John

Male
CPL
4 of 5

Discussion of the name

John is the medieval and modern English form of the biblical name rendered Johannes or Iohannes in Latin texts, including Domesday Book. It first arrived in England with the Gregorian mission (PASE: John 5) and was used in clerical circles to some degree both in the pre-Viking period (e.g. PASE: John 18, 19, and 22) and in the tenth and eleventh centuries (Searle 1897: 319), probably as a name taken in religion by men who had been christened with Old English names from the usual repertoire. Most of the persons called John who figure in Anglo-Saxon history were popes and other clerics and monks from the Continent. As with other biblical names, John was not used among the English laity, unless it was the name behind Johannan, a slave at Faccombe (Hants) freed by his mistress in the late tenth or early eleventh century (PASE: Johanna 1; S 1539).

Other than the abbot of Fécamp, all the pre-Conquest instances of John in DB seem to be one person, John the Dane. It is almost as surprising to find it as the name of a Danish layman as it would be of an Englishman.

Bibliography

Searle 1897: William George Searle, Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum: A List of Anglo-Saxon Proper Names from the Time of Beda to that of King John (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1897)

Forms of the name

Spellings in Domesday Book: Johannes

Spellings in Exon: Iohannes

Forms in modern scholarship:

  von Feilitzen head forms: Johannes

  Phillimore edition: John

  Alecto edition: John

Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

Holder 1066

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Devon 17,22 North Bovey Johannes John the Dane - Judhael of Totnes Turgis 'of Bovey' 1.75 2.00 2.00 C
Devon 17,33 Thurlestone Johannes John the Dane - Judhael of Totnes - 1.75 4.00 3.00 C
Dorset 46,1 Milborne St Andrew Johannes John the Dane - Matthew de Mortagne - 5.00 5.00 5.00 A
Dorset 46,2 Owermoigne Johannes John the Dane - Matthew de Mortagne - 9.75 10.00 10.00 A
Gloucestershire 73,2 Shipton Moyne Johannes John the Dane - Matthew de Mortagne Rumbald 'of Shipton Moyne' 10.00 15.00 8.00 A
Somerset 44,1 Clevedon Johannes John the Dane - Matthew de Mortagne Ildebert 'of Milton Clevedon' 5.63 2.00 4.00 A
Somerset 6,14 Yatton Johannes John the Dane - Giso, bishop of Wells - 10.00 6.00 6.00 A
Somerset 6,14 Yatton - John the Dane - Giso, bishop of Wells Fastrad 5.00 1.00 4.00 A
Somerset 6,14 Yatton - John the Dane - Giso, bishop of Wells Ildebert 'of Milton Clevedon' 3.00 3.00 5.00 A
Somerset 6,14 Yatton - John the Dane - Giso, bishop of Wells Bentelin the archdeacon 1.00 1.00 1.00 A
Sussex 5,1 Rye - John, abbot of Fécamp Edward, king William, abbot of Fécamp - 17.00 34.00 50.00 -
Sussex 5,1 Rye - John, abbot of Fécamp Edward, king William, abbot of Fécamp Herolf 0.50 0.00 0.37 -
Sussex 5,1 Rye - John, abbot of Fécamp Edward, king William, abbot of Fécamp Robert of Hastings 2.50 0.00 1.83 -
Totals

Tenant-in-Chief 1086 demesne estates (no subtenants)

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Cambridgeshire 35,1 Fulbourn - Leofric 'of Fulbourn' Ælfgar, earl John fitzWaleran - 2.00 4.00 4.00 -
Cambridgeshire 35,1 Fulbourn - Sigar, steward of Esgar the staller Edward, king John fitzWaleran - 3.00 6.00 6.00 -
Cambridgeshire 35,1 Fulbourn - 3 sokemen Eadgifu the fair John fitzWaleran - 1.00 2.00 2.00 -
Cambridgeshire 35,2 Teversham - Suneman 'of Teversham' Ælfgar, earl John fitzWaleran - 0.50 0.10 0.07 -
Cambridgeshire 35,2 Teversham - Eadsige 'of Teversham' Ælfgar, earl John fitzWaleran - 1.25 0.10 0.07 -
Dorset 57,10 Winterborne Johannes Alweald 'of Winterborne' - John the usher - 2.38 2.00 2.00 -
Essex 40,1 Notley - Harold, earl - John fitzWaleran John fitzErnucion 4.25 7.00 6.00 -
Essex 40,2 Great Saling - 1 free man - John fitzWaleran Thurstan Guiscard 0.50 3.00 3.00 -
Essex 40,3 Little Maplestead - Grim 'of Curling Tye' - John fitzWaleran Osmund 'of Maplestead' 0.50 2.00 1.50 -
Essex 40,4 Henny - 1 free man - John fitzWaleran Roger 'the man of John fitzWaleran' 2.50 2.00 2.50 -
Essex 40,5 Bures - Tosti 'of Bures' - John fitzWaleran - 0.13 0.30 0.30 -
Essex 40,6 Fyfield - Leofric 'of Fyfield' - John fitzWaleran Roger 'the man of John fitzWaleran' 1.75 5.00 7.00 -
Essex 40,7 Fyfield - Alstan 'of Fyfield' - John fitzWaleran Roger 'the man of John fitzWaleran' 0.25 1.00 1.00 -
Essex 40,8 High Ongar - Leofric 'of Fyfield' - John fitzWaleran Roger 'the man of John fitzWaleran' 0.75 2.00 2.00 -
Essex 40,9 Aveley - Wulfsige 'of Aveley' - John fitzWaleran - 0.50 0.50 0.35 -
Essex 40,9 Aveley - Swein Swart - John fitzWaleran - 3.50 8.00 5.00 -
Essex 65,1 Elsenham - Mærwynn 'of Elsenham' - John nephew of Waleran - 4.00 6.00 8.00 -
Norfolk 49,1 Ringstead - Bovi 'of Ringstead' - John nephew of Waleran - 0.00 4.00 6.00 -
Norfolk 49,2 Hunstanton - 1 sokeman Bovi 'of Ringstead' John nephew of Waleran - 0.04 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 49,2 Hunstanton - Bovi 'of Ringstead' - John nephew of Waleran - 0.00 1.00 2.00 -
Norfolk 49,3 Carbrooke - Ælfhere 'of Tunstead' - John nephew of Waleran - 4.50 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 49,3 Carbrooke - 24 sokemen Ælfhere 'of Tunstead' John nephew of Waleran - 1.00 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 49,6 Brettenham - 1 free man Baldwin, abbot of Bury St Edmunds John nephew of Waleran - 2.00 3.00 2.00 -
Norfolk 49,6 Brettenham - 2 free men Baldwin, abbot of Bury St Edmunds John nephew of Waleran - 0.16 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 49,6 Brettenham - 1 free man Wulfric, abbot of Ely John nephew of Waleran - 0.25 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 49,7 Saxlingham - Styrcar, housecarl of King Edward Edward, king John nephew of Waleran - 0.25 1.00 0.65 -
Norfolk 49,8 Thurton - Ketil Alder Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury John nephew of Waleran - 0.07 0.10 0.05 -
Norfolk 49,9 Walpole - 1 free man - John nephew of Waleran - 0.50 0.20 0.25 -
Somerset 46,10 Wigborough Johannes Alweard 'of Wigborough' - John the usher - 2.00 1.00 1.50 -
Somerset 46,11 Huntstile Johannes Ælfweard 'of Huntstile' - John the usher - 0.06 0.50 1.00 -
Somerset 46,11 Huntstile - Ælfweard 'of Huntstile' Edward, king John the usher - 0.19 0.25 0.25 -
Somerset 46,6 Pignes Johannes Beorhtric 'of Pignes' - John the usher - 1.25 2.00 1.50 -
Suffolk 55,1 Bures - Wulfric son of Beorhtric Edward, king John fitzWaleran - 2.00 3.00 2.00 -
Suffolk 55,1 Bures - Tosti 'of Bures' Edward, king John fitzWaleran - 1.00 1.00 1.00 -
Suffolk 55,1 Bures - 2 free men Harold, earl John fitzWaleran - 0.50 0.20 0.25 -
Wiltshire 68,18 Alton - Godric 'of Alton' - John the usher - 2.50 2.50 0.00 -
Wiltshire 68,18 Alton Johannes - - John the usher - 3.00 0.00 3.00 -
Wiltshire 68,19 Barford St Martin Idem Ælfric 'of Barford St Martin' - John the usher - 0.50 0.50 0.50 -
Totals

Lord 1066

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Devon 17,33 Thurlestone Johannes 1 thegn John Judhael of Totnes 1 knight 0.25 0.25 0.50 C
Herefordshire 10,19 Bullinghope Johannes Alnoth 'of Bullinghope' John the sheriff Roger de Lacy - 2.00 2.50 2.50 E
Somerset 6,14 Yatton - Æthelrun 'of Yatton' John the Dane Giso, bishop of Wells Ildebert 'of Milton Clevedon' 1.00 1.00 0.00 A
Totals

Subtenant in 1086

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Derbyshire 6,62 Rodsley - Brun 'of Rodsley' - Henry de Ferrers John 'of Rodsley' 1.50 4.00 1.00 -
Derbyshire 6,63 Osleston - Earnwig 'of Osleston' - Henry de Ferrers John 'of Rodsley' 0.75 1.50 1.00 -
Derbyshire 6,63 Osleston - Leofwine Cild - Henry de Ferrers John 'of Rodsley' 0.75 1.50 1.00 -
Dorset 10,2 Boveridge Johannes Beorhtric son of Ælfgar - Gerald, abbot of Cranborne John the usher 0.63 0.63 0.63 -
Dorset 10,4 Leftisford Johannes Abbot of Cranborne - Gerald, abbot of Cranborne John the usher 0.50 0.75 0.75 -
Essex 1,4 Havering atte-Bower Johanes 1 sokeman Harold, earl William, king John fitzWaleran 0.25 0.00 0.00 -
Essex 24,24 Canewdon - Robert fitzWimarc - Swein of Essex John 'of Pudsey Hall' 0.12 1.00 1.00 -
Essex 24,34 Pudsey Hall - 1 free man - Swein of Essex John 'of Pudsey Hall' 1.75 2.00 2.00 -
Essex 40,1 Notley - Harold, earl - John fitzWaleran John fitzErnucion 4.25 7.00 6.00 -
Essex B1 Colchester Iohannes Godric of Colchester - William, king John fitzWaleran 0.00 0.00 0.00 -
Essex B1 Greenstead Iohannes Godric of Colchester - William, king John fitzWaleran 1.00 1.50 1.50 -
Essex B3p Colchester Iohannes - - William, king John fitzWaleran 0.50 0.50 0.25 -
Gloucestershire 1,44 Twyning Johannes 1 thegn Beorhtric son of Ælfgar William, king John the chamberlain 0.50 0.35 0.35 -
Gloucestershire 1,44 Twyning Johannes 4 villans Beorhtric son of Ælfgar William, king John the chamberlain 2.00 1.40 1.40 -
Gloucestershire 1,50 Fairford Johannes Beorhtric son of Ælfgar - William, king John the chamberlain 4.00 9.00 9.00 -
Huntingdonshire 19,4 Orton Waterville - Edward, king - Eustace the sheriff John 'of Orton' 8.25 2.00 1.00 -
Huntingdonshire 19,5 Orton Waterville - Edward, king - Eustace the sheriff John 'of Orton' 2.25 2.00 2.00 -
Huntingdonshire 2,6 Orton Waterville - Leofric 'of Orton Waterville' - Remigius, bishop of Lincoln John 'of Orton' 3.25 1.00 0.50 -
Huntingdonshire 2,7 Stilton - Tovi 'of Stilton' - Remigius, bishop of Lincoln John 'of Orton' 2.00 2.00 2.00 -
Leicestershire 14,26 Woodcote - - - Henry de Ferrers John 'of Woodcote' 2.00 0.10 0.50 -
Lincolnshire 34,24 Coleby in West Halton - Barth 'of Coleby' - Erneis de Buron John 'of Orton' 1.06 1.00 1.25 -
Lincolnshire 34,24 Coleby in West Halton - Wege 'of Wolmersley' - Erneis de Buron John 'of Orton' 1.06 1.00 1.25 -
Lincolnshire 34,25 Walcot in Alkborough - Barth 'of Coleby' - Erneis de Buron John 'of Orton' 0.38 0.00 0.00 -
Lincolnshire 34,25 Walcot in Alkborough - Wege 'of Wolmersley' - Erneis de Buron John 'of Orton' 0.38 0.00 0.00 -
Norfolk 15,12 Rushford - Wulfric 'of Rushford' Wulfric, abbot of Ely Simeon, abbot of Ely John nephew of Waleran 0.50 0.50 0.25 -
Norfolk 15,12 Rushford - Wulfric, abbot of Ely - Simeon, abbot of Ely John nephew of Waleran 1.50 1.00 0.40 -
Norfolk 15,12 Rushford - 1 sokeman Wulfric, abbot of Ely Simeon, abbot of Ely John nephew of Waleran 0.02 1.00 0.40 -
Norfolk 17,18 Saxlingham - Eadric the steersman Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury Ælfweald, abbot of St Benet of Hulme John nephew of Waleran 1.50 2.00 1.50 -
Northamptonshire 48,13 Weston Favell - - - Gunfrid de Chocques John 'of Weston Favell' 0.13 0.00 0.00 -
Somerset 21,32 Edstock Johannes Ulf 'Devonman' - Roger de Courseulles John the usher 0.25 0.50 0.60 -
Somerset 2,8 Taunton Johannes Stigand, archbishop of Canterbury - Walkelin, bishop of Winchester John the usher 2.13 1.00 1.50 -
Somerset 6,7 Wellington Johannes Giso, bishop of Wells - Giso, bishop of Wells John the usher 2.00 1.00 1.00 -
Somerset 8,26 Whatley Johannes Æthelnoth, abbot of Glastonbury - Thurstan, abbot of Glastonbury John the usher 1.00 0.75 0.75 -
Surrey 19,14 Buckland - Æthelnoth Cild Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 5.00 5.00 8.00 -
Surrey 19,17 Walton on the Hill - Alwine 'of Bletchingley' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 5.00 2.00 2.00 -
Surrey 19,17 Walton on the Hill - Leofhelm 'of Pangdean' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 5.00 2.00 2.00 -
Surrey 19,17 Walton on the Hill - Coleman 'of Walton on the Hill' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 5.00 2.00 2.00 -
Surrey 19,29 East Molesey - Ælfric 'of East Molesey' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 3.50 3.00 3.00 -
Surrey 19,30 East Molesey - Wulfweard 'of Chelsham' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 1.00 0.25 0.25 -
Surrey 19,9 Woldingham - Wulfstan 'of Woldingham' Edward, king Richard fitzGilbert John 'of Buckland' 8.00 4.00 4.00 -
Yorkshire 24W18 Newsome Farm - Arni 'of Newsome Farm' - Erneis de Buron John 'of Orton' 2.00 1.00 0.00 -
Yorkshire 25W24 Kirk Hammerton - Haldor 'of Wilton in Ormesby and Lazenby' - Osbern d'Arques John 'of Kirk Hammerton' 2.17 1.30 0.75 -
Yorkshire 25W24 Kirk Hammerton - Gamel 'of Kirk Hammerton' - Osbern d'Arques John 'of Kirk Hammerton' 2.17 1.30 0.75 -
Yorkshire 25W24 Kirk Hammerton - Thorkil 'of Kirk Hammerton' - Osbern d'Arques John 'of Kirk Hammerton' 2.17 1.30 0.75 -
Totals

Tenant-in-Chief 1086 subtenanted estates

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Essex 90,46 Henny - 7 free men - John fitzWaleran Roger 'of Henny' 0.59 0.50 0.50 -
Essex B3p Colchester - 2 burgesses 'of Colchester' - John fitzWaleran Thurstan Guiscard 0.50 0.50 0.25 -
Norfolk 49,4 Griston - Ælfhere 'of Tunstead' - John nephew of Waleran Osbert 'of Griston' 1.00 7.00 7.00 -
Norfolk 49,5 West Carbrooke - 1 free man Edward, king John nephew of Waleran Osbert 'of Griston' 0.33 0.50 0.50 -
Norfolk 49,6 Brettenham - 1 free man - John nephew of Waleran William 'of Brettenham' 2.00 3.00 3.00 -
Somerset 46,7 Perry Idem Johannes Ordgar 'of Clayhill' - John the usher Robert 'the man of John the usher' 0.53 0.50 0.75 -
Somerset 46,8 Newton Johannes Sæmær 'of Cannington' - John the usher Stable 'of Newton' 0.50 0.50 0.75 -
Somerset 46,9 Cannington Johannes Sæmær 'of Cannington' - John the usher Robert 'the man of John the usher' 0.50 0.75 1.00 -
Wiltshire 68,18 Alton - - - John the usher Frawin 'of Alton' 1.00 0.00 1.00 -
Wiltshire 68,18 Alton - - - John the usher Thurstan the chamberlain 1.00 0.00 1.00 -
Totals