Surname Jane - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jane: What does the surname Jane mean?
The last name Jane does not have a specific meaning, as it is typically used as a first name rather than a surname. As a first name, it originates from Hebrew and means "God's gracious gift". It is the English form of the Old French name Jehanne, which was introduced to England by the Normans and was used until the 17th century. Jane has been a perennially popular female first name for centuries, borne by notable figures in history such as Lady Jane Grey, Jane Austen, and Jane Goodall. When seen as a surname, Jane may possibly denote a patronymic lineage indicating "son of Jane" or "descendant of Jane". It remains relatively rare as a surname.
Order DNA origin analysisJane: Where does the name Jane come from?
The surname Jane originates from the ancient Christian name, Jane or Jeanne. In medieval ages it used to be a personal (first) name popular across Europe, deriving from Johannes or John in English. It came to be used as a surname in the late Middle Ages, typically given to the son of Jane as a patronymic surname.
The surname Jane is considered to be of English or Welsh origin, where "Jane" was commonly used as a feminine first name and was eventually adopted as a surname. In France, it became Jean. In Poland, it's Jan, and Hans in Germany, showing its widespread adaptability.
Today, the surname Jane is distributed globally due to historical migration, colonization, and the spread of Christianity. However, it remains most common in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There are also concentrations in France due to the name's Old French roots. Despite being more popular as a given name or middle name for women, Jane retains its usage as a family name.
Variations of the surname Jane
The surname Jane originates from the Hebrew given name "Yochanan," meaning "Jehovah has favored." It has numerous derivative forms and spellings, influenced by the different languages and cultures around the globe. This name is also tied with the English female name Jane, deriving from masculine John.
Variations and spellings of the surname Jane could include Janes, Jayne, Jaynes, Jain, Jayen. It's also related to surnames derived from the given name John, such as Johnson, Jonson, Janson, Johannsen, and the Scandinavian Jensen.
In some cultures, it is common to find variations of Jane used both as a surname and a first name. For instance, the equivalent spelling in Spanish is Juana, and in Italian, it is Giovanna.
Spellings can vary widely even within the same language. For instance, Jane can be spelled 'Jayne' in English. It’s also worthy to note that, although slightly different, the Cornish surnames Jenkin, Jory, and Jelbert might have the same roots as Jane.
Please note that the connections between surnames can depend on regional adoption and phonetic adaptations over time, making a definite list difficult to compile.
Famous people with the name Jane
- Jane Fonda: Academy Award-winning actress and political activist
- Jane Lynch: Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress
- Jane Goodall: British primatologist and anthropologist
- Jane Seymour: Emmy-winning British actress
- Jane Pauley: Emmy-winning American television journalist
- Jane Curtin: Primetime Emmy-winning American actress
- Jane Krakowski: Emmy-nominated American actress
- Jane Kaczmarek: Emmy-nominated American actress
- Jane Monheit: Grammy-nominated American jazz singer
- Janeane Garofalo: American stand-up comedian and actor