Janney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Janney family

The surname Janney was first found in Kent, where Gilbert Genewy was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1218-1219. Years later, with other early spellings, we found Peter de Geneva 1249, de Geneweye in the Feet of Fines for Herefordshire in 1251. 1

The name was likely a nickname for someone from Genoa. "The Genoese traded much with England, both in silks and spices." 2 3

"As late as the 16th cent. a native of Genoa was called in England a Jan(e)way." 4

Early History of the Janney family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Janney research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1562, 1576, 1628, 1633, 1636, 1638, 1657, 1670, 1674, 1715, 1717 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Janney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Janney Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Janney were recorded, including Genewy, Genway, Gannaway, Jennaway, Janaway, January, Jennery, Jeneway, Janoway, Janeway, Janaway and many more.

Early Notables of the Janney family

Distinguished members of the family include James Janeway (1636-1674), a Puritan minister and children's author, second in popularity only to John Bunyan. He was the fourth son of William Janeway, and younger brother of John Janeway [q. v.], was born about the end of 1636 at...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Janney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Janney Ranking

In the United States, the name Janney is the 17,719^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Janney migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Janney family emigrate to North America:

Janney Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Janney, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 6
Elizabeth Janney, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1698 6
Randolph Janney, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1699 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Janney (post 1700) +

Allison Janney (b. 1959), American five-time Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award and four-time Screen Actors Guild Award winning actress, best known for her role as C. J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing (1999-2006)
Stuart Symington Janney III (b. 1948), American investment banker, racehorse owner
Barbara Phipps Janney (1911-1987), American member of the American horse racing Phipps family
Stuart S. Janney Jr., (1907-1988), American attorney, leading horse breeder
Jack Raymond Janney (1924-2006), American structural engineer and innovator in the understanding of structural collapses
Eli Janney, American record producer and musician
Eli H. Janney (1831-1912), American inventor of the modern knuckle coupler used on North American railroads in 1873
Craig Janney (b. 1967), American retired NHL hockey player who played from 1987 to 1999
Christopher Janney (b. 1950), American interactive sound and light artist
Ernest Lloyd Janney (1893-1941), Canadian military pilot, Provisional Commander of the Canadian Aviation Corps (1914-1915)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)