Surname Josey - Meaning and Origin
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Josey: What does the surname Josey mean?
The last name Josey is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Old French words “jos”, meaning God, and “ey”, which has an uncertain origin, but is usually thought to refer to a particular place or home. Together, these terms could mean “God’s home” or “God’s house”.
The earliest records of the surname Josey show it being used to refer to someone who lived near the River Tweed in Northumberland, which was an area commonly inhabited by the Josey family in the early 16th Century. Other records show the name being used as occupational names, as early as 1541 when William Jowsey was recorded as an ironmonger in Berwick upon Tweed.
In modern times, the Josey surname is predominantly used as a patronymic, denoting descent from a particular person or place. It is considered to be a respected and established surname and is still popular in many parts of Scotland. It is also common in parts of Ireland and can be found in many countries around the world today.
The name Josey is generally considered to be a name that denotes a strong link to the land and a family’s commitment to their Scottish roots and heritage. It carries connotations of faith, loyalty and respect. Today, the Josey surname is still a proud and much respected name in Scottish culture.
Order DNA origin analysisJosey: Where does the name Josey come from?
The last name Josey is most common today in parts of the southeastern United States, especially in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama. It is likely an Americanized form of the French surname Joyal.
The Josey family has a long history in the South, with a number of notable individuals who carried the name. Among them were former Louisiana state senator Jerry Josey (1910-1992), Arkansas congressman W. R. Josey (born 1928), and United States Marine Corps General Robert H. Josey Sr. (1923-2017).
It is likely that the Josey last name has been part of the South since the early 19th century when thousands of French immigrants made their way to the the region. Since then it has become a significant part of the Southern heritage in both a cultural and historical sense.
There is still a large Josey population in the South, although it is not limited to the region. You can find the Josey name in large numbers in other states as the family has spread out throughout the country. Josey is also known to be a variation of Josy, Josi, Jocey, Josie and Jozie, and all are found in many places across the United States.
In the end, it's clear that the Josey surname holds special significance in the South, and it is likely to remain that way for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Josey
The Josey surname is of Spanish origin from the Latin name Josias, which is a form of the Hebrew name, Joshua. Variants of this surname include Jose, Josse, Jousse, Josselyn, Jocelyn, Jocelin, Joclyn, Joscelyne, Jocel, Joslyn, Joslin, Josalyn, Josaline, Josalene, and Joscelyn. Spellings of the surname Josey can vary as well, and could take the form of Josey, Josei, Josee, Joseey, Joesy, Joysey, and Jocey.
Additional surnames and variants of the surname Josey include Jos, Joce, Joselle, Joselino, Joceli, Jossef, Jocelli, Josley, Josly, Jossly, Jocely, Joslyne, Jocelino, Giovanni Josey, Pulosey, Joseli, Joseiker, Jossey, Josefi, and Joaquin.
Many of these surnames have roots that can be found in other languages, including French, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, and Spanish. For example, the French equivalent to the surname Josey is Josée, and the Portuguese equivalent is Josete. Similarly, the Italian equivalent is Giuseppe, and the Hebrew equivalent is Yosef.
In many cases, multiple surnames will be variants of the same origin. For instance, a José y and a Josée would both have the same origin, despite having different spellings. Therefore, it's essential to do research in order to determine if two different surnames have the same origin, as this can help clarify one's heritage.
Famous people with the name Josey
- Emma Josey: Actress from Boy Meets World and other 90s TV shows
- Shawn Josey: NFL player, played for the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos
- Charisse Josey: R&B singer and actress
- Jody Josey– Public school administrator,interim superintendent of Little Rock School District
- Tonya Josey: Women’s basketball player, played in the WNBA and overseas
- Dr. Darion L. Josey– Physical therapist and professor
- David Josey: Historic preservationist
- Gary Josey: Politician, served as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives
- Ryan Josey: Professional beach volleyball player on the Miami Heat's Beachvolleyball Tour
- Tameka Josey: Professional skateboarder, SkateGirl Pro team member