Английский Этимологический словарь - john

- Heb. Johanan, lit. "Jehovah has favored," usually Latinized as Johannes. By early 14c., rivaled William in popularity in England. Feminine form was Joan, Latinized as Johanna. O.Fr. was Jean, but variants Johan, Jehan yielded Jan, Jen (cf. surname Jensen). Welsh form was Ieuan, (see Evan), but Ioan was adopted for the Welsh Authorized Version of the Bible, hence frequency of Jones as a Welsh surname. John Doe, fictitious plaintiff or defendant, is from 1768. John Hancock "signature" (1903, sometimes, through some inexplainable error, John Henry) is from the signer of the Declaration of Independence, either from his signing first or most prominently. The family name is attested from 1276 in Yorkshire, a dim. (see cock) of Hann, a very common given name in 13c. Yorkshire as a pet name for Henry or John. John Bull (1772) was the name of a character representing the English nation in Arbuthnot's satire "History of John Bull" (1712). Johnny-come-lately first attested 1839.