Show ContentsJenot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Jenot is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal name John or Joan. The surname Jenot referred to the son of John or Joan which belongs to the category of patronymic or metronymic surnames. In Old English, patronyms and matronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.

Early Origins of the Jenot family

The surname Jenot was first found in Yorkshire where Willelmus filius Jonet was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1297. A few years later, again in Yorkshire Jonot (surname only) was listed in 1308 and later again, Robert and Simon Janot were listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 1

Early History of the Jenot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jenot research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1356, 1596, 1649, 1650, 1661 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Jenot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jenot Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Jenot has been recorded under many different variations, including Jennet, Jennett, Jonnott, Jonnot, Jonnotson and others.

Early Notables of the Jenot family

Notables of the family at this time include William Jemmat (1596?-1678), English Puritan divine, born about 1596, and a "descendant of a well-to-do family settled at Reading, Berkshire, was, according to Wood, the son of a former mayor of the town. No Jemmat, however, appears as mayor...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jenot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jenot family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Jenot or a variant listed above: John Jennet settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Peter Jennett arrived in Maryland in 1776.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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