Surname Jaks - Meaning and Origin
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Jaks: What does the surname Jaks mean?
Jaks is a last name of Czech Republic origin and has many different spellings, including Jaks, Jakes, and Jakse. The surname is believed to have been derived from a personal attribute, meaning “hawk” or “falcon.” Therefore, it is believed that it was historically used as an occupational surname for falconers. The surname may have also been derived from the Czech word jaka, which means “jackdaw,” and could have been used for someone who was a scavenger or collected scrap wood for heating and cooking.
The last name Jaks is still prevalent in the Czech Republic, however, it is now used as a surname all around the world. In the United States, the last name Jaks is most common in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and California. Immigrants from the Czech Republic were among the first people to bring the name to the United States and some parts of Canada.
The last name Jaks is likely to have been associated with physical strength and bravery, as it is believed to be derived from “hawk” and “falcon.” The name, however, is likely to be viewed differently today, representing a family history, a chosen surname, and a strong sense of heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisJaks: Where does the name Jaks come from?
The surname Jaks is an uncommon surname found in a number of countries around the world today. It originated from Central Europe, with the earliest records of the name coming from Germany and Austria in the early 17th century. Records show that the surname also spread to Bohemia, Czech Republic, and Germany's easternmost regions.
In modern times, the surname Jaks is still most common in Central Europe, including Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Austria, and Germany. In the United States, the surname is found in much lower numbers; there were only 50 people listed in the U.S. Social Security Administration's database in 2018 with the surname of Jaks.
The surname Jaks is usually thought to be of Germanic origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "Jak" which means "jack" or "knave". However, its origin could also possibly be derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means "may God protect".
In whatever region or country the surname is found, it is thought to have originally derived from a given name, referring to a person of that name or, in some cases, to a person who had a characteristic, like a family trait, that was associated with the name. Examples of these traits are generosity or large stature.
Variations of the surname Jaks
Jaks is a surname of Slavic origin. It is found primarily in Central and Eastern Europe. In Poland, variants of the name include Jak, Ják, Jaków, Jaków-Lis, Jaków-Nejman, Jaks-Gorski, Jakoświerk, Jaković, Jakowski, and Jakubiec. Similarly, in the former Yugoslavia, variants of the name include Jakovljevic, Jakovljev, Jakšić, Jakšič, Jakšic, Jakšik, and Jakša. In Germany, the name is spelled as Jaksch.
In the Czech Republic, the name is spelled as Jakš and variants include Jakša, Jakšík, and Jakšová. In Slovakia, the name is spelled as Jaksch or Jakš and variants include Jakši and Jakšík.
In the United States, the name is often spelled as Jax, which is a phonetic Americanized spelling of the original surname. There are also variants including Jaxon, Jaxson, Jakson, Jacks, and Jaxx.
The surname has also been adopted by other ethnic groups over time. In India, for example, it is common for Hindus to adopt the name as Jaks when converting to Christianity. Jewish families in Eastern Europe also adopted the surname and changed the spelling to Jakes.
The surname is relatively uncommon in the United States, however, its rarer forms like Jakson, Jaxson, Jacks and Jaxx are all familiar forms of the name. No matter how the name is spelled, it likely originates from the same Slavic root word.
Famous people with the name Jaks
- Barbara Jaks: an actress known for her roles in the talk shows, What´s Up With You and The Voice Netherlands.
- Emma Jaks: a Dutch singer.
- Rebecca Jaks: an American entertainer and singer-songwriter.
- Martin Jakš: a Slovak football player.
- Stephanie Jaks: an American actor and actress known for her roles in the movies, Little Fockers and Delivery Man.
- Jani Jaks: a French-Canadian actor, director, and writer.
- John Jaks: a former professional football player in the NFL.
- Slobodan Jaks: a Yugoslavian footballer.
- Ivana Jakš: a Slovenian international athlete.
- Gytis Jaks: an Lithuanian rugby union player.