The name Janey is a diminutive form of the name Jane, which has its origins in the medieval English name Jehanne, derived from the French variation of the Hebrew name Yohanan. Yohanan translates to "God is gracious" or "Yahweh is merciful." The earliest recorded use of the name Jane dates back to the 13th century in England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII of England, who lived from 1508 to 1537. Another notable figure was Lady Jane Grey, who briefly reigned as Queen of England for nine days in 1553 before being deposed and executed at the age of 16.

In literature, the name Jane is famously associated with the protagonist of Jane Austen's novel "Pride and Prejudice," published in 1813. The character of Jane Eyre, the titular heroine of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel, is also a well-known bearer of the name.

Other historical figures named Jane include Jane Addams (1860-1935), an American social worker and co-founder of the Hull House in Chicago, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Jane Goodall (born 1934) is a renowned British primatologist and anthropologist, best known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania.

Janey, as a diminutive form of Jane, has been used throughout history, although its origins and earliest recorded use are not as well-documented as the name Jane itself. Some notable individuals named Janey include Janey Briggs (1928-2020), an American artist and writer, and Janey Little (born 1958), an Australian actress and singer.