Surname Jauneau - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jauneau: What does the surname Jauneau mean?
The French surname Jaunneau is derived from the personal name "Jean", which is a variant of "John" in English. The suffix -neau is a diminutive form, and the surname Jaunneau is a diminutive of Jean, meaning "Little John". This could have been used to distinguish members of a family, or to indicate endearment.
Many records of this surname can be found in France during the Middle Ages. During this period, surnames began to appear in France and many people took surnames derived from their given name in order for tax, census, and other records to be kept systematically. This trend spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Europe’s North and East.
The majority of those bearing the surname Jaunneau live in western France, in the coastal region of Brittany. During the middle ages, the French Breton region was composed of multiple independent principalities, each with their own governing body and norms.
Today, many people in the Jaunneau family retain a strong connection to their heritage and to their ancestral home in Brittany. Cultural events such as festivals, religious observances, and family get-togethers are important to those with the surname, and a wealth of artifacts points to their long-standing presence in France.
Despite their connection to France, people with the Jaunneau surname can be found in many parts of the world, including the United States and other nations in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Order DNA origin analysisJauneau: Where does the name Jauneau come from?
The last name Jaunneau is most commonly found in France, but the surname can also be found elsewhere throughout Europe. The name is derived from the Latin 'Johannem', meaning 'God is gracious' or 'grace of God' and translates to "John" or "Jean" in French.
The first recorded use of the name Jaunneau dates back to the 12th century in France, when several families with that name were recorded as living in the region of Anjou. The prevalence of Jaunneau families in the region expanded throughout the Middle Ages, spanning the Ile-de-France, Poitou-Charentes, Rhone-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regions.
Today, this surname is still particularly common in France, but can also be found in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and Canada. It is thought to have spread to other countries, including the United States, with the expansion of French colonization in the 18th century.
It is difficult to determine how many people around the world currently bear the name Jaunneau, but according to a French telephone directory, it currently ranks as the 867th most common last name in France, making it a moderately popular surname.
Variations of the surname Jauneau
The surname Jaunneau is a toponymic name derived from 'Jaunay', a place East of Tours, France. It is likely derived from the Latin 'jovanniculis', meaning small river. It is also a diminutive form of Jove, the Roman God of the Sky and Thunder.
The variants of Jaunneau include: Jannow, Jannou, Janow, Jaunay, Jaunet, Jauniau, Jauniot, Jaunneau, Jaunoux, Jeannau, Jeneau, Jenay, Jenknow, Jhonneau, Jnow, Jounay, Jounet, Jounneau, Jounnot, Jounou, Junay, Jyannneau, and Younneau.
The spellings of Jaunneau include: Jaanneeau, Juanneau, Junneau, Jannoe, Jeanneau, Jaunno, Jannoueau, Jeanneu, Jaunou, Juniot, Jannoau, Junot, Jannou, Jeanot, Jeannet, Jaunet, Jeannou, Jeannoue, Jounnet, Jeanniot, Jeneau, Jennot, Jannet, and Jeanneau.
The surnames of the same origin as Jaunneau include: Jeannot, Jeanneau, Jaunay, Jaunet, Jennot, Jeneau, Jaunoux, Jnow, Jauniot, Jeannau, Jenknow, Jhonneau, Junay, Jyannneau, and Younneau.
Overall, Jaunneau is a toponymic surname derived from a place in France, and is derived from the Latin word for small river. It has many variants, spellings, and surnames all deriving from the same origin.
Famous people with the name Jauneau
- Jean-Paul Jaunet: French film director and screen writer
- Pierre Jaunet: French physicist, meteorologist and geographer
- François Jaunet: French composer and arranger
- Antoine Jaunet: French sculptor
- Joseph-Jean Jaunet: Swiss Roman Catholic prelate
- René Jaunet: Swiss composer, arranger, and band leader
- Robert Jaunet: French diplomat
- Alex Jaunet: French footballer
- Rémi Jaunet: French former rugby union player
- Sébastien Jaunet: French professional mountain biker
- Magdeleine Jaunet: French stage and silent film actress
- Pierre-Edouard Jaunet: Swiss footballer
- Thomas Jaunet: Swiss Paralympic track and field athlete
- Patricia Jaunet: Swiss cyclist
- Paul Jaunet: Swiss bobsledder, skier and juggler
- Maurice Jaunet: French politician