Surname Jousten - Meaning and Origin

Jousten: What does the surname Jousten mean?

The last name Jousten is of French origin. It is derived from the Middle French word “jouste,” which is a medieval term for a fight in which two people rode horseback and tried to knock each other from their mounts with lances or swords. It is believed that many people in France earned surnames by their trade or profession. People who held a profession such as a joust were given or adopted the last name Jousten.

The word is also thought to be derived from the German surname “Justen” which is a variant of Justus meaning righteous, which could mean that it was originally given as a last name to somebody that held a position of righteousness or leadership.

The name Jousten is very rare, and it is still most commonly found in France today. It is also found in some parts of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States, as well as other countries.

Overall, the last name Jousten is believed to have originated from a profession or position of importance or righteousness. The surname would likely have been given to someone long ago who displayed courage and tenacity in the sport of jousting and, as a result, earned the title or surname.

Jousten: Where does the name Jousten come from?

The surname Jousten is a common name found mainly in Belgium and The Netherlands. It is a patronymic surname that originated from the personal first name ‘Joz’ or ‘Jos’; a famous bearer of the name was Saint Josaphata Hordashevska, who was from the Ukraine and was the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Society of Mary.

The surname Jousten is commonly found in Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium, as well as throughout The Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium. It is one of the most common surnames in The Netherlands, with thousands of people bearing the name. One of the earliest records of the surname can be found in Flanders (northern Belgium) dating back to 1550.

The name Jousten is also known in France, with the earliest record of the name coming from the Nièvre region dating back to 1602. In France, the name is usually spelt 'Joustan', with it being quite a common name.

Today, the surname Jousten is also found in other parts of Europe, as well as the United States, Canada, and Australia. The US Census of 2020 has reported over 500 people bearing the name Jousten or Joustan in the US alone.

Overall, the surname Jousten is a common one, being found in several countries throughout Europe, and is also found in countries in North America, South America, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Jousten

The surname Jousten is a French surname, deriving from the words "jouer" (meaning "to play") and "saint" (meaning "saint"). As such, it can be spelled various ways such as Josten, Jausen or Jaussen.

Variant forms of the surname Jousten include Joustan, Jousten, Joutain, Jousteaux, Jauset, Jausain, Jaustain, and Jaussen.

Within the French language, the surname Jousten is traditionally spelled with an 'o', whereas in Middle English it was most often spelled with an 'ou'.

Surnames of a similar origin to Jousten include Dionne, Jouet, Jouets, Jouhet and Jouanne.

In some cases, the surname Jousten has changed to 'Jost' in German-speaking countries, while in the United States, the surname has been Americanised to 'Josten'.

In some cases, the surname Jousten has also been changed to Joulin, Jouvin or Joron in France, and Jostin, Josting and Jostl in Germany.

In other cases, it has been transformed to Joubert, Jouvet, Jovet and Juvin in France, Joven in Spain, and Jofin and JOilin in Switzerland.

Overall, Jousten is a very versatile surname, with many variations, spellings and surnames of a similar origin.

Famous people with the name Jousten

• Katri Jousten: Is a Finnish mountaineer and polar explorer.
• Henrik Jousten: Is a Finnish Olympic Skeleton racer.
• Estelle Jousten: Is a sports journalist and television presenter.
• Corinne Jousten: Is a former Belgian professional mark-maker of wayfinding signage and cartography.
• Chris Jousten: Is a Belgian former football player.
• Liddie Jousten: Is a Dutch Paralympic archer.
• Paul G. Jousten: Is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.
• Stefan Jousten: Is a retired German professional handball player.
• Pekka Jousten: Is a Finnish biathlete.
• Jussi Jousten: Is a Finnish Olympic orienteer.

Other surnames

Joust