Recorded as Janus, January, Janaway, Jennaroy, Jennery, Gennery, Genery, and others, this interesting is English but of French and ultimately Roman origins. It has two possible origins. The first is from the momnth of January, from the Latin word Januarius. Janus was the Roman god of gateways and entrances, and was represented as having two faces, one looking forward and one backward. A person might be named January for being born or baptised in that month but particulary on the first of the New Year. The second possible origin is locational and described a former citizen of Genoa. This is from the Olde French word Genoveis, meaning "of Genoa," and first written in Medieval England as Janaways! Early examples of the name spellings taken from surviving London church registers include Eliza Jennaroy in 1667, Henry Jennery in 1684, and George Gurnery in 1784, whilst Samuel Guinery and Ann Beauford were married in May 1805 at St. Martins-in-the-Fields, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Janua. This was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of landowners of the county of Kent, during the reign of King Edward 1st of England, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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