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

Janko, 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 Janko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Janko in America

Janko is the 43885th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Janko surname appeared 491 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Janko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Janko to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Janko

The surname Janko originated in Central Europe, specifically in the regions of Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It is believed to have roots in the Slavic languages, derived from the personal name "Janek," which is a diminutive form of "Jan," meaning "God is gracious."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Janko can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Negroplissensis, a collection of historical documents from the region of Negropontis (now part of Greece), dating back to the 13th century. It mentions a certain "Johannes Janko" as a witness to a land transaction in the year 1287.

In the 14th century, a historical figure named Janko Kráľ (Janko the King) ruled over a territory in present-day Slovakia and Hungary. He was a prominent leader of the Goral people, a Slavic ethnic group known for their distinctive culture and traditions. Janko Kráľ played a significant role in defending the region against foreign invaders.

The surname Janko also appears in the Hussiten-Register, a historical record of the Hussite movement in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) during the 15th century. This document lists several individuals with the name Janko, indicating its prevalence in the region during that time period.

One notable bearer of the surname was Janko Mudroch, a Slovak poet and writer who lived from 1793 to 1849. He was known for his contributions to the development of the Slovak language and literature, and his works often explored themes of national identity and cultural heritage.

Another renowned figure was Janko Matúška (1821-1877), a Slovak writer, poet, and teacher. He was a prominent figure in the Slovak National Revival movement and played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Slovak language and culture.

In the 20th century, Janko Lesný (1904-1981) was a Slovak writer and journalist known for his novels and short stories depicting the lives of ordinary people in rural Slovakia. His works were celebrated for their realism and their portrayal of the struggles and resilience of the Slovak people.

While the surname Janko has its roots in Central Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Slavic regions of Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic, where it has a rich historical legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Janko

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

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 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Janko was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Janko has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Janko was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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