Janke is a name of Germanic origin. This name is popular in countries speaking

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

, such as

The Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

and

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. As a first name, it is usually attributed to a woman in South Africa. (This being due to a TV series aired in the 1990s where one of the main female protagonists was named Janke). It may also appear as a male first name amongst other families with ties to Germanic background. Spelling variations include Jancke, Jankhe, and (rarely) Janckhe. The name is derived from the Dutch male name Jan (a form of John or Johan), and features the suffix "-ke", which makes it a pet name, almost meaning "Baby Jan". People with the surname Janke include: *

Barbara Janke Barbara Lilian Janke, Baroness Janke (born 5 June 1947) is a British former teacher and politician. She was the Liberal Democrat leader of Bristol City Council from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2012. She was first elected councillor for Clifton ...

(born 1947), British teacher and politician * Curt W. Janke (1892–1975), American politician *

Dennis Janke Dennis Janke (born April 13, 1950) is an American comic book artist who was active in the industry from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s, primarily as an inker. He is known for his work on the DC Comics character Superman, particularly his nine-year ...

(born 1950), American comic book artist *

Dexter Janke Dexter Janke (born October 4, 1992) is the head coach for the York Lions football, York Lions of U Sports football. He played professionally as a defensive back for four years in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Calgary Stampeders and ...

(born 1992), Canadian football defensive back * Fred Janke (1917–2009), American football player, business executive and politician * Gabriele Janke (born 1956), German fencer *

Janusz Janke Janusz Janke (born 19 September 1966, in Koszalin) is a Polish civil servant who served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Qatar from 2018 to 2024. Life Janusz Janke has graduated in 1995 from law at the John Paul II Catholic Unive ...

(born 1966), Polish diplomat * Karin Janke (born 1963), retired German sprinter *

Kleber Janke Kleber Janke or simply Kleber Lapa (born April 12, 1988 in Lapa), is a Brazilian defensive midfielder. He currently plays for Paraná Paraná, Paranã or Parana may refer to: Geology * Paraná Basin, a sedimentary basin in South America Pla ...

(born 1988), Brazilian footballer *

Terri Janke Terri Janke is an Indigenous Australian lawyer of Wuthathi/ Meriam heritage. She is considered a leading international authority on Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP), and is the Solicitor Director of Terri Janke and Company ...

, Wuthathi/Meriam Indigenous lawyer * Toni Janke, Australian soul singer

See also