Jean de Joinville was one of the great chroniclers of medieval France. He is most famous for writing the Life of Saint Louis, a biography of Louis IX of France that chronicled the Seventh Crusade.

Jean de La Bruyère was a French philosopher and moralist, who was noted for his satire.

Jean de La Chapelle was a French writer and dramatist. He was born at Bourges, France, was elected to the Académie française in 1688, and died in Paris.

Jean de La Fontaine was a French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, as well as in French regional languages.

Jean de La Hire was a prolific French author of numerous popular adventure, science fiction and romance novels.

Jean de La Taille was a French poet and dramatist born in Bondaroy.

Jean de Labadie was a 17th-century French Pietist. Originally a Jesuit priest, he became a member of the Reformed Church in 1650, before founding the community which became known as the Labadists in 1669. At its height the movement numbered around 600 with thousands of adherents further afield. It attracted some notable female converts such as the famed poet and scholar, Anna Maria van Schurman, and the entomological artist Maria Merian.

Jean de Meun was a French author best known for his continuation of the Roman de la Rose.

The Abbé Jean de Montigny was a French philosophic writer and poet, elected to the Académie française, but who died in his prime.

Jean de Palaprat, was a French lawyer and playwright.