Find out how popular the last name Jane is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Jane.

Jane, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Jane surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jane in America

Jane is the 29473rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jane surname appeared 801 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jane.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jane to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Jane

The surname "JANE" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the medieval English given name "Jane," which itself came from the Old French "Jehane" or "Johane," a feminine form of the Hebrew name "Yohanan," meaning "Yahweh is gracious."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "JANE" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the 13th century, where a person named William Jane is mentioned. The name's connection to Yorkshire suggests that it may have initially been more common in the northern regions of England.

In the 14th century, the surname "JANE" appeared in various records and documents across different parts of England. For instance, in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1348, a person named Robert Jane is listed as a tenant.

The name "JANE" has also been associated with certain place names, such as Janeways in Cornwall, which may have contributed to its use as a surname in that region. Additionally, variations in spelling, like "Jeane" and "Jene," were common in historical records.

Notable individuals with the surname "JANE" include:

1. Sir William Jane (c. 1509-1585), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Southampton.
2. Joseph Jane (1654-1707), an English nonconformist minister and author of theological works.
3. Frederick Thomas Jane (1837-1916), a British naval writer and illustrator known for his works on naval history and architecture.
4. Cecil Jane (1857-1932), an English translator and author who translated several works of Spanish literature, including Don Quixote.
5. Lionel Cecil Jane (1856-1932), a British military historian and author of several books on the history of warfare.

While the surname "JANE" may not be as prominent as some other English surnames, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jane

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Jane.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Jane was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Jane has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Jane was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jane, please contact us.

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