Show ContentsJanete History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the name Janete are from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the biblical name of Jane. This name was first used in England during the 15th century, and was originally derived from the Old French Jehanne, which also had biblical origins from Johannes.

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Jan,' from diminutive Janet or Janot." [1]

Early Origins of the Janete family

The surname Janete was first found in Yorkshire, where Willelmus filius Jonet was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1297. A few years later at Wakefield, Jonot (with no forename ) was listed in 1308 and down in Cornwall, we found John Joney in 1297. The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327 reordered Roberts and Simon Janot. [2]

Early Somerset records show Henry Janet, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III.) [3]

Early History of the Janete family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Janete research. Another 226 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1297, 1300, 1327, 1500 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Janete History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Janete Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Janete family name include Janot, Janet, Jonet, Jannet, Janett, Janette, Jannett, Jenet, Jennet, Jenett and many more.

Early Notables of the Janete family

More information is included under the topic Early Janete Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Janete family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Janete surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John Jennet, who sailed to Pennsylvania in 1682. Peter Jannett journeyed to Maryland in 1776 and N. Janett sailed to New York in 1823.



  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.


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