Surname Jaugneau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jaugneau: What does the surname Jaugneau mean?
The last name Jaugneau is of French origin. It is derived from the Latin word auguis, which means 'conceited' or 'proud'. It was most likely initially used as an occupational surname for someone who was a tax collector, as tax collectors were often seen as being arrogant and proud.
In modern times, the Jaugneau surname is found mainly in France, although some people with this surname can also be traced back to Canada, North America, and other parts of Europe.
Interestingly, over time the pronunciation of the surname has changed from 'jaugneau' to 'jawgnay'. This has been attributed to changes in the French language over the centuries, but could also be due to different accents and dialects in various regions.
The Jaugneau coat of arms depicts a black lion standing on its hind legs on a gold shield. The crest or helmet above the shield is said to represent pride, courage, and strength, traits which are fitting for a family descendant of a tax collector.
In sum, the surname Jaugneau is a rich one with French roots and a complicated, long history. It is a surname which is rightfully proud of its heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisJaugneau: Where does the name Jaugneau come from?
The last name JAUNAU (or Jaughau, Jaughneau, Jaunau, or Jauneau) is most commonly found today in France, especially in the Bourgogne-Franche Comte region. The surname is believed to be of French origin, originating from the 14th century near the area of Burgundy, France.
The family coat of arms was originally approved in 1865 and extensively documented in Armorial General by J.B.Rietstap. The coat of arms has a blue background with two silver birds in a central shield. It is described as "A blue background with two silver birds facing each other between two silver bars in the center". The family crest includes a falcon and a Latin motto: “Campegite fortiter”, which means “fight bravely”.
Today, the last name Jauneau is relatively widespread amongst France, particularly in areas close to its historic origins such as in the Bourgogne-Franche Comte region. The name is also relatively common amongst French Canadians, particularly in the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Additionally, the last name appears to be present among the French diaspora in the United States, South America, and the Caribbean.
Though Jauneau is a more common surname, those with this last name have not traditionally faced high levels of social and economic success in comparison to other French surnames. According to recent analysis, the surname Jauneau is ranked in the 64th percentile in terms of social and financial success in France.
Variations of the surname Jaugneau
The surname Jaugnau is derived from a medieval given name, Jaugen or Jadg. This French surname is found primarily in the areas of France as well as some parts of Canada and the US. Common variants and spellings of this surname include Juagnau, Juagneau, Juangneau, Jagnau, Jaugeau, Jaugneau, Jaugneault, Jaugunault, Jauneau, Jogneau, Jaunault and Jogneault.
The Jugneau surname is believed to have originated from the French region of Picardy and the Normand area. The Jaugnau surname was derived from the Medieval personal name "Jaugen" or "Jadg" which is believed to have been a nickname for an arrogant person. It is also possible that the surname was adopted by the noble family from the French region of Bretagne, the de Juagneaux.
In France, the Juagneaux family originated from the province of Bourgogne and the Chateau de Juagneaux is still owned by the family in the present day. The Juagneaux family also held the title of seigneur de la Leve in Normand.
In Canada, the Juagneaux family is believed to have arrived with the Acadian colonists to the region of New Brunswick. The family is also found in the province of Quebec and the states of Louisiana, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
In the United States, it is believed that the Jugneau family originally arrived in the mid-1700s with the French colonists to the states of Louisiana, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Jugneau family is distributed across the USA and today includes variants like Jangneau, Jagnau, Jaunault, Junaux and more.
Famous people with the name Jaugneau
- Jean-Christophe Jaugneau: A French bobsleigh racer from the 1990s who won several World Cup events, and participated at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Gérard Jaugneau: A French rugby union player who played for the national team of France from 1952 to 1961.
- Joel Jaugneau: An actor best known for his work in the movies Les Dents de la Mer (1975) and La Passion de Bernadette (1958).
- Goeffroy Jaugneau: A French stage actor known for roles in plays like Dieu que le monde est injuste (1992) and Agathe et Cyparisse (1997).
- Jean-Jacques Jaugneau: A French film and television director who directed, among others, O-Boy! (1988) and Marjorie (1996).
- Pierre-Marie Jaugneau: A French painter, draughtsman and illustrator known for his marine-themed works.
- Jean-Marie Jaugneau: A French actor, best known for his roles in Prends la route (1994) and Pol (2009).
- Alexandre-Gustave Jaugneau: A French sculptor and engraver.
- Henri Jaugneau: A French journalist who wrote for the newspaper La Croix from 1890 to 1898.
- Marie-Ange Jaugneau: A French actress who appeared in films like La Gloire de mon père (1990) and Le Temps des gitans (1994).