Jon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

Etymology of Jon

What does the name Jon mean?

The distinguished surname Jon is derived from the given name "John," which is itself derived from the Hebrew name "Johanan," meaning "Jehovah has favored."

"This baptismal name, which is of Norman introduction, has rarely passed into a surname. The London Directory for 1852 affords but one instance." 1

The name was brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and was extremely popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages as a result of the numerous connections between the name John and the Christian Church.

Early Origins of the Jon family

The surname Jon was first found in Lincolnshire, borne by Alanus filius Jene in 1275. Other early bearers of the name include Willelmus filius Gene, who was recorded in the Rotuli Hundredorum of Yorkshire in 1276, Walterus filius Jone, who was living in Huntingdonshire in 1279, and Thomas John, who was a resident of Buckinghamshire in 1279. 2

In Somerset, Robert Johns, was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 3 Lewis Johns was prebendary of St. David's in 1486. 4

Farther to the south in the parish of Wendron, Cornwall, we found this interesting entry. "The barton of Tremere, or Trenear, on which are now only some small cottages, is said to have been a place of considerable fame in former ages. This is at present the property of the representatives of the late Richard Johns, Esq. of Helston, by purchase from the Vyvyans. Tonkin speaking of this place says, 'At Trenere in Wendron is an arched vault of moorstone near the house, said to have been a cellar of the ancient Dukes of Cornwall, and this one of their hunting seats. This vault, which is very entire, indicates a place of some distinction.' " 5

Early History of the Jon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jon research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1379, 1417, 1463, 1600, 1656, 1664, 1736, 1754, 1776, 1796, 1843, 1858 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Jon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jon Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled John, Johns, Jon, Jone, Johnes, Johnys, Joan, Joanes, Jones and many more.

Early Notables of the Jon family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Hugh Johnys (fl. 1417-1463), Knight-Marshal of England and France, is said to have been the son of John Watkin Vaughan, who was the bastard child of Watkin Vaughan. In the muster-roll of the English army, dated July 1417, 'Here John,'...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jon family to Ireland

Some of the Jon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jon family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Jon or a variant listed above: John Jone, who settled in Maryland in 1659; Anthony John, who came to Barbados in 1679; Edward John, who emigrated from Wales to Pennsylvania in 1682.

Contemporary Notables of the name Jon (post 1700) +

Steven Jon Kragthorpe (1965-2024), American football player and head coach at Louisville from 2007 to 2009, and for Tulsa from 2003 through 2006
Nicolas Jon Downie (1946-2021), British journalist and soldier, a war correspondent, winning multiple awards
Joseph Jon Bruno (1946-2021), American sixth Episcopal Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles
Sir Charles Jon Herries (1815-1883), English financier, eldest son of J. C. Herries who studied at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he proceeded B.A. 1837, M.A. 1840 6
Terrence Jon Francona (b. 1959), nicknamed "Tito", American manager of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball, son of John Francona
Bobby Jon Drinkard (b. 1977), American contestant on Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Guatemala
Michael Jon Widger (1948-2016), American CFL football player, nominee for the TSN Top 50 CFL Players list in 2006
Alan Jon Magill (1953-2015), American medical researcher, Director of Malaria Programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and President of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Professor Sigbert Jon Prais (1928-2014), economist and had been the Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research since 1970
Eliot Jon Halverson (b. 1990), American figure skater, the 2007 US Junior National Champion

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020