Surname Joslyn - Meaning and Origin
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Joslyn: What does the surname Joslyn mean?
The surname Joslyn is of Old French origin, derived from the Germanic personal name "Gautselin" or "Gauzlin," which itself is a diminutive of the name "Gaut," a given name among the Goths. Thus, Joslyn has the connotation of being linked to the Goths, a group of East Germanic tribes. It was first gradually changed to Josselin in France and then to Joslyn in English. The name first arrived in England with the Norman conquest in the 11th century. It's also occasionally interpreted as "little Gaut," with the suffix "-lin" denoting "little". The name is both a male and female given name and a surname. The meanings often ascribed to the Joslyn name include "playful" or "cheerful" but these are more interpretative rather than definitive meanings. As with many surnames, geographical area, history, and ancestry can also influence the specifics of the name's meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisJoslyn: Where does the name Joslyn come from?
The surname Joslyn is of Old French origin. It is derived from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "gaud" or "gaut", a personal name or possibly tribal name of the Gauts, an Old Norse ethnic name for a Goth, plus the diminutive suffix "-lin". Therefore, the original form could be Gauselin or a similar variant.
Over time, this name has seen several mutations and is now found in variants such as Jocelyn, Josselyn, Joslin, Joslyn, among others. The name was introduced into England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 and was soon established and became relatively common.
Today, the surname Joslyn is most common in the United States, with a substantial number of bearers in the states of New York, California, and Illinois. However, being of Norman-French origin, it is also found in various parts of France. Other countries where it can be found less frequently include England, Canada, and Australia. Despite its French roots, the surname is not very common in modern-day France.
Variations of the surname Joslyn
The surname Joslyn is believed to have stemmed from the medieval personal name Jocelyn, which is of Old German origin, meaning "of the Gauts", a tribal name. Variants of this surname include Joslin, Jocelin, Jocelyn, Joscelyn, Josselin, Josland and Joycelyn. Traditional English spellings are jostling, jesting, josling, and jostlin.
Similarly, Gyrsilinus, Josceline, and Josselyne are older forms of spelling. Notably, the spelling variations of this name were largely influenced by an individual's literacy level and pronunciation of their own name during the Middle Ages. Therefore, various spellings were recorded in different documents pertaining to the same individual.
Some of these variant spellings also stem from different geographic regions where there may be a localised spelling, a tradition, or influences from other languages. Some are formatted in accordance with the contemporary rules of phonetics.
The Joslyn surname was brought over to England by the Norman Conquest, and hence is often seen in Normany regions. This surname may also refer to someone coming from Josselin, a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany in north-western France.
Famous people with the name Joslyn
- Jeff Joslyn: American animator, director, producer, and writer best known for his work on Pokémon and other TV shows
- Mark Joslyn: American political scientist and professor at the University of Kansas
- John L. Joslyn: Medal of Honor recipient and United States Marine Corps major
- Jason Joslyn: Professional Canadian football player who played for the Toronto Argonauts
- Dave Joslyn: Emmy Award-winning documentarian and TV producer
- Pat Joslyn: American music producer, composert, and author
- Webster Joslyn: American farmer and surveyor who founded the town of Webster in upstate New York
- Henry E. Joslyn: Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- John R. Joslyn: American politician who served as a representative in the Washington State Legislature
- Charles Fred Joslyn: American banker, politician and amateur botanist