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Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Is your surname registered?
2,890 members
2,455 studies
8,757 surnames
St.John One-Name Study
Page Views:
2,654
About the study
I began this study in 2005 as a result of my St. John family connections. I have a spreadsheet showing St.John births from 1837 - 1920 which I am happy to give information from. I intend to update this on a regular basis. I also have information about many St.Johns, which I have gathered from a variety of sources. Again, I am happy to pass on any information.
Variant names
Sinjun, St.Jean, Seynt John, Stjohn, Seint John, Sent John. I am also including double-barrelled names which include St.John (ie St.John-Maidment), and St.Johnston.
Name origin
The St.John Polyptych at Lydiard Tregoze began with John de St.John who is believed to have come to England with William the Conqueror but there is no evidence that anyone by that name did so. There is no record of any St.John in the Doomsday records. The St.John name's origin can be traced back to St.Jean-le-Thomas in Normandy and the de Port family originate from Port de Bessin in Normandy. This goes back to 9th Century when Normandy was still more Viking and not French.
Historical occurrences of the name
Adam de Port's son, William, used his maternal grandmother's surname of St.John in around 1205. She was Adam's mother-in-law. Hugh de Port, Adam's great grandfather, was part of William 1's conquering force and he was rewarded by the gift of Basing, Hants, and other lands. There were 12th century St.Johns living as Lord Stantons of Oxford and their strong-hold is now called Stanton St.John. They are buried in the church.
Name frequency
There are 874 names registered between 1837 and 1920 inclusive.
Distribution of the name
I have found 'pockets' of the name St.John in areas of London, Isle of Wight, Lymington, Lydiard Tregoze (Swindon, Wilts), and Bedfordshire.
Data
This study is in its infancy, so I welcome any information (however obscure) relating to the St.John name. Many thanks to Sonia St.John for her help in setting up this page.
Contact
Mrs Shirley Smith