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

Janes, 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 Janes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Janes in America

Janes is the 4632nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Janes surname appeared 7,659 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Janes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Janes 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 Janes

The surname Janes has its origins in medieval England, where it was derived from the masculine given name John, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Graced by God." The name was likely first adopted as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, as the use of hereditary surnames became more widespread among the English population.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Janes surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1195, where a man named William Janes is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records kept by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insight into the names and locations of individuals during that time.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Johanes, Jonys, and Jannes, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were common before the standardization of English spelling in the 18th century.

The Janes surname was particularly prevalent in the southern counties of England, including Hampshire, Dorset, and Somerset. Some early records include Robert Janes, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, and John Janes, who was recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire in 1333.

One notable historical figure bearing the Janes surname was Sir Henry Janes (c. 1540-1608), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1605. Another prominent individual was Edmund Janes (1568-1636), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archbishop of York from 1628 until his death.

In the 17th century, the surname was found in various parts of England, including London, where a family of Janes were well-known clockmakers. One member of this family, William Janes (1652-1709), was a highly regarded clockmaker who worked in the city.

As the British Empire expanded, the Janes surname spread to other parts of the world, including North America, where it was brought by early settlers from England. One notable American bearing the name was Thomas Holme Janes (1815-1888), a Civil War veteran and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.

Another individual of note was Sir Hubert Janes (1879-1967), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Aswan Low Dam in Egypt, which was completed in 1902. He was knighted in 1920 for his contributions to the field of engineering.

While the Janes surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since become a globally recognized name, with bearers scattered across various countries and continents. The name's enduring presence serves as a testament to its rich heritage and the diverse journeys of those who have carried it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Janes

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

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 Janes 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 Janes 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 Janes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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