Etymograph

English

John

John comes from Middle English John, and goes back to Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן.

  1. Biblical Hebrewc. 1000–200 BCEיוֹחָנָןYôḥānān
  2. Koine Greekc. 300 BCE–600 CEἸωάννηςIōánnēs
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEIōannēs
  4. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEIōhannēsvariant of Iōannēs
  5. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400Jehan
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500John
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1611same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Biblical Hebrewc. 1000–200 BCEיוֹחָנָןYôḥānān
  2. Koine Greekc. 300 BCE–600 CEἸωάννηςIōánnēs
  3. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEIōannēs
  4. Late Latinc. 200–600 CEIōhannēsvariant of Iōannēs
  5. Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400Jehan
  6. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500John
  7. Englishearliest quotation 1611same form

Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “There was a man sent from God, whose name…”

The story

From Middle English John, Johan, Johannes, from Anglo-Norman Jehan, Johan, and also Old English Iohannes, both from Late Latin Iōhannēs, variant of Latin Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān), perhaps contracted from a former יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān, “God is gracious”).

Every English word from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן

Today it means

name A male given name originating from the Bible [in turn from Hebrew]; very popular since the Middle Ages.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן / John

Shirt and support for this word