Wishlist
Menu
Cart
HouseofNames
Wishlist
Cart

Show ContentsJean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Product

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

4.9 Average Rating

The Jean surname is a patronymic name created from the personal name Jan, which was a Middle English variant of the name John, or as "son of Jan." 1

Early Origins of the Jean family

The surname Jean was first found in Cornwall, where a record in the Ministers' Accounts of the Earldom of Cornwall shows a Simon Ianes in 1297. A John Janne was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cornwall in 1327, and a William Jan was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in that same year. 2

Kirby's Quest listed Robert Janes and William Janes, both in Somerset temp. 1 Edward III. 3

Jane or Johanna (d. 1445), Queen of Scotland, "was the daughter of John Beaufort, earl of Somerset. Her mother was Margaret, daughter of Thomas Holland, second earl of Kent, and niece of Richard II, who became after her first husband's death Duchess of Clarence. James I, King of Scotland, when a prisoner at Windsor, saw her walking in the garden of the castle, fell in love at first sight, and wrote the story of his love in the 'Kingis Quair.' The marriage, which suited the English rulers, and was made one of the conditions of his release, took place at St. Mary Overy Church in Southwark on 12 Feb. 1424. " 4

Early History of the Jean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jean research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1438, 1449, 1480, 1499, 1500, 1510, 1600, 1611, 1620, 1621, 1625, 1640, 1643, 1645, 1660, 1662, 1680, 1707 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Jean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jean Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Jean have been found, including Janes, Jans, J'Anes, Jeanne, Jeynes, Jayne, Jane and many more.

Early Notables of the Jean family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Henry Jeanes (1611-1662), was an English clergyman and Puritan controversialist. He was the son of Christopher Jeanes of Kingston in Somerset, was born at Allansay in the same county in 1611. 4

Jean World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jean is the 1,909th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Jean is ranked the 303rd most popular surname with an estimated 14,382 people with that name. 6 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Jean is the 99th popular surname. 7 France ranks Jean as 68th with 35,632 people. 8

United States Jean migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Jean were among those contributors:

Jean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • René Jean settled with his wife Marguerite Pepin in Louisiana in 1719
  • Rene Jean, aged 52, who landed in Louisiana in 1719 9
  • Jean Antoine Jean, who settled in Louisiana in 1752
  • Pierre Joseph Jean, who settled in Louisiana in 1752
  • Pierre Armin Jean, who settled in Philadelphia in 1753
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jean Christophe Grand Jean, who landed in New York in 1833 9
  • Lertel Jean, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 9
  • Zilliox Jean, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846 9
  • Peter Gustavus Saint Jean, who settled in Philadelphia in 1848
  • Joseph Jean, aged 23, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1850 9

Canada Jean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jean Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Denis Jean, son of Élie and Élisabeth, who married Marie Peltier, daughter of Nicolas and Jeanne, in Quebec on 30th August 1655 10
  • Vivien Jean, son of Vivien and Suzanne, who married Catherine Gateau, daughter of Odart and Geneviève, in Quebec on 29th October 1671 10
  • Gilles Jean, son of Jacques and Agnès, who married Jeanne Masse, daughter of Pierre and Marie, in Quebec on 21st June 1674 10
  • Élie Jean, son of Vivien and Élisabeth, who married Marie Gagnesse, daughter of Pierre and Madeleine, in Quebec on 20th January 1676 10
  • Jean Baptiste Jean, who arrived in Montreal in 1676
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Jean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Pierre Jean, son of Élie and Marie, who married Catherine Blondeau, daughter of François and Nicole, in Charlesbourg, Quebec on 24th November 1701 10
  • Ignace Jean, son of Jean and Catherine, who married Angélique Dandonneau, daughter of Louis and Marguerite, in Montreal, Quebec on 2nd February 1710 10
  • Léonard Jean, son of Léonard and Anne, who married Marie Varin, daughter of Marin and Marie, in Montreal, Quebec on 26th November 1712 10
  • Gérard Jean, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie-Louise Chaillé, daughter of François and Françoise, in Quebec on 28th September 1730 10
  • Louis Jean, son of Denis and Marie, who married Marie-Catherine Mexeray, daughter of Thomas and Louise, in Terrebonne, Quebec on 16th June 1732 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Jean (post 1700) +

  • Trafton Jean (b. 1972), American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 85th District, 2000; Treasurer of Michigan Libertarian Party, 2001-02 11
  • Paul Jean, American Republican politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Manchester 6th Ward, 1938 11
  • Jean B. Jean, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1908 11
  • Charles A. Jean, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1948; Chair of Union County Republican Party, 1950 11
  • Arthur J. Jean, American Democratic Party politician, Elected New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Manchester 7th Ward 1938 11
  • Honore St. Jean, American Republican politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Manchester 9th Ward, 1938 12
  • Earl Jude Jean (b. 1971), former St. Lucian footballer
  • Michaëlle Jean CC CMM COM CD (b. 1957), Haitian-born, Canadian journalist, 27th Governor General of Canada
  • Major-General Raymond-Damien Jean (1891-1949), French General during World War II 13
  • Dame Annie Jean Macnamara DBE (1899-1968), Australian medical doctor and scientist, best known for her contributions to children's health and welfare and her polio research which helped lead to vaccine
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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.
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  8. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  9. 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)
  10. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  11. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, October 5) Raymond-Damien Jean. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Jean/Raymond-Damien/France.html
Houseofnames.com on Facebook