Surname Jovanovic - Meaning and Origin

Exploring the Tapestry of My Serbian Heritage: A DNA Journey of a Jovanovic through iGENEA

Embarking on a voyage of self-discovery through an iGENEA DNA analysis, I unearthed the roots of my family name, Jovanovic. Descending from a Serbian heritage, I delved into the hidden corridors of my ancestral past. I explored the cultural lore surrounding the Jovanovic surname and how it ties into my multifaceted genetic makeup.

T. Jovanovic

Jovanovic: What does the surname Jovanovic mean?

The last name Jovanovic is a Serbian patronymic surname, which is derived from the given name Jovan, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. Typically, these types of surnames will refer to the father or paternal grandfather of the bearer, and usually end in "ić", with Jovanović being the most common derivation in Serbia.

Historically, a patronymic surname was used to differentiate between individuals with the same name and trace one's genealogy.This was common practice in European countries and served as an identification of a particular family line. The reasoning behind naming conventions was also seen as a way to ensure family properties were not blended.

Given the geographic location of Serbia, the use of this surname is quite predominant in the region. Records have shown that the surname Jovanović has been documented as early as the mid 16th century, with continued usage throughout the years due to the family's military service and active involvement in the politics of the Ottoman Empire.

Today, the prevalence of the Jovanović surname is quite common with records indicating that it is used by approximately 160,000 people. It is especially popular in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Croatia. Additionally, the last name has been seen used in several other countries namely the US, Germany, Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Jovanovic: Where does the name Jovanovic come from?

The last name Jovanovic is most commonly found in Serbia and Montenegro. It is a patronymic name which means "son of Jovan" according to the Ancestry.com website. The name is derived from the personal name Jovan, a form of the Greek name Iōannēs, which is a latinized form of the Hebrew name Yohanan or Yehohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious".

The name first appears in medieval records in Serbia, where it was borne by various Serbian noble families and is today seen as a sign of honor. It is believed to have been introduced to the region by the Habsburg dynasty in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Today, the surname is still common throughout Serbia and Montenegro, but can also be found in countries such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and the former Soviet Union.

In the United States, the name Jovanovic has been increasing in popularity for a number of years, due to the influx of immigrants from these regions over the last 80 years. According to the U.S. Census for 2000, the surname Jovanovic was among the top 1,000 surnames in the nation, ranking at 896th. It was also the 10th most common surname in Pennsylvania, the 28th most common in Michigan, and the 76th most common in New York.

Variations of the surname Jovanovic

The surname Jovanovic is derived from the first name Jovan, which is the Serbian form of the name John. There are a number of variants and spellings of this surname, some of which include Ivanovic, Iovanovic, Jovanovics, and Jovanowitsch.

In addition to Ivanovic, the surname can sometimes be spelled as Iovanovic, or Ioanovic, which reflect the phonetics of the name in the various Slavic languages. In Hungary, the Jovanovic surname may also be seen as Jovanovics, or Jovanowitsch, with the latter version reflecting the German spelling of the name.

Variants of the surname Jovanovic can often be found in various countries, such as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and other Slavic nations. For example, in Croatia, Slovenia, and Serbia, the surname may also be seen as Jovanić or Jovanović, which are alternative spellings of the same name.

Yet other surnames derived from the root name Jovan may be seen in other European countries, such as Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania, as well as in the United States.

In the United States, the Jovanovic surname can sometimes be seen as Jovannovich, while in Bulgaria it takes the form of Yovanov, and in Ukraine the variants Iovanchin and Yovanchin are often seen. Romania uses a different variation of the name, Yovanovici, and Montenegro uses the version Jovancevic.

Famous people with the name Jovanovic

• Zoran Jovanovic: Serbian entrepreneur in the telecommunications industry and former Chairman of the Board of mts
• Milos Jovanovic: Serbian football player
• Slobodan Jovanovic: Serbian-American actor, director, and producer
• Darko Jovanovic: Serbian-American retired professional basketball player
• Brodie Jovanovic: Australian professional basketball player
• Vlado Jovanovic: Serbian actor, director, and musician
• Boban Jovanovic: Serbian professional tennis player
• Aleksandar Jovanovic: Bosnian handball player
• Nikola Jovanovic: Serbain football player
• Zorica Jovanovic: Serbian singer and actress

Other surnames

Jovanovics