This unusual and interesting name is a variant form of the early medieval nickname or personal name "January", which has two possible origins. The first of these is directly from the name of the month, which derives from the Latin "Januarius", "month" of Janus. "Janus" was the 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 or having some other particular connection with that month. The second interpretation is from the Olde French word "Genoveis", meaning "of Genoa" in Italy and written "Janaway(s)" in Medieval England. The name variants include Eliza Jennaroy (1667, London), Henry Jennery (1684) and George Gurery (1784 ibid.). Samuel Guinery and Ann Beauford were married in May 1805 at St. Martins-in-the-Fields, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Janua, which was dated 1273, in the "Kent Hundred Rolls", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was 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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