Surname Janings - Meaning and Origin

Janings: What does the surname Janings mean?

The last name Janings is of German origin, and has two variants: Janning and Gönning. This surname likely originated from the personal name Johannes, which emerged in medieval times and was associated with John the Baptist. These names were popularized due to their association with the Christian faith.

In many instances, the name Janings may have evolved from "de Janhingen," denoting a family which originally lived near a road from Janningen—a place in the county of Bentheim in Lower Saxony. It’s also possible that others adopted the name merely for the sound. A notable bearer of this name was a 19th-century German jurist, Theodor Janings.

Today, Janings is mainly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. People with this last name often take great pride in their family history and are known to be philanthropic and hard working.

It's unclear how many people are carrying the name Janings today, though it's safe to say it will live on for generations to come.

Janings: Where does the name Janings come from?

The last name Janings is a surname that is widely distributed around the world but is primarily found in Europe. It is most frequently found in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Italy. The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom also have some residents bearing the surname.

In Germany, Janings is an especially common surname. This is likely due to the fact that it is a relatively common name that has been found in the country since the ancient Middle Ages. This has made it a popular and regularly used name there, and it has remained common in Germany to this day.

In France, Janings is also quite popular. This is likely due to the fact that France also has strong ties to the medieval period, when the name was first found. Furthermore, France has numerous historical challenges and events that have resulted in hundreds of thousands of French people being displaced. Many of those families adopted Janings as their surname.

Today, Janings is a relatively popular surname in the countries around the world where it is found. It is especially popular in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Italy, but can still be encountered in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well.

Variations of the surname Janings

The surname Janings is a variation of the German, Dutch and Danish family name Jannsen. The spelling variations of this name include Janesen, Jansen, Janssen, Jansin, J dunning, Janning, Janz, Janninge, Jenssens, Jenzen, Gense, Janse, Jennesen and Janseme.

The surname Jannsen is derived from the Dutch and German given name Jan. This was a popular medieval personal name in the Middle Ages derived from the classical Greek given name Iohannes which means ‘God is gracious’. The surname Jannsen was likely to have been first borne by the son of a father named Jan, hence the ‘son of Jan’ suffix added to the stem of the father’s given name.

It is possible that the surname Janings, a variation of Jannsen, may have been a corruption of Janssen. This corruption could be due to the phonetic similarity of the two sounds 'Jah' and 'Yah' which would naturally occur between those of similar accents.

The popularity of the surname Janings is likely to have decreased over time as it is not as common as other variants of the name. It remains, however, as an uncommon spelling variation of the given name Jan.

Famous people with the name Janings

• Sabrina Janings: Sabrina is an accomplished and award-winning film director, photographer, and writer. She has written, directed, and shot films for platforms such as PBS, HBO, The New York Times, and The Atlantic.
• Justin Janings: Justin is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood, and is best known for his roles in films such as The Social Network, Gone Girl, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• William Janings: William is a multi-millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is head of Janings Industries, one of the most successful private equity groups in the United States.
• Steven Janings: Steven is one of the most recognizable chefs in the world, and has appeared on a variety of cooking shows.
• Sophia Janings: Sophia is a model and actress who has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, most notably the hit series Gossip Girl.
• James Janings: James is an accomplished financial analyst and economist who is widely recognized as a leading expert in the global economy.
• Julian Janings: Julian is a celebrated environmental activist and author. He has written about the impacts of climate change, global warming, and renewable energy.
• Laura Janings: Laura is a computer scientist, software engineer, and entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of HolonTech, one of the top technology companies in the world.
• Christine Janings: Christine is an accomplished lawyer and legal scholar. She is known for her expertise in international human rights and immigration law.

Other surnames

Janing