Surname Jonasius - Meaning and Origin
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Jonasius: What does the surname Jonasius mean?
The last name Jonasius is of German origin and is derived from the first name Jonas. It is a patronymic surname, meaning “son of Jonas”. The first known use of Jonasius as a surname was in the late 15th century in Northern Germany.
Thename Jonas itself is an Hebrew name originating from the Bible. It is derived from the verb “to accept” and is usually translated to mean “dove”. Jonas is also sometimes translated to mean “active” or “energetic”. Throughout history, the name has been associated with strength, wisdom, and even prophecy.
Today, the last name Jonasius is quite common in German-speaking countries, particularly in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. The name is also spelled as “Jonasen” or “Jonasch” in some regions. Spelling variations of the name include “Jonass,” “Jonasson,” “Jonassian,” “Jonquis,” and many others.
Jonasius is an ancient and respected name that carries a lot of history and meaning within it. It can be seen as a reminder for ancestors who lived with honour and strength, of wisdom and love. For many people, it’s a reminder to strive for these noble qualities, and to honour their family name.
Order DNA origin analysisJonasius: Where does the name Jonasius come from?
The last name Jonasius is a very rare name today. First recorded in Lithuania in the 1800s, the Jonasius surname can still be found throughout Polish, Lithuanian, and Belarusian populations.
Most of the people who have this name are descendants of those who still live in the Baltic regions. It is most common in Poland, second most common in Lithuania, and is still rare in Belarus. The name has spread to some parts of Germany, Scandinavia, and even the United States, due to emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.
In the United States, the name Jonasius is still quite uncommon. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are fewer than 100 people in the entire country who have this surname. Most of them can be found in Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan.
The Jonasius name is becoming more and more rare with each passing generation. As people of this heritage spread throughout the world, they often adopted new names, or acquired new surnames due to marriage. In some cases, the spelling of the name has changed as well. Therefore, the name Jonasius is becoming increasingly scarce.
Variations of the surname Jonasius
Jonasius is a surname of Lithuanian origin. It is frequently spelled as Jonasas, Jonasius and Jonasevicius. It can also be seen as variations such as Jonasevitch, Jonasevic, Jonasevich, Jonases, and Jonassi. Other similar names include Jonais, Jonacience, Jonauskas, Jonivick and Jonosius.
The Jonasius surname is derived from the Lithuanian male name Jonas, which was a popular given name in the region, especially amongst the Jewish population. This name is believed to be from the Hebrew name Yonah, which means “dove”, suggested by the constant presence of doves in references to the bible.
The Jonasius surname developed from the first name in two distinct ways. The first would have been an adoption of the nicknames derived from the name Jonas, which would appear as Jonajus, Jonasevæs and Jonasevičius in written documents. The second would have been a patronymic, a surname created by pairing the first name with a suffix, typically "-as" or "-ius". In this case, Jonasius would be the patronymic derived from the name Jonas.
Today, there is a subset of the Jonasius surname that can be found amongst people of Armenian and Russian extraction. This is the form Jonasovich or Jonevich, which is a patronymic derived from the shortened version of the name Jon, which is a popular name in Armenia and Russia.
Overall, the Jonasius surname is still quite common among those of Lithuanian, Armenian and Russian descent. The different variants reflect the absorbed cultural influences that occurred with each movement of people. The relevance of the name Jonasius and all its variations remains strong today, a testament to its origins and variety of spellings.
Famous people with the name Jonasius
- Kevin Jonas: American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as a member of the Jonas Brothers.
- Joe Jonas: American singer-songwriter and actor, best known as a member of the Jonas Brothers.
- Nick Jonas: American singer-songwriter and actor, best known as a member of the Jonas Brothers.
- Priyanka Chopra: Indian film actress, singer and philanthropist, married to Nick Jonas.
- Antonin Jonasius: Lithuanian teacher, writer and scientist.
- Vytautas Jonasius: Lithuanian historian and theologian.
- Eglė Jonasius: Lithuanian writer, poet and actress.
- Vytautas Jonasius: Lithuanian priest and teacher.
- Algirdas Jonasius: Lithuanian physician and professor.
- Vincas Jonasius: Lithuanian social and political activist, author and poet.