Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Quick Search

Single word search

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

What name is JNO an abbreviation of?

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Ken

Ken Report 19 Nov 2004 21:42

Can anyone suggest what name JNO is an abreviation of in the 18th century? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Ken of Northants

Trish

Trish Report 19 Nov 2004 21:44

Hi Ken, it's John

McDitzy

McDitzy Report 19 Nov 2004 21:44

I think it's John/Jonathan. That's what I've found it to be, but I could be wrong.

Heather

Heather Report 19 Nov 2004 21:46

Usually Jonathon.

Guinevere

Guinevere Report 19 Nov 2004 22:13

Hi, It's John in the case of my ancestors. Jonothan was spelt out. Gwynne

Geoff

Geoff Report 19 Nov 2004 22:14

From Rod Neep (boss of Archive CD Books) "This is a very common abbreviation, and the question gets raised very regularly ;-) Jno = John always! Rod -- Rod Neep : Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England"

Bren from Oldham

Bren from Oldham Report 19 Nov 2004 22:50

My gt gt Grandfather was called Jonathon But in records He shows as JNO Bren

Unknown

Unknown Report 19 Nov 2004 23:52

I think Jno is Jonathan. I can't see the point of using 3 letters to abbreviate a name that only has 4 to start with - so I discount John. Other common abbreviations - Thos for Thomas, Jas for James, Chas for Charles, Robt for Robert and Eliz for Elizabeth. nell

An Olde Crone

An Olde Crone Report 20 Nov 2004 00:53

I agree with Rod - JNO is ALWAYS John. Yes, very daft to abbreviate a four letter name to 3 letters, but that's what they did. Jonathan is usually JONO! Quite barmy!

Guinevere

Guinevere Report 20 Nov 2004 07:29

Hi, The reason for the JNO abbreviation dates back to when parish records and legal documents were written in Latin. John was Johan/Johannus(or something similar). We were taught this in the family history workshop I went to years ago. Gwynne

Poolie Girl

Poolie Girl Report 20 Nov 2004 08:02

Looking for a relly's medal record I entered John Atkinson and it brought up Atkinson, John Jno, so was he called John John Atkinson then? Beth :)

Unknown

Unknown Report 20 Nov 2004 08:54

I am wrong, shock horror! Found this abbreviations list, freereg.rootsweb.com/howto/realnames.htm which says Jno is John. So what about people who were called Jon as an abbreviation of Jonathan? Another thing - Jacobus is Latin for James, but Jacob is also a name in its own right. How do you know if you find Jacob that he is Jacob and not James? Aaaarrrhghhhhhhhhh! nell

TonyOz

TonyOz Report 20 Nov 2004 09:02

Boyd's Indexes has a great site for Forename abbreviations. http://www(.)originsnetwork(.)com/help/helpbo-bmi-fnabbs(.)htm Cheers. Tony Oz

Ken

Ken Report 20 Nov 2004 17:10

Thanks to you all out there who responded to my query. You're a great bunch!! Ken in Northants

An Olde Crone

An Olde Crone Report 21 Nov 2004 00:18

Nell - and what about Randolphus, latin for Randolph and Radolphus, latin for Ralph! As for the James/Jacob thingy it drives me mad as I have both James and Jacobs (I think) in the 1600s.

Unknown

Unknown Report 21 Nov 2004 00:22

I know. And Salop for Shrops - I can't see that it saves any time at all. nell

Judith

Judith Report 21 Nov 2004 08:56

I'd be wary of saying an abbreviation was ALWAYS for a particular name. Surely even if Jno was officially John it would depend on the knowledge and whim of the parish clerk or priest whether they used it 'correctly'. I've certainly found some ancestors who were known in later life as Jonathon and entered in the parish register as Jno. Judith