Surname Jannen - Meaning and Origin
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Jannen: What does the surname Jannen mean?
The surname Jannen, believed to be of Germanic origin, is derived from the personal moniker Jan, a derivation of John, which means “God is gracious”. The German suffix ‘-en’ that is added to the end of the word denotes the patronymic nature of the name, signifying ‘son of’. The object it is referencing, in this case Jan, was most likely a very common and popular name, thus giving the surname a great geographical spread.
The surname Jannen is believed to have first appeared in the records in the Rhineland region of Germany, where it is thought to be native. Spelling variations of the name include Jan, Jansen, Jannsen, Jannsen, and Jen, among others.
As the name spread throughout Europe, it had many uses. During the Middle Ages, members of the clergy were known to use suffixes such as ‘-en’ as part of their names, though the term was also used as an occupational name. In such cases, the suffix may indicate a person who originally hailed from a certain town or village.
Throughout its history, the surname Jannen has been found in places including England (where it arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066), the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Its popularity then spread through France, Canada, and the United States, where it has continued to enjoy a certain level of notoriety.
Today, the surname Jannen is still a common one in English-speaking countries, and can be found in many different spellings. It is a testament to the legacy of those who carried it and a reminder of the lofty heights of its popularity over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisJannen: Where does the name Jannen come from?
The last name Jannen is most commonly found in Northern Europe, specifically in the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Denmark, as well as in other areas of the world with populations or ancestral migrations from these countries. It is one of the most widespread last names in some parts of the Netherlands, with over 11,000 people bearing the name. The name is also popular in the United States, where it ranks as the 11,305th most prevalent surname, and is estimated to have over 8,000 bearers.
The last name Jannen is an ancient surname, and is believed to have originated in medieval Holland. The name itself likely derived from the personal name Johann, with the ‘en’ ending being particulary common in Dutch names, often indicating patronymic descent. The first records of the name date from the late 1500s, with Johannes Jannen in Wyckel, Overijssel province, recorded in 1578.
In modern times, Jannen is used both as a surname and given name, with some people spelling it Janen instead. It is quite popular as a first name in some parts of Europe, particularly in Holland. There it has reached the top ten list of the most popular male names in recent years. It is also occasionally used as a first name in the US, though not as much as a surname.
Variations of the surname Jannen
The surname Jannen has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
One variant of the surname is Jannen, which has multiple spellings including Janne, Janneh, Janness, Jeanne, Jeanneh, Jeannen, Jeannene, Jeannin, Jeannine, Jennen, Jennin, and Jennine.
Other variants include Jannsen, Jansen, Janssen, Janssens, Jaensch, Jannsch, Jansch, Jeannes, Jeanneth, Jeanneton, Yannes, Yannet, and Yanneth.
Additionally, some variants of the surname have been Anglicised and have added suffixes or prefixes, making surnames like Annan, Annen, Janney, Jannson, and Jeanney.
The surname Jannen is derived from the given name Jan, or potentially the Dutch surname Jans, which derives from the given name Johannes. Other surnames that are derived from the given name Jan include Janie, Janin, Janina, Janine, Janes, Janota, and Jansky.
Overall, the surname Jannen has a wide variety of spellings, variants, and other related surnames of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Jannen
- Mary Jannen: American scientist and one of the first female oceanographers
- Vince Jannsen: American actor
- Michael Jannen: professional baseball player and manager
- Dawn Jannen: American author and journalist
- Adrienne Jannen: Australian actress
- Larry Jannen: Canadian professional hockey player
- Alfred Jannen: German-born American historian
- Carl Jannen: American-born Swiss musicologist
- Eugenie Jannen: American opera singer
- Don Jannen: American lawyer and professor
- Jim Jannen: American professional golfer and coach
- Gail Jannen: American artist and jewelry designer
- Elaine Jannen: Irish folk musician
- Sara Jannen: American documentary filmmaker
- Bette Jannen: American science fiction author
- Jean Jannen: French architect
- Steve Jannen: American painters
- Arthur Jannen: Canadian hockey player
- Jean-Luc Jannen: Belgian art director
- Harvey Jannen: American television director