Gjon (definite form: ''Gjoni'') is an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

male

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

and onomastic element.

As given name

Etymology and history

''Gjon'' as a given name is a form of the English name John. It is the name of the apostle Saint John in Albanian ( sq, Shën Gjon).Riska, Albert (2013)
"The Christian Saints in the (Micro)toponymy of Albania"
''Anglisticum Journal (IJLLIS)'' vol 2 issue 3. Pages 167-176. Pages 169,172-175 Most saint names in Albanian come from Latin; John is from the Latin Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek Ioannes (), derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan (), meaning "God is gracious". Both theologists and linguists are unsure about the relationship of the name ''Gjon'' to ''Gjin''—the Catholic clergy considers the two to be the same saint, but the Christians of the Central Albanian Shpati region (who are Orthodox) revere Gjin and Gjon as separate saints, while linguists are unsure about the etymology of Gjin and whether or not it shares its origin with Gjon. In the Middle Ages the name Gjon was very widespread in all Albanian regions. Until lately it was also prevalent among Arvanites in Greece The name Gjon is also mentioned in the afterword of Gjon Buzuku's 1555 book, Meshari, where the author introduces himself to the reader as "''Unë, dom Gjoni, biri i Bdek Buzukut''" ("''I, don Gjoni, son of Bdek Buzuku''").

People with the given name Gjon

Gjon Françesku Albani Gian Francesco Albani (26 February 1720 – 15 September 1803) was a Roman Catholic Cardinal. He was a member of the Albani family. Albani was born in Rome, the son of Carlo Albani, Duke of Soriano; his grand-uncle was Pope Clement XI (Gianf ...

(1720–1803), Italian cardinal of Albanian descent * Gjon Buzuku (1499–1577), Albanian writer * Gjon Delhusa (born 1953), Hungarian singer * Gjon Gazulli (1400–1465), Albanian scholar and diplomat * Gjon Kastrioti II (1456–1502), Albanian nobleman *

Gjon Kastrioti Gjon Kastrioti (1375/80 – 4 May 1437), was a member of the Albanian nobility, from the House of Kastrioti, and the father of future Albanian leader Gjergj Kastrioti (better known as Skanderbeg). He governed the territory between the Cape of ...

(died 1437), Albanian nobleman * Gjon Markagjoni (1888–1966), Albanian clan leader * Gjon Mili (1904–1984), Albanian photographer *

Gjon Muharremaj Gjon Muharremaj (; born 29 June 1998), known professionally as Gjon's Tears, is a Swiss singer and songwriter. He was scheduled to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song " Répondez-moi" prior to the event's ca ...

(born 1998), Swiss-Albanian singer * Gjon Muzaka, medieval Albanian noble of the Muzaka family and writer of his famous memoir * Gjon Ndoja (born 1991), Albanian basketball player * Gjon Progoni (died 1208), Albanian nobleman * Gjon Simoni (1936–1999), Albanian musician * Gjon Zenebishi (died 1418), Albanian nobleman

People with the surname Gjonaj

* Adriana Gjonaj, Albanian politician * Algert Gjonaj (born 1987), Albanian basketball player * Etilda Gjonaj (born 1981), Albanian politician *

Kujtim Gjonaj Kujtim Gjonaj (3 November 1946 – 1 March 2021) was an Albanian screenwriter, director of documentary films and cartoons, producer and publisher. Gjonaj began his career as an editor of documentaries scenarios in the film studio "New Albania". ...

(born 1946), Albanian screenwriter * Mark Gjonaj, American politician * Salvador Gjonaj (born 1992), Albanian footballer

As surname

Gjoni or Gjonaj is a common

last name, from the

Gjon. The names ''Joni'' and ''Jonima'' also have the same source, and the latter (under the modern Albanian form ''Gjonima'') being the surname of members of the Jonima family. The Serbian language family name

Đonović Đonović ( sr-cyr, Ђоновић; also transliterated Djonović) is a Serbian language family name derived from the first name Gjon of Albanian origin. According to the legends of many Montenegrin highlander tribes, their ancestors came from Al ...

is derived from the first name Gjon which means that it is of Albanian origin.

History

The clan of Gjoni was first recorded in 1306. Originally

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

, it is shared between Albanian Christians and Muslims.

People with the surname Gjoni

* Simon Gjoni (1925-1991), Albanian composer *

Dhimitër Gjoni Dhimitër is the Albanian variant of the Greek name ''Demetrios.'' It may refer to: *Dhimitër Progoni (fl. 1208–1216), Albanian ruler *Dhimitër Jonima (fl. 1409), Albanian nobleman * Dhimitër Frëngu (1443–1525), Albanian scholar, soldier an ...

, Nobleman *

Xhelil Gjoni Xhelil Gjoni (Gjonaj) (born 1938) is a former Albanian politician of the Albanian Party of Labour (PPSh) and journalist. Life Gjoni was born on 3 November 1938 in Maqellarë, Dibër District. He took his first studies in his home town, and durin ...

, Politician *

Sadri Gjoni Sadri Gjonbalaj (1966) is an American retired football player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also earned fi ...

, Soccer player * Ilir Gjoni, Politician *

Vladislav Gjoni Vladislav Jonima ( 1303–19) was an Albanian nobleman that initially served Serbian King Stefan Milutin (r. 1282–1321), holding areas of the Kingdom of Serbia in the region of Doclea and northern Albania. He was last mentioned in 1319, as a par ...

, Nobleman *

Ingrid Gjoni Ingrid Gjoni (born 24 December 1981 in Tirana, Albania) is an Albanian singer and fashion model. She graduated from the Academy of Arts, studying acting. Born in Tirana to a family rooted in nobility, Gjoni was one of the first photomodels in ...

(born 1981), Albanian singer * Vilson Gjoni (born 1950), Croatian footballer * Sara Gjoni (born 1997), Miss Albania * Eron Gjoni, Programmer, 1st Amendment activist * Marka Gjoni Kapedan of the Mirdita clan *

Renne Gjoni Renne may refer to: People * Renne Hughes, an artist from Texas * Renné Toney, a female bodybuilder * Louise Renne, a lawyer in California * Paul Renne, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley * Roland Renne (1905–1989), former pre ...

Actor

As toponym

''Gjon'', due to historic naming of places after the saint, became an element in Albanian toponyms, contributing to the formation of placenames such Shijon, Shinjan, Gjonm and Gjorm, the difference between the latter two demonstrating Tosk rhoticism.Riska, Albert (2013)
"The Christian Saints in the (Micro)toponymy of Albania"
''Anglisticum Journal (IJLLIS)'' vol 2 issue 3. Pages 167-176. Pages 169, 172

References

Sources

* * * https://web.archive.org/web/20120211183414/http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts15/AH1470.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Gjon (Name) Albanian masculine given names Albanian-language surnames