Show ContentsJoann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Joann family

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

Early History of the Joann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joann 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 Joann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joann Spelling Variations

Throughout the course of history most surnames have undergone changes for many reasons. During the early development of the French language, a son and father may not have chosen to spell their name the same way. Many are simple spelling changes by a person who gave his name, phonetically, to a scribe, priest, or recorder. Many names held prefixes or suffixes which became optional as they passed through the centuries, or were adopted by different branches to signify either a political or religious adherence. Hence, we have many spelling variations of this name, Joann some of which are 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 Joann 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 Joann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Joann family

In the 1700s, land incentives were finally given out by France to 2,000 migrants. Early marriage was encouraged in New France, and youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries, leaving French names scattered across the continent. The search for the Northwest passage continued. Migration from France to New France or Quebec, as it was now more popularly called, continued until 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In the treaty of Utrecht, Acadia were ceded by France to Britain in 1713. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported. They found refuge in Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many of this distinguished family name Joann were prominent in social, cultural, religious and political affairs in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Joann 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 Joann (post 1700) +

  • Debbie JoAnn Sirk, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1984 1
  • Helen Joann Fox, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oklahoma, 2004 2
  • JoAnn Marie Burkholder (b. 1953), American professor of aquatic ecology at the North Carolina State University, Raleigh
  • Joann Ratner (1931-2023), known as Joanna Merlin, is an American actress and casting director who starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof
  • JoAnn Watson (1951-2023), American pastor, media personality and Detroit city councilor, on-air personality for 910 AM Superstation/WFDF and Comcast Channel 91 WHPR
  • JoAnn Alfano, American television producer, Executive Vice President Entertainment at Lifetime Networks
  • Joann Frank, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1988
  • Joann McPike, New Zealand travel photographer and the founder of Think Global School, an independent high school that travels the world
  • JoAnn Giordano, American textile artist and curator
  • Joann Self Selvidge, American Nashville Film Festival Award winning producer and director who founded True Story Pictures in 2004


  1. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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