Surname Jonetat - Meaning and Origin
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Jonetat: What does the surname Jonetat mean?
The last name Jonetat is believed to originate from a combination of the French word "jonc," meaning "reed," and the Norman word "tat," meaning "estate," giving the name a possible meaning of "Reed Estate" or "Reed Property." It is likely that this reflects the ancestry of the Jonetat family, which may have acquired a large parcel of land in a marshy, reed-filled area.
The Jonetat surname is thought to have been present in France for several centuries, likely appearing in documents as early as the 15th century. It can be found throughout the French-speaking regions of the country, including in Brittany, northern France, and southwestern France. The Jonetat name has likely been present in the United States for centuries, as well, given the relatively high migration rate from France during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today, there are individuals with the last name Jonetat living around the world; in the United States, Canada, France, and other countries. Though the meaning and origins of the Jonetat name are not well-known by all current bearers of the name, it stands as a testament to the long-standing influence of both French and Norman customs and culture on language and surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisJonetat: Where does the name Jonetat come from?
The last name Jonetat is most commonly found in the Caribbean island of Martinique, a French-speaking overseas department in the Caribbean Sea. The name originated on the island in the 17th century after the first French settlers arrived.
The Jonetat family has spread across the region since then, with the surname being found throughout the Lesser Antilles in places such as Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as in France, Canada and the United States.
The spelling of the name varies slightly throughout the region, including Juenotat and Joonetat. Each instance of the spelling involves the letter ‘e’ being either placed at the beginning of the name or at the end.
The name Jonetat is more common today in France and the Caribbean islands, where it is known to be a ‘creole’ – one of the unique, French-rooted surnames found throughout Martinique and the Caribbean. This name often appears in diocese and religious records.
In recent years, the Jonetat name has spread further afield, with people moving to new locations in the United States, Canada and other territories. Outside of the Caribbean, it has also been found in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Variations of the surname Jonetat
The surname Jonetat is likely an alteration of the French name Jonet, which itself is derived from the name Jehan (John). Jehan is the French form of the Germanic name Johann, derived from the Hebrew name Yehohanan, meaning "God is gracious". Jonet is ultimately a variant spelling of Jacquet, which is probably a pet form of Jehan or Jacques, both derived from the Latin name Jacobus, meaning "supplanter".
Variants of Jonetat include Jonet, Jacquet, Jacquetat, Jeanett, Jannet, Jeanette, Jeannette, Jeannot, Jeannin, Jeanot, Jouanot, Jouanette, Jouany, Janot, Jannette, Jannette, Jeanot, Janotat, Jannot, and Jeannotin.
Spellings of Jonetat include Jonet, Jonetat, Jacquet, Jacquetat, Jeanett, Jannet, Jeanette, Jeannette, Jeannot, Jeannin, Jeanot, Jouanot, Jouanette, Jouany, Janot, Jannette, Jannette, Jeanot, Janotat, Jannot, and Jeannotin.
Surnames of the same origin as Jonetat include Jannet, Jeanot, Janette, Jeannot, Janot, Jeanette, Jeannin, Jouany, Jouanot, Janotat, Jouanette, Jannette, Jannot, and Jeannotin.
Famous people with the name Jonetat
- Paul Jonetat: French aviation pioneer who flew in the first air race in France in 1909
- Judith Jonetat: French actress, singer and dancer who starred in 1945 musical comedy Chantons sous la Pluie
- André Jonetat: French businessman who founded the Charbonnages de France and S.A. des Charbonnages de France
- Armand Jonetat: French author, bibliographer and journalist, founder of the Société littéraire de la Mattinger
- Jean-Victor Jonetat: French poet who wrote the famous romance poem Un soir de premières
- Philippe Jonetat: French actor who played the lead in the 1960s Tony Curtis classic Les 400 coups
- Jean-Pierre Jonetat: French landscaper and botanist, director of the School of Gardens in Chantilly
- Alphonse Jonetat: French painter and sculptor of the 19th century
- Pierre Jonetat: French violinist who performed with the Concerts Lamoureux from 1915 to 1937
- Edouard Jonetat: French painter of the Romantic era who focused on portraiture and genre painting