Gannaway History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Gannaway family

The surname Gannaway was first found in Kent, where Gilbert Genewy was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1218-1219. Years later, with other early spellings, we found Peter de Geneva 1249, de Geneweye in the Feet of Fines for Herefordshire in 1251. 1

The name was likely a nickname for someone from Genoa. "The Genoese traded much with England, both in silks and spices." 2 3

"As late as the 16th cent. a native of Genoa was called in England a Jan(e)way." 4

Early History of the Gannaway family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gannaway research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1562, 1576, 1628, 1633, 1636, 1638, 1657, 1670, 1674, 1715, 1717 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Gannaway History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gannaway Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Gannaway include Genewy, Genway, Gannaway, Jennaway, Janaway, January, Jennery, Jeneway, Janoway, Janeway, Janaway and many more.

Early Notables of the Gannaway family

Distinguished members of the family include James Janeway (1636-1674), a Puritan minister and children's author, second in popularity only to John Bunyan. He was the fourth son of William Janeway, and younger brother of John Janeway [q. v.], was born about the end of 1636 at...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gannaway Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gannaway Ranking

In the United States, the name Gannaway is the 13,520^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Gannaway family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: settlers, who arrived along the eastern seaboard, from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands.

Contemporary Notables of the name Gannaway (post 1700) +

Preston Gannaway, American photojournalist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography in 2008
Albert Carlyle "Gary" Gannaway III (b. 1954), American businessman, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist
William Trigg Gannaway (1825-1910), American academic, President pro tempore of Duke University (1864-1865)
Richard Gannaway (b. 1955), American composer, producer, recording artist, best known for composing "On Jai Ya" for the 2008 Summer Olympics
Virgil T. Gannaway, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1952 (alternate), 1960 6
Clarence W. Gannaway, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Missouri State House of Representatives from Cedar County, 1964 6

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html