Meaning: Its source is John, an English name meaning "God's grace."

Narrative: In the Middle Ages, a little boy named John might be called Johnny or John-kin. The second of these two nicknames generated the independent names Jankin, Jenkin, Jackin and Jack.

Not all these names have shown the endurance of the ever-likable Jack, but they are remembered in numerous surnames. Witness the many Jennings, Jacksons, Jenkinses and Jenkinsons that populate American telephone directories, and that are coming into vogue as distinguished (if rare) personal names.