Surname Jankauskas - Meaning and Origin
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Jankauskas: What does the surname Jankauskas mean?
The last name Jankauskas is a Lithuanian name. It is derived from the Lithuanian word jankas, which means "God's gift." The surname is linked to a common Lithuanian legend, in which a top official from the country's former government gifted a farm to the Jankauskas family for their service to the country.
The Jankauskas family is believed to have originated from a rural village near the Baltic Sea in Lithuania. The family eventually spread throughout the region, with members settling mainly in the northern part of the country.
The Jankauskas name was passed down through the generations, though the spelling eventually changed slightly, from Jankausas to the modern version that is used today. Many members of the family continue to live in Lithuania, and pass down the surname from parent to child.
The Jankauskas name carries a sense of honor and pride. The family has played an important role in Lithuania's history, and members of the family have distinguished themselves in fields ranging from public service to business and the arts. The surname is a reminder of the contributions the family has made to Lithuania.
Order DNA origin analysisJankauskas: Where does the name Jankauskas come from?
The last name Jankauskas is an Eastern European name found primarily in Lithuania and other countries in that region. There are an estimated 10,000 people with the last name Jankauskas living in Lithuania today, and the name is also found in Latvia, Belarus, and Poland. It is the third most common surname in Lithuania, and is also found in the United States, mainly in the Midwest and East Coast, with the highest concentration in Illinois.
The name Jankauskas is thought to have originated from the word “jankus,” meaning “little man” or “young boy,” or from the dialect term “jankutis,” meaning “one who likes to shout” or “a bold person.” Another possible origin is the Lithuanian word “janke,” meaning “forgetful.” It is believed that the original bearer of the name was an individual with one or more of these characteristic traits.
Jankauskas is also the name of a village in Lithuania, located in the Vilnius region near the Belarus border. The village’s population of about 200 people survived World War II, and today they are mainly involved in agriculture and livestock farming.
The surname Jankauskas is most closely associated with Lithuanian culture, but it is also found in other countries, particularly those of Eastern Europe. Those with the last name could be traced back to the original villages where the name originated, which can be found mainly in Lithuania today.
Variations of the surname Jankauskas
Jankauskas is the anglicized version of a Lithuanian surname. It is derived from the Lithuanian given name Jankus. Variations on spelling can range from Yanakauskas to Jankowska, while other variations of the surname include Jankevičius, Jankavicius, and Jankauskiene.
Other foreign-language spellings of Jankauskas are its Polish equivalent Jankowski, its German form Jankowsky, and its Russian form Yanakovskij. Its Yiddish variant is Yankovsky and the Latvian form is Jankavskis. The equivalents in Belarusian are Yanakouski and Yanakouskaya.
The surname Jankauskas can also have additional given name prefixes in certain Lithuanian dialects. For instance, surnames such as Jankauskaitis and Jankauskis can be seen.
Aura Jankauskaite is a famous Lithuanian politician who currently serves as the Minister of Education, Science and Sport. She also holds a Doctorate in Education. Similarly, Juozas Jankauskas is a Lithuanian composer who has won various awards over his career and is known for his choral works.
More contemporary famous individuals who have the surname Jankauskas include the Lithuanian mixed martial artist Augustas Jankauskas, the Lithuanian actor Saulius Jankauskas, and the Lithuanian sprint canoeist Justinas Jankauskas.
Overall, the surname Jankauskas is fairly common in Lithuanian culture and can have numerous variants, spellings, and meanings. However, many people with the surname are connected to Lithuanian cities, villages, and regions and carry the trademark of Lithuania's nationality.
Famous people with the name Jankauskas
- Marius Jankauskas: Lithuanian actor and theater director.
- Dainius Jankauskas: Former Lithuanian basketball player.
- Kęstutis Jankauskas: Former Lithuanian basketball coach.
- Vytautas Jankauskas: Lithuanian chess grandmaster.
- Jurgis Jankauskas: Former Lithuanian rower and rowing coach.
- Ottoman Jankauskas: Lithuanian chess player and FIDE master.
- Paulius Jankauskas: Lithuanian basketball player.
- Jonas Jankauskas: Lithuanian footballer.
- Kęstutis Jankauskas: Lithuanian former director and actor.
- Gintas Jankauskas: Lithuanian singer-songwriter.
- Tomas Jankauskas: Electrical Engineer from Lithuania.
- Antanas Jankauskas: Lithuanian actor and playwright.
- Gintautas Jankauskas: Lithuanian clarinetist.
- Vaidas Jankauskas: Lithuanian footballer.
- Marijus Jankauskas: Lithuanian television director.
- Jūratė Jankauskaitė: Lithuanian dancer and choreographer.
- Viktoras Jankauskas: Lithuanian sculptor and painter.
- Audrius Jankauskas: Lithuanian actor and theater director.
- Paulius Jankauskas: Lithuanian sculptor.
- Vytautas Jankauskas: Lithuanian lawyer and diplomat.