Jennings Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Jennings Family History

Jennings Family History

The family history of the ancient name Jennings was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Meaning 'son of John', Jennings is a baptismal name. Variants of the name include Jenings, Jenyns, Jennens, Jannings and Jennins. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout these countries. Examples of such are a Janyn de Gynes and a Jeyn de Fraunce, who were recorded in the 'Poll Tax' of the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in the year 1379. A John Jenens was recorded in the University of Oxford in the year 1573. Jeames Jennynges was buried at Saint Peters, Cornhill, in the year 1571.

In Ireland this name and its variants were introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century. During the 'Plantations of Ireland' in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Ireland was colonized by the English Crown with this period marking the end of Gaelic supremacy in Ireland. This period brought an influx of settlers into the country but, unlike the earlier Anglo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century that resulted in a full integration into Irish society of the new arrivals, the same never occurred with the Ulster Planters who maintained their own distinct identity.

Jennings was also adopted by a branch of the Burkes of Connaught Province. Kilmaine is a variant name of a Jennings family who emigrated to France.The Jennings family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Jennings descendants.