Jennings

The surname Jennings is of English origin, derived from the given name Jenyn, a medieval variant of the name John. The name John itself is of Hebrew origin, meaning "Yahweh is gracious". Jennings is a patronymic surname, indicating that it originated as a name-based on the father's first name.

The Jennings surname is widespread in England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. The name has been recorded in various forms over the centuries, including Jenins, Jennyns, and Jennins, before settling on the standardized form of Jennings.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Jennings include the English poet and scholar Elizabeth Jennings, the American journalist and anchor Peter Jennings, and the British actor and comedian Terry-Thomas, whose birth name was Thomas Terry Hoar-Stevens, but who adopted the stage name Terry-Thomas.

The Jennings surname has a rich history and is associated with individuals who have excelled in various fields such as literature, journalism, and entertainment. The name continues to be found in the United Kingdom and around the world, carried by descendants of the original bearers of the surname.

In summary, the surname Jennings is an ancient English surname with a connection to the name John, meaning "Yahweh is gracious". It has a long and distinguished history and remains a prominent surname in contemporary society.

There are approximately 27,437 people named Jennings in the UK. That makes it the 292nd most common surname in Britain. Around 421 in a million people in Britain are named Jennings.

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • David
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Robert
  • Stephen

Female

  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Jacqueline
  • Julie
  • Lisa
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Nicola
  • Patricia
  • Rebecca
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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