Surname Jakopic - Meaning and Origin
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Jakopic: What does the surname Jakopic mean?
Jakopic (sometimes spelled Jakopič) is a South Slavic surname which can be found among Slovenians, Croatians and Serbians. Its origin is not known for certain, but it is likely derived from the first name Jakob (the equivalent of English "Jacob") and the suffix -ić, suggesting that it was a patronymic name.
In Dolenjska and Bela Krajina, two regions in modern-day Slovenia, the Jakopic surname is the tenth most common. In Bela Krajina, the prevalence of the name is estimated at around 0.36% of the population, and 0.39% in Dolenjska.
The Jakopic surname is traditionally associated with villages near the border of Croatia, which is thought to be its original location. During the 18th century, the Jakopic family began migrating toward the northeast into what is now Slovenia. Recent research suggests that the ancestors of modern-day Jakopics gradually settled down in new villages, and adopted the local dialect of Slovene, a South Slavic language closely related to Croatian and Serbian.
The high prevalence of the Jakopic surname in Slovenia reflects the large number of Slovenian Croatian and Serbian immigrants who settled in the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. They brought with them their surnames and even their language, which can still be heard in certain villages to this day. Despite the passage of time, the Jakopic name still serves as a reminder of the significant Croatian and Serbian immigration into Slovenia during the last few centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisJakopic: Where does the name Jakopic come from?
The last name Jakopic is commonly found throughout certain parts of Croatia and Slovenia. The name takes its origin from the Croatian surname Jakopović, derived from the personal name Jakov (or Jacob). Jakopović is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Jakov," and thus the majority of families bearing this name originated from one common ancestor.
The name Jakopic is most frequently found in the city of Split and the surrounding towns of Trogir, Solin Kastela, and Kaštel S.. In the municipality of Vrgorac, on the Croatian coastline, the surname is also present. It is much less common, however, in western areas of the country.
The name can also be found in certain areas of Slovenia, including Celje, Novo Mesto, and Ljubljana. Outside of Croatia and Slovenia, the name is much less common, with isolated families bearing the Jakopic name scattered throughout other European countries, as well as in the United States and Canada.
In total, approximately 4,420 people are estimated to bear the Jakopic surname, with most of these individuals living in Croatia and Slovenia.
Variations of the surname Jakopic
The surname Jakopic is generally accepted as originating from the Jakopič surname in Slovenia. It is likely derived from the old Southern Slavic language words "jak" and "po", which were used to mean "big" and "peace," respectively. Therefore, the surname could literally be translated to mean "big peace."
There are a few different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Jakopic. In English, the most common variant is Jakopich, with Jankopich being the alternate spelling. In Slovenia, the surname is spelled either Jakopič, Yankopich or Jankopič. It is also sometimes spelled Jakopich, Jankopec, Yankovic, Jankovich, Yakopec, Yankovich or Yankopec. The surname can also be seen in other countries, such as Slovakia, where it is spelled Jankovics.
In addition to the original Jakopic surname, there are some other surnames of the same origin. These include Yankovic, Yankovich, Jakopanec and Jakopec. All of these surnames are derived from the original Jakopic name and can be considered to share the same linguistic origin.
Finally, cognates of Jakopic exist in other languages, especially in Slavic languages. These include Jakopec (a Polonized version) and Yakopec (a Russianized version) as well as Yankovic in Serbian. All of these cognates refer to the same meaning as the original Jakopic surname.
Famous people with the name Jakopic
- Helena Jakopic: Slovenian actress and singer.
- Robert Jakopic: former NBA player.
- Josip Jakopic: Croatian professional football and coach.
- Mia Jakopic: Slovenian tennis player.
- Ana Jakopic: Slovenian fashion and jewelry designer.
- Domen Jakopic: Slovenian slalom canoeist.
- Jure Jakopic: Slovenian classical pianist.
- Blaz Jakopic: Slovenian basketball player and coach.
- Boris Jakopic: Slovenian film director.
- Andrej Jakopic: Slovenian football player.
- Beno Jakopic: Slovenian ice hockey player.
- Jana Jakopic: Slovenian synchronised swimmer.
- Davorin Jakopic: Slovenian billionaire entrepreneur.
- Karmen Jakopic: Slovenian singer-songwriter.
- Jasmina Jakopic: Slovenian handball player and coach.
- Gorazd Jakopic: Slovenian-born Australian professional golfer.
- Blaž Jakopic: Slovenian football player.
- Matej Jakopic: Slovenian chess grandmaster and coach.
- Dragec Jakopic: Slovenian drummer and music producer.
- Matija Jakopic: Slovenian professional football player.