Surname Jochum - Meaning and Origin

Exploring Ancestral Roots and the Origins of the Surname Jochum Through DNA Analysis at iGENEA

Venturing into the uncharted territories of my ancestry through iGENEA's DNA analysis lent a profoundly educational perspective to my familial roots. Detailed analysis and interpretation of my paternal and maternal lineage not only unveiled origins of the Jochum surname but also elucidated significant connections to Central Europe.

S. Jochum

Jochum: What does the surname Jochum mean?

The surname Jochum is of German and Dutch origin and is derived from the Germanic personal name “Jordan”. Meaning ‘descending’, the name originates from the Hebrew and was the name given to the river in which Jesus was baptized. As a surname, Jochum may have been adopted by families as a sign of devotion to their faith or to pay homage to their ancestors’ belief in Christianity.

Other variants of the name are written as 'Jokum', 'Jochen', or 'Jochenson'. The spelling of the name has changed as it has spread across Europe, and over time the name has become Anglicized to 'Joachim' and 'Jochum'.

Today, there are approximately 7,000 people bearing the surname Jochum around the world. It is found most commonly in Germany, Austria, and the United States. Those bearing the surname often hail from European families that prize tradition and hold tight customs of faith, typically within the Roman Catholic Church.

Jochum is a name that embodies a legacy of religious history, perseverance, and belonging. Those who bear the surname are drawn together both traditionally and through their common faith.

Jochum: Where does the name Jochum come from?

The surname Jochum is relatively rare today, however it is still found in multiple countries around the world. It is most commonly found in Germany, where rate of those bearing the name is estimated to be at 0.0001%. It is also present in the United States amongst German-Americans, but its prevalence there is decreased in comparison to its presence in Germany.

It is also present in Austria, where, although rare, it is more commonplace than in the United States. In both Austria and Germany, the name is believed to be derived from a contraction of the German name "Jochheim," which however is itself of more recent origin. Variants of the name, including Jochim and Jochims, are also reportedly found in France, the Netherlands, and Brazil, as well as other countries where German immigrants have settled in more recent centuries.

In general, however, the name Jochum is generally uncommon today, with only a few thousand individuals bearing some variant of it being recorded worldwide. The surname is not currently amongst the top one thousand most-common surnames in either Germany, France, Austria, or the United States, although there is some local variation where these countries are concerned. Therefore, although the surname is still present in many countries, it is far from being a common one.

Variations of the surname Jochum

Jochum is a German surname derived from Bavarian and Tyrolean dialects and means “joiner, joiner's apprentice” It is also a variant form of middle High German “gochel, gochl” which means “joiner, carpenter”. Common variants of Jochum are Jochheim, Jochen, Jockel, Jockelmann, Jockele, Jochen, Jockmann, Jocklein, Jochlin, Jochel, Joch, Jochm, Jochmichel, Jochmueller, Jochle, Jochlemann, Jochmann, Juchum, Jockum, Gockum and Gochum.

In Germany, spellings of Jochum that are more common include Jochmann and Jochen. In many cases, individuals with this surname have changed the spelling to modernize it or to adapt it to their language or country. For instance, in the United States, Jordheim and Jurgens have become popular variations.

Surnames that are of similar or related origins to Jochum include Jocham, Jochelson, Yockman, Jochenbauer, Yochim, Yokim, Yochum, Yocham, Yokum, Jochles, Yochoms, Yokims, Jochim, Yochim, Yochums, Yocham, Jokhman, Yokom, Yochom, Yokim, Jochens, Jockman, Yokam, Jockel, Jochle, Yokom and Jochlin.

Jochum is a rare surname, but is particularly common in some areas of Germany such as Bavaria and Tyrol. Additionally, with the rise of emigration, it is becoming increasingly more common in other parts of the world such as the United States, Australia, and Canada, especially among the descendants of German immigrants.

Famous people with the name Jochum

• Otto Jochum (German conductor and composer of classical music)
• Eugen Jochum (German conductor and composer of classical music)
• Jean-Claude Jochum (French philosopher and theologian)
• Johann Lorenz Jochum (German scholastic philosopher and theologian)
• Julius Jochum (German opera and symphony conductor)
• Brigitte Jochum-Walt (Austrian neuropsychiatrist)
• Erna Jaerisch Jochum (Danish graphic artist)
• Luc Jochum (French ballet dancer and choreographer)
• Lukas Jochum (German vocalist and songwriter)
• Peter Jochum (Austrian musical composer and director)
• Stephan Jochum (German sculptor and artist)
• Edmund Jochum (Austrian conductor)
• Christoph Jochum (German conductor)
• Hans John Jochum (German actor)
• Johann Jochum (German sculptor)
• Siegfried Jochum (German conductor and composer)
• Bruno Jochum (German philosopher)

Other surnames

JochumsJochumsen