Jonker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

Etymology of Jonker

What does the name Jonker mean?

The distinguished name Jonker is derived from the Middle Dutch word "jonhheer", from "jong(h)" meaning "young" and "heer" meaning "master, lord". Thus the name can literally be translated as "young master", a term used of a member of the European nobility who had not yet assumed knighthood. More recently in South Africa, the name is frequently seen as a forename.

The surname Jonker and its variants are generally believed to be of nickname origin

Early Origins of the Jonker family

The surname Jonker was first found in various regions of the Netherlands with the earliest record of this surname or a variant dating back to the thirteenth century when Berthold and Burchard dicti Junkerer were citizens of Uberlingen in 1295. In 1373, Niclaus Junkherr was a citizen of Fussen.

Jonker Walk, located in the Chinatown area in Malacca City in the state of Malacca, Malaysia dates back to colonial times in the in the 17th century when Dutch influence in the are was at its zenith. The Jonker diamond was found at the Elandsfontein mine in South Africa by Johannes Jacobus Jonker on 17 January 1934.

Early History of the Jonker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jonker research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1373, 1618, 1641, 1655 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Jonker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jonker Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Jonker, Jonkers, Yonkers, Younker, Younkers, Junker and many more.

Early Notables of the Jonker family

Karl Ludwig Juncker (d. 1797), a well-known German writer. Adriaen Cornelissen van der Donck (c.1618-1655) was a Dutch lawyer, born in the town of Breda in the southern Netherlands. He emigrated to New...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jonker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jonker Ranking

Netherlands, the name Jonker is the 72^nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,649 people with that name. 1 However, in South Africa, the name Jonker is ranked the 557^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,476 people with that name. 2

Jonker migration to the United States +

Jonker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Genevevs Jonker, aged 27, Dutch settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Adler" in 1853 3
Antje Jonker, aged 26, Dutch settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Adler" in 1853 3
Stoffel Jonker, aged 31, Dutch settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Abyssinia" in 1872 3
Cornelia Jonker, Dutch settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Abyssinia" in 1872 3
Petermella Jonker, aged 30, Dutch settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Abyssinia" in 1872 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jonker (post 1700) +

Margo F. Jonker (b. 1953), American softball coach and the current head coach of the Central Michigan Chippewas, a 2003 inductee in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Robert James Jonker (b. 1960), American jurist, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (2015-2022)
Frederick H. Jonker, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1940 4
Constantijn Jonker (b. 1987), Dutch two-time gold medalist field hockey player who played as a forward
Hendrik Peter "Henk" Jonker (1912-2002), Dutch photographer, known for his portrayal of "ordinary people and small moments"
Jos Jonker (b. 1951), Dutch former professional footballer who gained two caps for the Netherlands national team (1980-1981)
Kelly Maria Jonker (b. 1990), Dutch field hockey player at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Catholijn M. Jonker (b. 1967), Dutch computer scientist and professor at the Delft University of Technology and Leiden University
Professor Louis C. Jonker (b. 1962), South African Biblical scholar and writer
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html