Janes is an English

patronymic A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic. Patronymics are used, b ...

family name In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

. Its root is believed to be from the possessive of the

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

'' Jan'' (see '' Jayne''), ''

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

'' or '' Ian''. In England, the name appears to have its densest roots in

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

and

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

as well as a few in the East End of

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

though migration has spread it across the country and the English-speaking world. There are two coats of arms associated with Janeses, one Gloucester-based and the other Kent-based. Janes is an uncommon given name. Equivalents exist in other languages, most often in pronunciation rather than spelling: * Eanes * Ianes * Iōannēs (Greek) * Janeš (Czech)

Notable people with the surname Janes

Alfred Janes Alfred George Janes (30 June 1911 – 3 February 1999) was a Welsh artist, who worked in Swansea and Croydon. He experimented with many forms, but is best known for his meticulous still lifes and Portrait painting, portraits. He is also remembe ...

(1911–1999), Welsh artist * Clara Janés (born 1940), Spanish poet, writer and translator * Christine Janes (née Truman, born 1941), English tennis player * Dominic Janes (born 1994), American actor * Gordon Janes (1918–1985) accountant, business manager and politician in Newfoundland * Henry Fisk Janes (1792–1879), American politician * Jimmy Janes (1947–2020), American comics artist and storyboard artist * J. Robert Janes (born 1935), Canadian author * Lorenzo Janes (1801–1873), American lawyer, judge, businessman, and territorial legislator * Martha Waldron Janes (1832–?), American minister, suffragist, columnist * Paul Janes (1912–1987), German footballer * Phil Janes (born 1958), science fiction comedy writer * Richard Janes (born 1978), English actor, film and theatre director * Rodney B. Janes (1892–1973), New York state senator

Notable people with the surname Janes

See also