The main meaning of my name Anna is grace, divine favor, and God has shown favor. It comes from the Hebrew name Hannah. Is can be related to the name Anastasia, meaning resurrection. In other languages, from around the world, Anna means bringing goodness, offer of food, roasted grains, water, beautiful, melody, and apricot. In the Native American Algonquin language Anna means mother. 

The words grace and favor are closely related to the words thankful and blessed, particularly in a theological context. “Grace” is often described as divine favor from God. “Favor” is often used interchangeably with grace to mean divine approval. In many religions, particularly Christianity, the Greek word charis is used for both grace and favor, highlighting their close connection. Thankfulness is a response to receiving these gifts, and “blessed” can describe a state of receiving both grace and favor. 

The connection between grace and thankfulness is deep, as thankfulness is the appropriate response to receiving grace. The Greek word for “thanksgiving,” eucharistia, is built on the word for “grace” (charis), showing that grace is embedded within thanksgiving.

To be “blessed” can mean being in a state of receiving God’s grace and favor. Spiritual blessings can include receiving peace and wisdom, both of which are understood as gifts of grace and favor. 

According to the early Christian apocryphal texts, Gospel of James aka Protoevangelium of James, Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, and The Infancy Gospel of Matthew, Mary’s mother was named Anna/Anne.

Hannah is found in the Old Testament, the mother of the prophet Samuel, while Anna is a New Testament prophetess who encountered the infant Jesus in the temple. Anna recognized him as the Messiah, gave thanks to God, and told everyone present that the child would bring redemption to Jerusalem.

Below are my ancestors with the name Anna, Ann, Anne, Hannah, and Annette, going back to only the 5th great-grandmother level. I have not included those with a middle name of Ann, Anne, Anna, or Hannah, unless it’s the name they used, or part of their first name as in Mary Ann. I did include my grandmother, with the middle name of Annette, because I am her namesake, even though she went by her first name Glenna. Annette is a French name with Ann, and ette. Ette means small, little, or cute in French. The name means little/cute Ann.

Nancy became a nickname for Anne (and Anna) through an evolution that began with the medieval name Annis, a form of Agnes. “Mine Ancy” became “Nancy,” with Ancy being a nickname for Annis. Later, as Anne and Anna became popular, and the nickname was transferred to them. 

In the USA:

1. Glenna Annette Kennedy, wife of Durward Edward Cole. My grandmother and namesake. She was born in Maxville, Perry County, Ohio, as the daughter of Abraham G. Kennedy and Mary Elizabeth Price.
2. Anna Cora Prindle, wife of Joseph Edward Cole. My great-grandmother and my namesake. She was born in Scioto, Pickaway, Ohio, as the daughter of Daniel Prindle and Sarah Jane “Jennie” Doman.
3. Hannah Elizabeth Greatsinger, wife of David M. Prindle, Sr. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in New Paltz, Ulster, New York, as the daughter of John (Johann) Kritsinger/Greatsinger and Lea Litts.
4. Mary Ann DaviMy Davidson Ancestors in Ohio, and Connecticut and Related Hawley and Doman Lines.dson, wife of Jacob (John Jacob) Doman. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Cornwall, Litchfield, Connecticut, as the daughter of Asa Davidson, Jr. and Catherine A. Cunningham.
5. Mary Ann Gooden, wife of McGuire Doughty. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Crawford County, Illinois, as the daughter of Lewis Gooden and Lydia Watts.
6. Anna “Nancy” Rogers, wife of Aden Barrett. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Washington, Fayette, Ohio, as the daughter of Peleg Rogers and Mary Ellen Stafford.
7. Anna “Nancy” Albert, wife of John Price. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was born in Washington County, Maryland. She was the daughter of Johann Peter Albert and Anna Walpurgis Hoerner. The family was from Niklashausen, Main-Tauber-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
8. Hannah Hafer, wife of David Spatz. My 4th great-grandmother. She was born in Salem, Snyder, Pennsylvania, as the daughter of Andrew Hafer and Elisabeth (Maria Elisabeth) Druckenmiller.
9. Hannah Norris, wife of Nathaniel Shepherd Armstrong. My 4th great-grandmother. She was born in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, as the daughter of Joseph Norris, Sr. and Mary Talbot.
10. Mary (Anna Mary) Linaberry, wife of Pvt. Elijah E. Chambers. My 4th great-grandmother. She was born in Hope, Warren, New Jersey, as the daughter of Johannes Conrad Lindaberry (Linnenberg) and Mary Esther (Maria Esther) Kuhl/Cool. Both her parents have German roots.
11. Mary Ann “Polly” Lamb, the wife of Rev. Samuel Doty. My 5th great-grandmother. She was born in South Carolina, as the daughter of John Lamb and Prudence Featherstone.
12. Margaret (Anna Margaretha) Metz, wife of Jacob (Johann Jacob) Doman (Dumm). My 5th great-grandmother. She was born in Germantown, Columbia, New York, as the daughter of Johann Bartholomaus Mertz and Joanna Susanna Scherp. Both her parents were born in Germany.
13. Anne Antje Anna Palmer, wife of Christian (Johann Christian) Greatsinger. My 5th great-grandmother. She married in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Her parentage is unproven.

In Ireland:

1. Anna Annie Joynt, wife of Thomas Fahey. My 3rd great-grandmother. She was of Shanaglish, Beagh Parish, Galway, Ireland, the daughter of Edmond “Ed” Joynt and Honor(a) “Nora” Larkin.

In Germany:

1. Anna Margaretha Weinmann, wife of Johann Jacob Propheter. My 5th great-grandmother. She was born in Heuchelheim-Klingen, Bergzabern, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, as the daughter of Michael Weinmann and Felicitas (Felizitas) Grosshans.

I have not always liked my names Anna and Annette. When I was growing up, Anna was an old lady’s name! No one in my grade school was named Anna. I chose to go by Annette, although from kindergarten through 6th grade there was only one classmate named Annette. I met a few Hispanic girls in jr. high and high school named Ana, but no one else named Anna. There was only one other girl named Annette in jr. high and high school.

It helped, a little, when I realized that I was given the first name Anna after my great-grandmother, and the middle name Annette after my grandmother’s middle name, but I still did not love my name. I dreamt of having names like Desiree, or Priscilla! I still like the name Desiree, a French name that means desired or wished for.

Once I entered college, I chose to use my first name Anna. To this day, I know who is supposed to call me Annette, mostly family members, or a few that I went to school with, and if they call me Anna, it’s strange to me, even though everyone else does!

Now that I am an oldish and, on my way, to being an old lady, I have made peace with my name. The old-fashioned name Anna even had a revival in the 1990s through 2001, when it was a popular baby name for girls. Although the name Hannah was significantly more popular in this same time period.

As the meaning of my name implies, I am blessed to be full of God’s grace and favor on this Thanksgiving Day. May the beauty and blessings of Thanksgiving bring warmth and peace to your home this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving!

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