Here's why it was used:
* Efficiency: Scribes wrote by hand, and every stroke mattered. Abbreviating common names saved time and effort.
* Space: Parchment and paper were expensive, so using abbreviations maximized the space available for writing.
* Tradition: Certain abbreviations, like "Jno" for John, became widely adopted and passed down through generations of scribes.
It's important to note that the use of "Jno" was not always consistent. You might find other variations like "Jn." or even "Joh." depending on the scribe and the time period.
While this abbreviation might seem strange today, it was a practical and common practice in the past.