What is in English language known as the first given name John, or in German Hans, originates from the the Hebrew Jechochanan (with the meaning Lord is gracious). Greeks took over that name in the form of Johanan and Romans as Johannes. It denotes one of the most frequent names in Christian world, borne by many prominent as well as less prominent people.

In Croatia, the form of this name is Ivan. Because of it’s widespread use among Croats, it became a potent base for creation of many Croatian family names: Ivić, Ivković, Ivanišević, Ivčić, Ivandić, Ivanić, Ivanac, Ivetić, Ivanuš, Ivanušić, Ivičić, Ivičević, Iveljić, Ivačić, Ivšić, and some even claim that surnames Iko and Ikić originate from that first given name.

But that is not all. One of the naming distinctions between Croats and Serbs is the fact that first given names among Serbs often retain their Greek form, so, what is in Croatia Ivan in Serbia is Jovan. In the past, however, that distinction wasn’t as clear as it is today, so quite a few Croatian surnames are based on Greek form of the first given name Ivan: Jović, Jovčić, Jovičević, Jovičić, Jovanić, Jovanović, Jovančević, Jovanovac…

Also German variant Hans made an influence in formation of Croatian surnames Hanžek, Hanžeković, Hanž as well as (some scholars claim) of Janžeković and Anžulović.

Image: Kevin Rawlings, Wikimedia Commons