Show ContentsJon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Jon family

The surname Jon was first found in Languedoc, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Jon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jon research. Another 337 words (24 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1234, 1341, 1351, 1364, 1400, 1440, 1540, 1551, 1607, 1645, 1667, 1669, 1707, 1723 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Jon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jon Spelling Variations

There were a great number of spelling variations in French surnames. One reason for this was the wide variety of cultural influences present in France during the early development of the French language. The many spelling variations of the name include Saint Jean, Jean, Geon, Jeans, Jeane, Geans, Gen, Le Jean, Des Jeans, De La Geon, Saint-Jon, Saint-Geans and many more.

Early Notables of the Jon family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Jean, or Jehan de Beaumanoir, Marshal of Brittany for Charles of Blois, and Captain of Josselin, is remembered for his share in the famous Combat of the Thirty during the War of Breton Succession (1341-1364); Sir...
Another 44 words (3 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

France was active as a cultural leader in the early 16th century. One particular area in which they lead was the exploration of the New World. The explorers, like Jacques Cartier in 1534, led the way to North America. Champlain, in 1608, made the first of twenty voyages to France to attract settlers and brought the first migrant in 1617. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec, and the French Acadian presence in the Maritimes had reached 500. The French founded Lower Canada, thus becoming one of the two great founding nations of Canada. The family name Jon has made many distinguished contributions in France and New France to the world of science, culture, religion, and education. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Jon were Peter Gustavus Saint Jean settled in Philadelphia in 1848; Jean Antoine Jean settled in Louisiana in 1752; Pierre Armin Jean settled in Philadelphia in 1753.


Contemporary Notables of the name Jon (post 1700) +

  • 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 1
  • 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
  • Andrew Jon McCollum (b. 1970), American NFL football center who played from 1994 to 2008


  1. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020


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