Surname Jinnings - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Jinnings: What does the surname Jinnings mean?
The last name Jinnings has a few possible origins. It may have been derived from a personal name such as Jenning, Jening, or Jannings, a diminutive form of John. Alternatively, it may have originated from the Old English given name Ginnings, which meant “son of Ginn.” It could also be from an Old Norse personal name, Jannings, meaning “descendent of Jannug.”
Jinnings is a fairly uncommon name throughout England. Due to its derivation, it is mainly found in regions where John was adopted as a given name during the Middle Ages, such as England and Scandinavia. It is also associated with areas where Old Norse and Old English were spoken.
Those with the last name Jinnings typically trace their ancestry from the same small community or region. This community likely originated from a manor or hamlet that shared this same last name, and Jinnings families may have stemmed from several generations living in the same location.
In addition, Jinnings can be considered an occupational surname due to its possible derivation from Jannug, an Old Norse word for blacksmith. This suggests that some Jinnings families began from a single blacksmith, and traces of present day Jinnings families may be found in areas located near anvils and furnaces. Moreover, those with the surname may have also had some role in the production of armor and weapons during the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisJinnings: Where does the name Jinnings come from?
The surname Jinnings seems to be a variant of the much more common surname Jennings. This surname has several potential origins. It could possibly derive from the Early Medieval English given name Janyn or Jenyn, a diminutive of the name John, meaning "Little John". Another possible origin is from the Old English personal name Cyn(e)ing, meaning king, or son of the king. The spelling Jinnings is less common and might arise from regional pronunciation differences or transcription errors.
Like Jennings, the surname Jinnings would be most common in countries where English is spoken or was historically spoken. This includes the United Kingdom, where the surname likely originated, as well as other countries with a significant history of British immigration such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, due to its rarity, specific data about where the surname Jinnings is especially common today is not readily available. As with many surnames, the modern distribution might not reflect the historical origins due to factors like migration, intermarriage, and anglicization of non-English surnames.
Variations of the surname Jinnings
The surname Jinnings is believed to derive from the personal name "John", coming from the Celtic "Iohannes" or the Hebrew "Yochanan" meaning "Jehovah has favored me with a son". The name was widely popularised in the Middle Ages in the Christian world.
There can be various ways to spell and variants of the surname since it transformed over years, regions, and due to phonetic spellings. Some known variants of Jinnings are Jinnins, Jennens, Gennings, Jennins, Jenning, and Jenings. Other similar surnames such as Jennings, Janning, and Jennyngs can also be derivatives from the same origin.
In some cases, the 'g' in Jinnings would transform into a ‘y’, 'u', or 'i' in surnames such as Jynnins, Jinnins, or Junnings respectively. Additionally, the placement and doubling of 'n' has also created variations like Jining, Jininngs, or Jinnigs. While these are less common, they are still potential variants.
Furthermore, the surname could also be possibly linked to the Scandinavian name "Jens" or Germanic name "Johannes". However, it's important to remember that surname origins can be complex, with multiple influences over generations.
Famous people with the name Jinnings
- Blake Jenner: American actor best known for his role in the musical-drama television series Glee.
- Lauren Jennings: American gymnast and member of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
- Juliette Jinnings: English actress known for her roles in films such as Mirrormask, Agora, and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
- Kaylin Jinnings: American voice actress who has been featured in various titles such as Monster High: Freaky Fusion and Ever After High.
- Dylan Jinnings: Canadian actor best known for his role as Tyler in the teen drama television series Degrassi.
- Richard Jinnings: British actor who has appeared in various television series including Coronation Street, The Royal, and A Touch of Frost.
- Ryan Jinnings: American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has released various albums, including "The Brother J" and "So This Is Love".
- Lizette Jinnings: Scottish actress who is best known for her roles in the television series The Politician’s Husband and Private Life of a Maverick.
- Ruth Jinnings: American folk singer songwriter- known for her contributions to the compilation album, “Songs of Courage”.
- Brady Jinnings: English actor and writer who has appeared in numerous television and theatre productions, including Last Tango in Halifax and Chariots of Fire.