Comes from the Hebrew given name John. For Gentile Christians it is the given name John, the disciple John is to entlesen the New Testament. Other abbreviations are Hans, Hanschen, Hensel, Jahn, Jähnchen, Jens Jensen, Johann (Hennecke), Johan Johansen, Johannsen, Johns, Johnsen, Handke, Hanke, Hancke, Hannecke, Hennecke.