Surname Jeninga - Meaning and Origin

Jeninga: What does the surname Jeninga mean?

The last name Jeninga is of Dutch origin and is believed to have derived from the medieval personal name "Jan". The name is derived from the Hebrew name "Yohannan", meaning "God is gracious". Jan has been used since ancient times and is among one of the oldest Dutch surnames.

In the Middle Ages, surnames were given to individuals to distinguish them from one another. As such, the surname Jeninga may have been first adopted as a sort of patronymic, as it would have distinguished someone known as Jan among other people of the same name.

The last name Jeninga has various regional spellings that include Jeningen, Jeningen, and Jenning. It is thought to be related to other common Dutch surnames such as Jenk, Jans, Joost, and Aafjes.

The name Jeninga is most commonly found in Holland and other parts of Northern Europe, where it is believed that the Dutch merchants and traders first brought it to the United States. It is also found in the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Overall, the Jeninga surname has long been associated with the name Jan, first being adopted as a patronymic during the medieval period. It was brought to the United States and other parts of the world by Dutch settlers during 17th century and is now found in many countries. Jeninga is a common Dutch-American surname that signifies the origin of a family.

Jeninga: Where does the name Jeninga come from?

The last name Jeninga is primarily a Dutch surname, meaning it is most commonly found today in the Netherlands and in areas densely populated by people of Dutch ancestry. There are some records of Jeninga's in the United States, primarily in the Midwest of the US, and some presence in Australia and Canada.

Most commonly, it is used as a patronymic surname, so it is found amongst Dutch families who trace their lineages back to Jeninga ancestors. One particularly notable Jeninga family is from the town of Vaassen, located in the Gelderland region of the Netherlands.

Most of the Jeninga's that remain in the Netherlands live within close proximity to the original birthplace of the surname. Areas in the Netherlands where the name is likely to be common include Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and cities such as Zwolle and Groningen.

Jeninga is quite an uncommon surname, and even in the Netherlands, you will likely come across few people with the name. As it is used as a patronymic, it is more likely you will come across members of the same family bearing the same name.

Variations of the surname Jeninga

The surname Jeninga is a variant of the family names Jenings or Jennings. It is a patronymic name stemming from the medieval given name Jening. Jening originated from the Germanic name Johann which literally means “God is gracious”.

Variants of the surname Jeninga include Jenings, Jennings, Jeneings, Jenninges, Jenynge, Jenyngeh, Jenyne, Gennings, and Gennynge.

Spellings of the surname Jeninga include Jeninga, Jenningsa, Jeneingsa, Jenningesa, Jenyngea, Jenyngeha, Jenynea, Genningsa, and Gennyngea.

The surname Jeninga is also found by different names in different cultures. In Scotland, Jeninga is sometimes spelled Jenkin, Jankin, Jankins, Janken, and Jenkyn. In Dutch, Jeninga is sometimes spelled Jonkman. In Germany, the surname is spelled Genniges and Janniges.

Surnames related to Jeninga include Jenkens, Jenningson, Jankins, Jankenus, Jannings, Jianinga, Janninga, Genninga, and Jenninghausen.

In conclusion, Jeninga is a popular surname with many variants, spellings, and related surnames, all of which stem from the medieval given name Johann meaning “God is gracious”.

Famous people with the name Jeninga

• Jake Jeninga: Jake is a professional rugby player from England and is a member of the England 7s squad.
• Ben Jeninga: Ben is a Dutch Steve Jobs Wannabe and the founder of Goldenbaum, a startup accelerator in the Netherlands.
• Abby Jeninga: Abby is a Canadian multi-award winning journalist and correspondent for The Globe and Mail.
• Luther Jeninga: Luther is an American actor and producer, best known for his role in the Netflix series ‘House of Cards’.
• Larry Jeninga: Larry is a former American football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers.
• Anouk Jeninga: Anouk is a Dutch pianist and recording artist, she has released several albums and hosts a music show on Dutch television.
• Bob Jeninga: Bob is an Australian chef and restaurateur who runs several restaurants around the country.
• Lief Jeninga: Lief is a New Zealand game designer who has worked on several popular online games.
• Lydia Jeninga: Lydia is the Lead Dancer for the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
• Andrea Jeninga: Andrea is a Canadian actress who starred in the movie ‘Paris, je t’aime’ and recently appeared in the ABC show ‘Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

Other surnames

Jening