Janetós last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Janetós is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Janetós.

Meaning of Janetós

A phonetic variation of the Greek surname "Giannetos", meaning "little John".

Janetós, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Janetós surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Janetós in America

Janetós is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Janetós surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Janetós.

The history of the last name Janetós

The surname Janetos is of Greek origin, with its roots tracing back to the Byzantine Empire era, which spanned from approximately 330 to 1453 AD. The name is believed to have originated in the region of the Peloponnese, an area known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Deriving from the Greek personal name Ioannis, which translates to John in English, Janetos is considered a patronymic surname, meaning it denotes descent from an ancestor named Ioannis.

The evolution of the surname Janetos can be linked to the linguistic transformations within the Greek language. The suffix -etos is a common diminutive or affectionate addition in Greek surnames, implying "little John" or "son of John." Variations in surnames in Greek culture often arose due to the phonetic adaptations and regional dialectical differences. Similar surnames include Ianetos and Gianetos, demonstrating the vowel variations and Hellenization tendencies over centuries.

Historical references to the surname Janetos are relatively scarce due to the oral traditions that predominated in Greece before the advent of comprehensive written records. It first began appearing in more formalized documents during the Ottoman occupation of Greece from the 15th to the 19th century. During this time, Greek names were often recorded by Ottoman clerks, leading to some variations in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Janetos can be found in a 17th-century parish register from the village of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese. In this register, a certain Dimitrios Janetos was noted for his involvement in local community affairs around the year 1670. Another historical mention of the name appears in an 18th-century land deed, with Ioannis Janetos listed as a landowner in the region of Arcadia, dated 1765.

Several notable individuals bore the surname Janetos throughout history. One such figure is Georgios Janetos, a prominent revolutionary who fought in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829). Born in 1790 and passing away in 1852, Georgios played a significant role in the battles for Greek liberation from Ottoman rule. Another notable personage is Vasileios Janetos, an influential Orthodox priest born in 1839, who contributed to the preservation and revival of Greek religious customs until his death in 1910.

In the 20th century, the surname Janetos continued to be associated with notable individuals, including Nikolaos Janetos, a renowned poet and cultural figure in early 20th-century Greece. Born in 1892, Nikolaos Janetos was celebrated for his contributions to modern Greek literature up until his death in 1974. Another eminent personality is Eleni Janetos, a pioneering educator born in 1908, whose work in the field of primary education earned her national recognition before her passing in 1989.

Lastly, Athanasios Janetos, an influential political figure born in 1915, played a significant role in Greek politics during the mid-20th century. As a member of the Greek parliament, his policies and advocacy for national development projects left a lasting legacy before he died in 1983. The surname Janetos, with its deep historical roots and significant contributions across various fields, reflects the enduring cultural and historical heritage of Greece.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Janetós

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Janetós.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Janetós was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 93.14% 95
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 0.00% 0

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Janetós was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Janetós, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Janetós last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/janetos-surname-popularity/.

"Janetós last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/janetos-surname-popularity/. Accessed 4 August, 2025

Janetós last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/janetos-surname-popularity/.

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