Genever Family History

From the Middle English female personal name Gweniver, Genever, Jenever, and Juniver, it was an Anglo-Norman borrowing and adaptation of Welsh Gwenhwyvar (gwen ‘fair, white’ + (g)wyfar ‘smooth, soft, yielding’). This name became widely known through the character of King Arthur's wife in French and English medieval romances.

Withycombe records it as Gwenhevare in 1431 in Shrops and as Jenefer in 1554, and Junipher in 1691, both from Cornwall. The name also appears in Middle English as janiver, jenever, and geniver (from Old French geniver), which refers to the month of January.

There are comparisons with January, Gennery, and Feaviour. Spellings of the surname that begin with Jan-, Gen-, and Jen- may relate to this explanation or the earlier one, but spellings that start with Jun- can only be associated with the latter.