Gjon

Gjon  (definite form: Gjoni) is an Albanian male given name, clan, surname and onomastic element.

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 (Shën Gjon). Most saint names in Albanian come from Latin; John is from the Latin Iohannes, the Latin form of the  Greek Ioannes (Ἰωάννης), 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 (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 (died 1437), Albanian nobleman
 * Gjon Nikollë Kazazi (1702–1752), Albanian Catholic critic
 * Gjon Markagjoni (1888–1966), Albanian clan leader
 * Gjon Mili (1904–1984), Albanian photographer
 * Gjon Muharremaj (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

As surname
Gjoni or Gjonaj is a common Albanian last name, from the given name 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 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, it is shared between Albanian Christians and Muslims.

People with the surname Gjoni

 * Simon Gjoni (1925–1991), Albanian composer
 * Dhimitër Gjoni, Nobleman
 * Xhelil Gjoni, Politician
 * Sadri Gjoni, Soccer player
 * Ilir Gjoni, Politician
 * Vladislav Gjoni, Nobleman
 * Ingrid Gjoni (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 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.