello (Polish composer, b.1958)
• Artur Jagiello (Polish ice hockey player, b.1991)
• Jan Ziggy Jagielski (Polish film director, b.1969)

Other surnames

JagielaJagiellaJagielowicz