Surname Joslin - Meaning and Origin

Joslin: What does the surname Joslin mean?

The last name Joslin is of Old French origin and is derived from the personal name Joscelin. This personal name was brought to Britain by the Normans during their invasion in 1066. Over time, it evolved into a surname and its various forms can be found in records dating back to the 12th century. The name Joscelin itself is a diminutive form of the Old French name Josse, which was derived from the Latin name Judocus. Judocus is related to the Breton name Iodoc, a diminutive of iudh meaning "lord". Therefore, the surname Joslin is thought to mean "little lord". There are also several variations of the name including Jocelin, Joselyn, Joslin, Josselyn, and Josselin among others. Finding the name spelt in different ways is common, since spelling standards did not start to emerge in England until the last few centuries. Surnames also often changed their spellings based on how they sounded phonetically. The distribution of the Joslin surname is currently highest in the United States, followed by England and Australia.

Joslin: Where does the name Joslin come from?

The surname Joslin is of French origin. It is derived from the personal name "Joscelin" which was brought to England by the Normans around the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The name Joscelin itself originated from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "gaut," which could refer to a Geat or Goth, and "helma," meaning helmet. It was turned into Joscelin in the Old French language.

Today, the surname Joslin can be found in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The largest percentage of individuals with the Joslin surname is in the United States, specifically within the states of Massachusetts and Maine. Yet, despite its wide distribution, it remains quite rare, not appearing in the top 1000 most common surnames in any of those countries.

Variations of the surname Joslin

The surname Joslin is of English origin which was derived from a common personal name, Jocelyn, during the middle ages. This personal name was introduced to England by the Normans, from the Germanic tribe, Gauts.

The surname has several spelling variations and derivatives which include Josselyn, Jocelyn, Joselin, Joselyn, Josselin, Joscelyn, Jocelin, Joslyne, Josline, Josland, Jossline, Joceline, Joscelin, Josceline, Jossland, Joslinn, Josslin, Josslin and Josellin.

The surname has been evolved with time and region. The early recordings of this surname from the church registers of London include the christening of Awdry, daughter of John Joslyn, on May 28th 1564, at St. Leonard's, Eastcheap, and the christening of Alveryne Joslyne on October 29th 1587, at St. Thomas the Apostle.

One of the earliest settlers in the New World was Thomas Joslin, who left London on the ship "Increase" bound for New England in April 1635. From this point onwards, the surname has been recorded in various forms in America, such as Joslyn, Joslin, Josslyn, and Jocelyn.

Famous people with the name Joslin

• Edwin Perkin Joslin: Edwin Perkin Joslin was a Canadian-born American businessman and politician who served as the 44th Governor of Massachusetts from 1921 to 1925.
• Abraham Joslin: Abraham Joslin was the first mayor of styled Springfield, Massachusetts
• Jonathan Joslin: Jonathan Joslin was an American naval officer who served in the United States Navy and during the War of 1812, was the commander of the brig USS Vixen.
• Steve Joslin: Steve Joslin is an American professional skateboarder currently sponsored by The Skateboard Mag and adidas Skateboarding.
• John Joslin Jr.: John Joslin Jr. was a Massachusetts state senator and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1776 to 1781.
• Bob Joslin: Bob Joslin was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) from 1910 to 1917, compiling a record of 28–26–2.
• Robert E. Joslin: Robert E. Joslin was a prominent real estate developer in New Jersey. He was responsible for the development of many towns and cities, including Parsippany-Troy Hills.
• Bob Joslyn: Bob Joslyn is an American author, lecturer and radio show host best known for his books on self-improvement and success.
• Victoria Joslin: Victoria Joslin is a Canadian-born fashion designer based in London, England. She has been featured in Vogue, London Fashion Week, and collaborated with ASOS and Busby and Fox.
• Sam Joslin: Sam Joslin is a British actor best known for his role as Ollie in the 2019 comedy-drama film 'Yesterday'.

Other surnames

Josling