Surname Joossens - Meaning and Origin

Joossens: What does the surname Joossens mean?

The last name Joossens is of Flemish origin and is an occupational surname derived from the profession of a “Josse”, meaning a servant or squire in Middle Dutch. More specifically, a “Josse” was a leader of a militia, or a captain in charge of a troop of squires. Those with the last name Joossens likely descended from such a servant, and the name became the surname of their family.

The origins of the occupation of “Josse” began in feudal times in Belgium, when the Kings and Counts of Belgium had their protectors, who were well-known knights. The knights had certain servants or squires who followed them into battle, and these squires became known as “Josse” or “Joos”. This served as a form of protection for the knights, and over time the name became associated with those who held the position.

Throughout Flanders, the Dutch version of the name was known as Joosens or Joossens, and eventually this name spread throughout western Europe as people with this profession moved and took the name with them. Today, the surname Joossens is found mostly in Belgium and the Netherlands, but is also seen in France, Germany, and the United States.

Having a surname with such an illustrious past can be quite the honour. Knowing that you can trace your family back hundreds of years, to a time before modern technology and industry, to a time when the occupation of a squire or servant was indicative of being part of something much greater can be an inspiring thought. The last name Joossens is steeped in history and honour, and it’s a name that the descendants of such a person should be proud to carry.

Joossens: Where does the name Joossens come from?

The Joossens surname is common in Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, due to their shared language and migration patterns. In Belgium, the Joossens name is most prevalent in East and North-eastern Flanders, which includes cities like Antwerp and Brussels. This is likely due to its proximity to the Dutch and Luxembourg borders.

In the Netherlands, the name is most commonly found in The Northern Netherlands, which includes cities such as Groningen and Friesland. It is also found in Zeeland, a coastal province located in the southwest of the country. The name is believed to have derived from an area called Juussen in East Flanders, hence the surname.

In Luxembourg, the name is highly concentrated in the southern part of the country, including the city of Luxembourg and towns such as Esch-sur-Alzette and Ettelbruck. This may be due to the adjacent borders to Belgium and France and the ease of cross-border migration that may have been present.

Overall, the Joossens surname reveals a history of migration and a common language between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, and is still a popular surname in these countries today.

Variations of the surname Joossens

The surname Joossens is a variant of the Dutch Joossen, which is derived from the Germanic given name Jodocus. It is also found in other regions of Europe and the Americas as Joosens, Joession, Jouossens, de Joossens, or de Joossen.

In the Netherlands, the earliest record of this surname dates back to a baptism of a daughter of Peter Jodocus of Leeuwarden in 1560. This name can also be found in the Flemish region as Joosens, with the earliest record being in 1643 in the Province of East Flanders. In France, the spelling of Joossens is found in the region of Nord-Pas-de-Calais dating back to 1813.

In the US, the spelling Joossens is seen in the Pennsylvanian region where the earliest record dates back to the mid 1800s. The spelling Jouossens was first used in the US in Delaware in the 1830 census and in Tennessee in the 1840 census. In Canada, the spelling Joosens is found first in Quebec with records dating back to the late 1700s.

Similar surnames that can be traced to this same origin include Joussen, Joussens, Joosse, Jossen, Jossens, Joosens, Joinssens, Joens, Jouwsens, Jouwssens, Jouwsens and Jowens.

Famous people with the name Joossens

• Tom Joossens: Belgian actor.
• Michael Joossens: Belgian Olympic fencer.
• Pascal Joossens: Belgian TV personality.
• Marc Joossens: Belgian artist and photographer.
• Diana Joossens: Dutch jazz and cabaret singer.
• Patrick Joossens– Belgian athlete who competed in the Olympic games in track and field.
• Sandrine Joossens: Belgian judoka who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• Christine Joossens: Belgian athlete and tennis player.
• Marjo Joossens: Belgian costume designer.
• Paul Joossens: Belgian author and professor at the University of Antwerp.

Other surnames

Joossen