Show ContentsJennes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Jennes family

The surname Jennes was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, [1] indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands, Etienne de Gennes, a Norman of Anjou, from whom was descended Ettiennes de Gennes, Lord of Le Motte de Geenes in 1144 and who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Jennes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jennes research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1401, 1510 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Jennes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jennes Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Jennes has been recorded under many different variations, including Jennes, Jenne, Jenn, Jeune, LaJeune, Chenn, Genn, Genne, Gens and many more.

Early Notables of the Jennes family

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


United States Jennes migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Jenness were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Jennes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Lewis Jennes who settled in Philadelphia in 1840
  • Lewis Jennes, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name Jennes (post 1700) +

  • First Lieutenant Jarvis Jennes Offutt (1894-1918), American aviator from Omaha, Nebraska killed in World War I, eponym of Offutt Air Force Base


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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