Joan meaning | Last name Joan origin

The variation of the Joanes. See John - This baptismal name, which is of Norman introduction, has rarely passed into a surname. The Lond. Direct. for 1852 affords but one instance. It has been, however, the source, in various modified forms, of a considerable number of names, some of which are amongst the most common in the whole circle of our nomenclature. Its immediate derivative, John son, and its Welsh genitive form , Jones, substantiate this assertion; but we have besides Johns, Johnes, Joanes, Johncock, Janson, Jannings, Jennings, Jenks, Jenkyn, Jenkins, and Jinkins, Jenkinson, and perhaps Janes and Jenson. The Flemish nickname Hans from Johannes, seems to be the root of Hanson, Hancock, etc. Jack and Jackson might seem to claim the same parentage, but I think there is more reason for affiliating them upon James.

A termination of several surnames, as Littlejohn, Micklejohn, Upjohn, Prettyjohn, Applejohn, Properjohn, and Brownjohn.

Some of these, as Upjohn and Apple john, may be corruptions—the rest seem to be significant and descriptive. John is a personal name so common throughout Christendom that some prefix by way of epithet seems occasionally to have been necessary, in order to distinguish between two or more persons bearing it; thus the French have their Grosjeans, 'big or fat Johns;' the Dutch their Grootjans, or ó bulky Johns; ' the Italians their Gioranizzi, or 'handsome large Johns;' the Highlanders their Mac- Fadyeans, the sons of 'long John,' as also their Mac-Trors or sons of 'big John;' and the Lowland Scotch their Mickejohns or 'large stout Johns.' In the Hundred Rolls, we have one Duraund lo Bon Johan-'Durrant the Goodl-John!'.

A variant of Yanez. Juan's or of Juan or John.