Jennings History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Jennings began when it was derived from The name Jennings is derived from the personal name John, or perhaps more accurately from several diminutions of the name John, such as Jan, Jon, or Jen. [1]

Patronymic surnames belong to the larger category of surnames, known as hereditary surnames, and they arose out of the vernacular and religious given name traditions. In the religious naming tradition, which was developed later than the vernacular tradition, surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint. John, of course, is derived from John the Baptist, who was born in order to announce Christ’s coming.

Early Origins of the Jennings family

The surname Jennings was first found in Sussex where Roger Jonyng was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. A few years later in 1327, the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire listed Walter Jannen and Richard Janyns in 1327. In the same year, John Janyng was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex. From these early entries, we must look over 100 years later to find Thomas Jenyn in the Feet of Fines for Sussex in 1428. [2]

Two other sources had interesting entries with spellings that have fallen out of favour. The Register of the University of Oxford includes John Genens, or Jenens, citizen of Oxford in 1573 and Francis Jenance, or Jennens, or Jenens in the same year. In Norfolk, Thomas Jennyns was registered these 13 Elizabeth (during the 13th year of Elizabeth I’s reign) [3]

Early History of the Jennings family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jennings research.

Jennings Spelling Variations

There are many spelling variations of Breton surnames, because the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find references to one individual with many different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. The name has been spelled Jennings, Jenings, Jennins, Jennyns, Jennens, Jennynge, Jennynges, Jenyns and many more.

Early Notables of the Jennings family (pre 1700)

Notable of this family during the Middle Ages was Sir Stephen Jenyns (c.?1450-1523), English wool merchant from Wolverhampton who became Sheriff of London in 1499, before becoming Lord Mayor of London in 1509. Saint Edmund Gennings (1567-1591), was an English Catholic martyr, who was executed during the English Reformation. He was born in 1567 at Lichfield and brought up in the Protestant religion. He became a page in the service of Richard Sherwood, a Catholic gentleman, who afterwards went to Rheims and took holy orders. [4]John Gennings (c. 1570-1660), was an Englishman who was converted to Catholicism.

Jennings World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jennings is the 274^th most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. [5] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Jennings is ranked the 458^th most popular surname with an estimated 103 people with that name. [6] And in Australia, the name Jennings is the 291^st popular surname with an estimated 12,136 people with that name. [7] New Zealand ranks Jennings as 388^th with 1,674 people. [8] The United Kingdom ranks Jennings as 282^nd with 21,680 people. [9]

 Migration of the Jennings family to Ireland

Some of the Jennings family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Jennings migration to the United States +

An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Jennings arrived in North America very early: 

Jennings Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Miss Mary Jennings, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship “Ark and Dove” [10]
• Nicholas Jennings, aged 22, who landed in New England in 1634 aboard the ship “Francis” [10]
• Jane Jennings, aged 25, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship “David” in 1635 [10]
• Jon Jennings, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [10]
• Rev. Henry Jennings, aged 24, who arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship “Truelove” [11]

Jennings Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• William Jennings, who landed in Leeward Islands in 1703-1704 [10]

Jennings Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• George Jennings, who landed in New York in 1826 [10]
• Charles Jennings, who arrived in New York in 1835 [10]
• Joseph Jennings, who landed in New York in 1835 [10]
• Edward Jennings, who landed in New York in 1838 [10]
• Mr. J. Jennings, (b. 1836), aged 30, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship “Cornwall” arriving in the United States on 3 June 1841 [12]

Jennings Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Mrs. Robert Jennings, (b. 1880), aged 20, Cornish labourer from St. Ives, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “Majestic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th July 1900 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [13]
• Mrs. Thomas Jennings, (b. 1870), aged 30, Cornish farmer travelling aboard the ship “St Paul” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 31st March 1900 en route to New York, USA [13]
• Christian Jennings, who landed in Pike County, Ind in 1900 [10]
• Mrs. George Jennings, (b. 1874), aged 29, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship “Philadelphia” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th June 1903 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA [13]
• Mrs. Samuel John Jennings, (b. 1863), aged 41, Cornish compositor from Truro, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “Arabic” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th October 1904 en route to New York, USA [13]

 Jennings migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Jennings Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Benjamin Jennings, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mr. Thomas Jennings U.E. (b. 1736) born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Grand Lake, Queens County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in 1839 [14]

Jennings Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Francis Jennings, aged 34, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque “New Brunswick” from Liverpool, England
• Sarah Jennings, aged 30, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque “New Brunswick” from Liverpool, England
• Mr. Austin Jennings, aged 45 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse IsleQuarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “George” departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In June 1847 [15]
• Mrs. Margaret Jennings, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse IsleQuarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “Jane Avery” departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In July 1847 [15]
• Miss. Mary Jennings, aged 12 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse IsleQuarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship “George” departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle In June 1847 [15]

 Jennings migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Jennings Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Charlotte Jennings, (b. 1784), aged 16, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1839 [16]
• Jonathan Jennings, English convict from Durham, who was transported aboard the “Ann” on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia [17]
• Miss Mary Jennings, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the “Canada” in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
• Miss Ann Jennings, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Broxbournebury” in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
• Mr. Thomas Jennings, English labourer who was convicted in Kent, England for life, transported aboard the “Fanny” on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[20]

 Jennings migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: 

Jennings Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Charles Jennings, aged 32, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgway” in 1842
• Elizabeth Jennings, aged 22, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgway” in 1842
• Francis Jennings, aged 1, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgway” in 1842
• John Jennings, aged 1 month, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Martha Ridgway” in 1842
• William Jennings, aged 31, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Mary Ann” in 1842

 Jennings migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [21]

Jennings Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. Richard Jennings, (b. 1600), aged 35, British settler travelling aboard the ship “The Dorset” arriving in Barbados in September 1635 [22]
• Miss Sarah Jennings, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling aboard the ship “The Dorset” arriving in Barbados in September 1635 [22]
• John Jennings, who settled in Barbados in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Jennings (post 1700) +

• David M. Jennings (1948-2023), American politician, Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and Superintendent of Eastern Carver County School District 112, based in Chaska
• J. Russell “Russ” Jennings (1955-2021), American politician, Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 122nd district (2013-2021)
• John Edward Jennings (1953-2015), American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer
• J. B. Jennings (b. 1974), American politician, Member of the Maryland Senate (2011-)
• Hugh Ambrose Jennings (1869-1928), American Major League Baseball player and manager, posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945
• Gregory Jennings Jr. (b. 1983), American NFL football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
• Francis “Fritz” Jennings (1918-2000), American historian
• Christine Jennings (b. 1945), American banker, businessperson and politician, Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative for Florida (2008)
• Brian Lewis Jennings (b. 1976), American NFL football long snapper and tight end for the San Francisco 49ers (2000-2012)
• Brandon Jennings (b. 1989), American professional NBA basketball player