I also sent a query to the U.S. Census Bureau about the abbreviation "Jno". From the answer below you can tell they weren't helpful. I do remember reading that "Jno" could stand for either John or Jonathan. I know it was on a genealogy website and it was years ago. I never saved the link or the information because I knew the first names of the people I wanted to find on the census. I wish now that I had. This website states the opposite: GenDocs Genealogy Services ~ Genealogical Abbreviations and Acronyms http://www.gendocs.demon.co.uk/abbr.html From Roots-L a mixed response, although most said John: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/roots-l/messages/00feb/126704 Nice little dissertation on this. "Jno" http://www.serv.net/~camel/wodehouse/jno.html Look at 'Transcribers notes': ISTG Vol 2 - RMS City of Berlin http://www.immigrantships.net/v2/1800v2/berlinco18761009.html JNO as 1st Name Family History http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,61521.from1117190148/topicseen.html Jno. B. Lee Company, Randy Jensen, Minnetonka, Minnesota, SAMS®-AMS®, Company Background http://www.marinesurveyor.com/lee/bground.html From the mid-1700's See the second 'Glossary' about 1/4 of the way down the page. ACCOUNT BOOK TRANSCRIPTIONS http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/classroom/curriculum_6th/lesson6/acctbks.html J - Combs &c. Glossary http://www.combs-families.org/combs/reference/glossary/j.html Naming Practices among the Yancey FamilyBy Dennis J Yancey http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/7647/naming.htm Latin names in Old Documents http://www.british-genealogy.com/resources/registers/registers/latinnames.htm 'Jno' is an old abbreviation found in earlier times and on the earlier censuses. I find it puzzling that where ever you see 'Jno' as the abbreviation for John, you find no abbreviation at all for Jonathan. From the above websites, I get the impression that 'Jno' was legally short for John but some people used it for Jonathan....which gets you nowhere!<g> I guess the best way to solve your individual 'Jno' meaning is to find him somewhere else with his full name written out. I would search using both John and Jonathan. Linda Bee Subj: "Jno" first name abbreviation [Incident: 050613-000006]  Date: 6/17/2005 1:12:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: askcensus@custhelp.com  Subject "Jno" first name abbreviation    Discussion Thread  Response (HIST - CAB) 06/17/2005 13:12 Unfortunately, we just have no way knowing what that means. Our Measuring America publication has instructions to enumerators, but I don't recall it covering abbreviated names. You can check the publication for future reference also. From our homepage, select Publications, then select General and Reference, then from the table select Measuring America – or http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/ma.html. History Staff    Question Reference #050613-000006 Category Level 1:  People Date Created:  06/13/2005 08:51 Last Updated:  06/17/2005 13:12 Status:  Pending Closure