Jans Family Genealogy & History

Christopher Paul Jans, born April 12, 1969, is a prominent American college basketball coach, currently leading the Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team. Jans made significant strides in his coaching career, most notably at New Mexico State, where he achieved a remarkable 122–32 record, winning multiple Western Athletic Conference championships and securing an NCAA Tournament victory. His coaching journey included a tenure at Bowling Green, where he delivered the team's best season in 13 years before moving on due to contractual violations. A graduate of Loras College, Jans hails from Fairbank, Iowa, and has established a notable presence in college basketball coaching circles.

Beat Jans, a Swiss environmental scientist and politician, serves as a member of the Federal Council, assuming office on January 1, 2024, after being elected in 2023 to succeed Alain Berset. A prominent member of the Social Democratic Party, Jans has held significant roles, including serving on the National Council from 2010 to 2020 and as president of the Executive Council of Basel-Stadt from 2021 to 2023. His career highlights include involvement in Swiss Helvetas development projects and board memberships with Pro Natura and ecos, reflecting his commitment to environmental and economic issues.

Born on July 12, 1964, in Basel, Switzerland, Beat Jans hails from a blue-collar family. His father, Anton Jans, was a metalworker, and his mother, Maria Jans (née Ober), immigrated from Germany post-World War II and worked as a sales associate. Raised in Riehen, Jans' background underscores a blend of Swiss and German influences.

Ron Jans, born on 29 September 1958 in Zwolle, Overijssel, is a renowned Dutch football manager and former player. He gained prominence as the head coach of Groningen, where he led the club to two consecutive UEFA Cup qualifications in 2005 and 2006. Jans also coached Heerenveen, Standard Liège, PEC Zwolle, FC Cincinnati, and Twente, achieving significant milestones like winning the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield with PEC Zwolle. As of September 2023, he is the head coach of Utrecht. Known for his witty press interactions and strategic acumen, Jans has left a substantial mark on European football.

Lucretia Jans, also known as Lucretia van der Mijlen, was a notable survivor of the infamous 1629 shipwreck of the Dutch East India Company vessel Batavia. Born in Amsterdam in 1602, Jans faced harrowing circumstances when the Batavia foundered on the reefs of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. Amidst the chaos, she was held by Jeronimus Cornelisz, the VOC official who instigated a reign of terror among the survivors. Jans was accused of complicity in the ensuing crimes but defended her innocence during the trial in Batavia (now Jakarta). Her story, later recounted in the publication "Ongeluckige voyagie van 't schip Batavia," influenced maritime laws regarding female passengers.

Lucretia Jans was the daughter of merchant Jans (or Hans) Meynertsz and Steffanie Joosten. She married diamond cutter Boudewijn van der Mijlen in 1620, and after his death, she wed Sergeant Jacob Cornelisz Cuick in 1630. Her family background highlights Amsterdam's mercantile connections during the Dutch Golden Age.