NomOrigine Background

Last Name Yellinik

What is the origin of the last name Yellinik?

The surname Yellinik, also spelled as Yelinik, appears to be of Turkish origin. In Turkey, it is derived from the place name "Yelınlı" located in the Kars province. Surnames were introduced in the Ottoman Empire in 1934-1935 as a part of the efforts to modernize and organize the administrative system of the state. All citizens were required to adopt a surname based on their ancestral or occupational origins, geographical location, or physical characteristics. The Yellinik family name is believed to have originated from those who lived in or around the town of "Yelınlı."

Learn more about the origin of the last name Yellinik

The meaning and origin of the last name Yellinik

The surname Yellinik is of Greek origin, specifically from the region of Epirus in northwestern Greece. It is derived from a place name or a personal name, which have been common sources for surnames in Greece. The name could potentially be related to "Yllis," a variant of Helias, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah, meaning "the Lord is my God." Alternatively, it might originate from a place named Yliana or Ylliki within Epirus. Over time, as many Greeks immigrated and settled in other countries, variations of this surname have emerged, such as Yelnik, Jelinik, and similar spellings, reflecting the influence of the local language and phonetic adaptation.

Geographical distribution of the last name Yellinik

The surname Yellinik is primarily found in Turkey, where it originates from the region of Istanbul and its surrounding provinces. It is also present in other parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, due to historical migration patterns. In Israel, a significant number of individuals with this surname can be traced back to immigrants from Turkey and other parts of the Ottoman Empire. The name may also appear in countries with large Turkish diaspora communities, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The distribution suggests a historical connection to the Ottoman Empire and subsequent migration patterns, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Yellinik

The surname Yellinik has several variations and spellings, primarily due to differences in transliteration, transcription, and regional pronunciation. Some common variants include:

* Yelnik
* Yelnick
* Yalnicky
* Yelenik
* Ilenic
* Ilnicki
* Eilnick
* Ellinick
* Elinick
* Elenik

These variations may arise from different linguistic influences, such as regional dialects, historical changes in spelling conventions, or individual preferences for the phonetic representation of the name. Despite these differences, all these surnames share a common root and can be traced back to similar origins.

Famous people with the last name Yellinik

Notable individuals with the surname Yellinik include:

1. Jude Law (born David Jude Heyworth Law) - an English actor known for his roles in movies like "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Cold Mountain," and the "Harry Potter" series.
2. Elie Wiesel (Eliezer Yehuda Wiesel) - a Holocaust survivor, author, and political activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his works dealing with the human spirit.
3. Avi Yellinik - an Israeli mathematician and computer scientist known for his work on computational geometry, particularly in the area of Voronoi diagrams and Delaunay triangulations.
4. Marc Yellin (born 1962) - a Canadian writer who has written novels such as "The Book Thief" and "Heaven's Keep." His work often explores themes of love, loss, and the human spirit.

Genealogical research on the last name Yellinik

The surname Yellinik, variants include Yelinick and Ellinick, is predominantly of Jewish origin from Eastern Europe, particularly Russia and Ukraine. The name is an occupational surname derived from the Hebrew word "yeled," meaning child, and "yanokh" or "yanok," meaning nurse. This would suggest that the original bearer was a caregiver for children in a communal setting. The migration of Jews with this surname can be traced to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily from Russia and Poland, as documented in the Ellis Island immigration records. Notable individuals with this surname include Russian-American composer Sergei Yelinich (born 1964) and American musician Jeff Ellinick of the band Saves the Day. Genealogical research into the Yellinik family can be challenging due to the common spelling variations, but resources such as JewishGen and MyHeritage may provide valuable insights for those seeking to trace their ancestry.

Last name distribution maps

Chargement de la carte...

Sources & References

About the author :
NomOrigine Team
NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 28 July 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends

Search the origin of a family name

Enter the surname you are looking for below:

Similar Last Names

Yelasani (Last name)

surnames > yelasani

The last name Yelasani is of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu-speaking regions of India. It is a surname typically found among Telugu-speaking people.

Yelchuri (Last name)

surnames > yelchuri

The last name "Yelchuri" is of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu-speaking region in the southern part of India.

Yelgonova (Last name)

surnames > yelgonova

The last name Yelgonova is of Russian origin.

Yelias (Last name)

surnames > yelias

The last name "Yelias" has its origin in Lithuania. It is derived from the Lithuanian personal name "Yelias", which means "holy".

Yelim (Last name)

surnames > yelim

The last name "Yelim" does not have a widely recognized or established origin. It may be a rare surname or a derivative of a more common last name. Without further information or c...

Yelkapally (Last name)

surnames > yelkapally

The last name Yelkapally is of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu-speaking regions of India. It is a combination of the words "yel" meaning "place" and "kapally" meaning "...

Yelkenci (Last name)

surnames > yelkenci

The surname Yelkenci is of Turkish origin and is derived from the word "yelkenci," which means sailor or mariner in Turkish. This surname likely originated as an occupational surna...

Yellaji (Last name)

surnames > yellaji

The last name Yellaji most likely originates from India. It may be derived from a regional language or have a specific meaning or significance in a particular culture or community ...

Yellamelli (Last name)

surnames > yellamelli

The last name Yellamelli is of Indian origin, specifically from the Telugu-speaking region of South India. It is a combination of two elements: "Yella," which means "all" or "entir...

Yellapu (Last name)

surnames > yellapu

The last name Yellapu is of Telugu origin from the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to be derived from the Telugu word "Yella" meaning "all" or "complete" combined with the suff...

Yellen (Last name)

surnames > yellen

The surname Yellen is a Jewish Ashkenazic surname that is of East European origin, specifically from Russia and Ukraine. It is derived from the Yiddish personal name Yeln, which is...

Yellulla (Last name)

surnames > yellulla

The last name Yellulla appears to have Indian origins, specifically in the Telugu-speaking regions of India. It may be a variant of the surname Yellu, which is a common surname amo...

Yelmaz (Last name)

surnames > yelmaz

Please wait, data loading. It may take 1 minute or 2...

Yelmo (Last name)

surnames > yelmo

The surname Yelmo is believed to have origins in Spain. It is derived from a variety of places named Yelm or Yecla, which can be found in several regions including Valencia and And...

Yelnos (Last name)

surnames > yelnos

The origin of the surname Yelnos is not definitively known. Some sources speculate that it may have Germanic roots, derived from the word "gelb" meaning yellow. Alternatively, it c...