The distinguished surname Jone is derived from the given name "John," which is itself derived from the Hebrew name "Johanan," meaning "Jehovah has favored."
"This baptismal name, which is of Norman introduction, has rarely passed into a surname. The London Directory for 1852 affords but one instance." [1]
The name was brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and was extremely popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages as a result of the numerous connections between the name John and the Christian Church.
The surname Jone was first found in Lincolnshire, borne by Alanus filius Jene in 1275. Other early bearers of the name include Willelmus filius Gene, who was recorded in the Rotuli Hundredorum of Yorkshire in 1276, Walterus filius Jone, who was living in Huntingdonshire in 1279, and Thomas John, who was a resident of Buckinghamshire in 1279. [2]
In Somerset, Robert Johns, was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) [3] Lewis Johns was prebendary of St. David's in 1486. [4]
Farther to the south in the parish of Wendron, Cornwall, we found this interesting entry. "The barton of Tremere, or Trenear, on which are now only some small cottages, is said to have been a place of considerable fame in former ages. This is at present the property of the representatives of the late Richard Johns, Esq. of Helston, by purchase from the Vyvyans. Tonkin speaking of this place says, 'At Trenere in Wendron is an arched vault of moorstone near the house, said to have been a cellar of the ancient Dukes of Cornwall, and this one of their hunting seats. This vault, which is very entire, indicates a place of some distinction.' " [5]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jone research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1379, 1327, 1600, 1417, 1463, 1417, 1656, 1736, 1664, 1754, 1776, 1858, 1796, 1843 and are included under the topic Early Jone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled John, Johns, Jon, Jone, Johnes, Johnys, Joan, Joanes, Jones and many more.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Hugh Johnys (fl. 1417-1463), Knight-Marshal of England and France, is said to have been the son of John Watkin Vaughan, who was the bastard child of Watkin Vaughan. In the muster-roll of the English army, dated July 1417, 'Here John,'...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Jone is the 6,174th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [6]
Some of the Jone family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Jone or a variant listed above were: