Surname Jonassohn - Meaning and Origin

Jonassohn: What does the surname Jonassohn mean?

The last name Jonassohn is of German origin, and is derived from the given name "Johannes". Records of the surname date back to the 15th century, when families bearing the surname were recorded as living in the region of Bavaria. The name translates to mean "son of Johannes", and was likely given to a son of a man called Johannes. The surname is still common in Germany today, and many people with the surname can be found living in the region.

The surname Jonassohn is an example of a patronymic surname. Patronymic surnames were common throughout Europe, and often developed when people were known by only one name. By adding the suffix "son" to the father's name, the surname would be passed down through the generations. Many immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries to the United States kept this surname, perhaps as a reminder of their families' origins.

The Jonassohn surname is often spelled differently, due to the fact that many people with the surname have Anglicized it. Variations of the name can include Jonassen, Jonason, Jonsson, and Jonsen. Some people may have even changed the spelling to Johnsohn, or even Johnson.

The Jonassohn surname is a reminder of family origins and continued cultural heritage. Many people with the Jonassohn surname are proud of their German heritage, and may continue to preserve their cultural heritage in the form of names, family celebrations, and other traditions.

Jonassohn: Where does the name Jonassohn come from?

The surname Jonassohn is most commonly found throughout Europe, particularly in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. The emergence of this commonly found surname in the European region may be attributed to the mass migration of Jews from Central and Eastern Europe in the early 19th Century. This wave of migration saw a large shift in surnames across the continent, with Jonassohn appearing more frequently.

In Germany, the Jonassohn surname is especially common in the East German states like Brandenburg, Saxony and Mecklenburg, as well as the Rhineland-Palatinate regions. In the Czech Republic it is mostly concentrated in the Moravian-Silesian region, while in Austria it appears mostly in Styria and Lower Austria. In Switzerland, it is found in the cantons of Bern, St. Gallen, Valdarno and Zurich.

In addition to Europe, the Jonassohn surname is also found in pockets of North America; primarily Canada which is home to descendants of the Jewish immigrants who departed from Central and Eastern Europe. Today, the surname is still common, but in much smaller numbers than before as many have modified or changed their family names, or gradually assimilated into their new communities.

Variations of the surname Jonassohn

Jonassohn is an Ashkenazic Jewish surname with European origins. The surname is most commonly spelled Jonassohn, but there are also several variants and alternate spellings. The most common variation of the surname is Yonassohn, with the “y” replacing the “j”. Other alternate spellings include Johnessohn, Jonasson, Jonassen, Jonassonn, Jonnasson, Yonasson and Yonassen.

Variants and other surnames of the same origin may also include Ianuson, Iannesohn, Ionoson, Ionuson, Ionosohn, Iannson, Ionesson, Ionessohn, Jenaison, Janusohn, Yonaison and Yonaesohn.

Regardless of their spelling, all of these surnames are derived from the Hebrew name Yona. The surname translates to “Yahweh has favored”. The name is also found associated with the Spanish name Juan and the Russian name Yan.

Most likely, these surnames were originally adopted in the Middle Ages when Ashkenazic Jews sought to establish a connection to the Jewish people of ancient Jerusalem. While the surnames are now commonly found in Europe, they are still widely used by families of Jewish descent living in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and other countries around the world.

Famous people with the name Jonassohn

• Klaus Jonassohn: German-Canadian writer, social scientist, professor and human rights advocate.
• Wayne Jonassohn: American figure skater and dance competitor.
• Maria Jonassohn: Austrian opera singer and mezzo-soprano.
• Dov Jonassohn: Israeli journalist and television host.
• Ambrose Jonassohn: Austrian-British psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and chess player.
• Janos Jonassohn: Hungarian writer and translator.
• Gabriela Jonassohn: Argentinian-American author, historian and biographer.
• John Jonassohn: American singer-songwriter.
• Johanna Jonassohn: German-American opera singer and soprano.
• Richard Jonassohn: Austrian-British romancier, conductor and musicologist.

Other surnames

Jonasson