Of Hebrew origin (Yonah); Jonas (i.e. Jonah), the name of two Israelites -- Jonas.
see HEBREW Yonah
1. Jonah, the O. T. prophet, a native of Gath-hepher in the tribe of Zebulun. He lived during the reign of Jeroboam II, king of Israel (2 Kings 14:25). The narrative of his miraculous experiences, constructed for a didactic purpose, is given in the book which bears his name (on the historic character of which cf. B. D. (especially Arh. edition) or McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, 2. Jonah (or Jonas), a fisherman, father of the apostle Peter: Matthew 16:17 (L T WH here Βαριωνᾶ, see βαριωνας); John 1:42 (43) (R G L marginal reading Tr marginal reading, and R G in) John 21:15,(16,17) (see Ἰωάννης, 3).