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

Jennie, 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 Jennie surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Jennie in America

Jennie is the 142819th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jennie surname appeared 107 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jennie.

The history of the last name Jennie

The surname Jennie is of English origin, primarily rooted in the medieval period. It appears to develop as a diminutive or pet form of the name Jenkin or John. The surname finds its earliest origins in southwestern England, particularly in counties like Cornwall and Devon, where similar names such as Jenney and Janyns were also prevalent.

Derived from the old English or Welsh personal name Jenkin, which itself comes from John, Jennie carries connotations of "little John" or "son of John" in a diminutive form. During the Middle Ages, names became more familial, and it was common for diminutive forms to evolve into surnames, thus resulting in Jennie.

One notable historical reference is from the Domesday Book of 1086, where variations of the root name, such as John, were already well documented. While the specific surname Jennie may not appear in the Domesday Book, its developmental ancestors are evident in many old records, serving as a testament to the name's deep roots.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Jennie dates back to the late 13th century, where a John Jennie was documented in Devon records around 1284. This showcases the name's longstanding presence in English history, particularly in southwestern England.

Another early occurrence includes a Peter Jennie, who was noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Cornwall in 1327. These tax records are a critical source that underscores the spread of the Jennie surname within medieval society, providing evidence of its geographical stabilization.

A significant historical figure with the surname Jennie is Richard Jennie, a prominent figure in the English wool trade during the 15th century. He was born in 1432 and passed away in 1491. Richard’s contributions to the economy underscored the emerging influence individuals with the surname Jennie had during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, a Robert Jennie was a landowner in Cornwall, as recorded in land deeds from 1563. This shows the continuity of the surname Jennie not just in populating records but also in holding significant societal roles.

Finally, the Jennie family also finds mention in the Parish Registers of the 17th century. Jane Jennie, baptized in 1608 in Exeter, Devon, offers a glimpse into the more ordinary lives of those bearing this surname, displaying how the name continued through generations.

Throughout its history, Jennie has maintained a presence in English records, evolving from its diminutive roots to a recognized surname that now carries centuries of lineage from medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jennie

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Jennie 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!