Surname Jonasson - Meaning and Origin
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Jonasson: What does the surname Jonasson mean?
The last name Jonasson is of Scandinavian origin meaning “son of Jonas.” It is derived from the Hebrew name Yonah or Yona, which means dove. The name was popularized in Europe primarily through the Germanic form of the name, Johannes, and the Old Testament character Jonah, but it was also used by Christian groups in Eastern Europe such as the Ukrainians, Poles, and Russians.
The first recorded spelling of the surname was found in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1650. It was spelled Jonasson, derived from the Germanic form of the name Johannes, which is still found today in spelling variations such as Jonsson, Jonsen, and Jonason.
The surname Jonasson appears most prominently in Sweden and Norway, but it is also found in Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Those with the last name Jonasson often share common interests such as nature, travel, history, and art.
Jonasson is a very old name that is still commonly found today. It is a name that has both spiritual and familial significance and represents loyalty, endurance, and knowledge.
Order DNA origin analysisJonasson: Where does the name Jonasson come from?
The last name Jonasson is most commonly seen in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway, although there are also many who carry the surname in Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. It is also seen in some parts of the United States where there is a large Scandinavian population.
The surname originated in Sweden, and has been used in the country since at least the 14th century. It is a patronymic name, meaning that it originated from the given name of a father or ancestor. In this case, the given name was probably Jonas. It may also be spelled as Jonassen, Jonasen, Jonasson, Jonsson, or Jonnson.
According to a 2018 survey, the Jonasson surname is the 37th most common surname in Sweden, with about 21,000 people carrying the name. The surname is slightly less common in Norway; the most recent survey reported the surname as the 71st most common there, with around 6,000 people having the name.
In the United States, the surname is still relatively rare. According to the 2019 Census, only 2,892 people had the Jonasson surname in the United States, making it one of the 500 least common surnames in the country. Nevertheless, it is still not unusual to see the Jonasson name in some towns with large Scandinavian populations, such as Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Variations of the surname Jonasson
Jonasson is a patronymic surname derived from the male given name Jon. It is most commonly found in Sweden and Denmark, but is found in other countries including Norway, Iceland, Finland, and the United States. The variants of the name are varied, but commonly seen variations include Jonsson, Jonsen, Jonson, Jons, Joneson, Jonesen, Jone, Juhansson, Juasson, Juansen, Jonsdotter, and Jonsdottir.
The most common spelling of this surname is Jonasson, which is derived from the male given name, Jon. As a patronymic surname, this usage of the surname Jonasson is typical of Swedish and Norwegian surnames. The alternate variant, Jonsson, is also a patronymic name, but is derived from the Old Norse personal name, Jón, instead of the modern Norwegian male given name, Jon. This variant can also be seen as Jonsen or Jonson.
The other meanings of the surname Jonasson can vary widely, but include various adaptations of the most common spellings. Joneson, Jonesen, and Jone are some examples of this, derived from the common English spelling of Jon. Furthermore, some surnames derived from Jonasson are derived from Swedish and Norwegian suffixes, such as Juhansson, Juasen, and Juasson. These surnames are usually a combination of the given name Johan or Johannes, plus the suffix -son or -sen respectively.
The female counterparts of these surnames, created using the suffixes -dotter or -dottir, would be Jonsdotter and Jonsdottir, These are usually used for daughters of fathers with the surname Jonasson, but can also be seen for married women who took as surname the given name Jon, along with the female suffix.
Famous people with the name Jonasson
- Jonas Jonasson: Bestselling Swedish author of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.
- Lars Jonasson: Former Member of the Swedish parliament for the Moderate Party and a former ambassador for Sweden in Vietnam.
- Andreas Jonasson: Former Swedish professional ice hockey player who played in the Elitserien.
- Per Jonasson: Swedish professional ice hockey player who plays in the Swedish Hockey League for Färjestad BK.
- Bengt Jonasson: Former Swedish professional ice hockey player who played for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL.
- Margareta Jonasson: Swedish actress and author who has worked in Swedish television and theatre.
- Sigrid Jonasson: Norwegian actress best known for her role as Hulda in the Norwegian TV series Hotel Cæsar.
- Jesper Jonasson: Swedish professional ice hockey player who plays in HockeyAllsvenskan for IF Björklöven.
- Sten Jonasson: Swedish politician who held a number of positions within the Moderate Party and was an elected Member of Parliament for the Moderate Party in Sweden.
- Linda Jonasson: Swedish Olympic cross-country skier who competed for Sweden at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics.