Surname Jowsey - Meaning and Origin

Jowsey: What does the surname Jowsey mean?

The surname Jowsey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from the Old English personal name Jofsi, which is a patronymic form of the name Jof or Jov, which were both pet forms of the name Joseph. Therefore, the literal meaning of the surname Jowsey is “son of Joseph” or “Joseph's son”.

The name first appeared in England in the late 12th Century in the forms Jowsei and Jowcei and was mainly found in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Wolverhampton. By the 16th century this name had taken on the modern forms of Jowsey in Cambridgeshire and Jesseys in Oxfordshire.

The Jowsey surname is the 431st most common surname in Great Britain, with an estimated 3,450 entries on the 1881 UK Census. It is most commonly found in the UK counties of Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire, though the name can also be found in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The surname Jowsey is derived from the Old English personal name Jofsi which means “son of Joseph”. It’s a versatile surname that has been found in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Though its initial entry into England occurred in the 12th century, the surname is still relatively common today.

Jowsey: Where does the name Jowsey come from?

The last name Jowsey is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. Specifically, it is most heavily concentrated in the English counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where census records reveal a historically high frequency of the name. Moreover, census records of the past decade have revealed that Jowsey’s may commonly be found in larger cities throughout the UK, such as London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Manchester. International census data also reveals a certain amount of presence in English-speaking countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, albeit to a lesser extent.

In the wider colonial context, the name Jowsey was once common throughout the British Empire, particularly in former colonies such as South Africa and India. However, it has since decreased in frequency in those countries, as well as many other former British colonies.

Overall, the presence of the Jowsey name has decreased in recent decades due to emigration, however, it remains most commonly found in the United Kingdom today, mostly concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Variations of the surname Jowsey

The surname Jowsey has many variants, spellings, and related surnames. One of the most common spelling variations is Jowsey, and other spellings include Jewsey, Jousey, Joucey, Joosey, Joosee, Joucee, Jousie, and Jowcy. Additionally, surnames like Jowsay, Jowseye, Jowsie, Jowzy, and Jaucey are all of the same origin.

The surname Jowsey is a patronymic name derived from the Old English personal name Guthi or Guti, which also evolved to have other spellings such as Gode, Gudde and Jowde. This name itself is derived from the Old German word "gut", meaning "good" or "noble". The suffix -ey, -ay, -y, -ee, -ie, or -cy was added, indicating and forming a patronymic or locational surnames. The suffix can also be variants of the name originating from the Old English pre 7th Century "ea", meaning "water".

In the United States, the surname Jowsey is most commonly found in the states of Michigan, California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. Additionally, it has been known to appear in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

Regardless of the spelling variation, the surname Jowsey has been around for centuries, and many families have been proudly bearing the surname ever since.

Famous people with the name Jowsey

• Finn Jowsey: British actor best known for his roles in the television series “Skins” and the films “The Secret of Moonacre” and “A Song for Jenny”.
• Barry Jowsey: British actor who has appeared in the television series “The Bill”, “Minder” and “Barbara.”
• Shaun Jowsey: British actor who has appeared in the television series “Coronation Street” and “Emmerdale.”
• Liam Jowsey: British actor who had a recurring role as Luke Prescott on “Hollyoaks” and has also appeared in “Doctors” and “Eastenders.”
• Alan Jowsey: British actor who has appeared in “The Bill,” “Doctors,” “Misfits,” and “BBC7’s Veritas.”
• Eloise Jowsey: British actress who is best known for her roles in “Call The Midwife” and “C4’s Flowers.”
• Robert Jowsey: British television producer and director best known for his work on ITV’s “Coronation Street,” “Emmerdale” and “Dalziel and Pascoe.”
• Edward Jowsey: British 11-time BSJA Showjumping champion and Bronze medalist at the European Championships.
• Holly Jowsey: English singer, actress, and dancer best known for her stage role as J.J in “School of Rock: The Musical.”
• Doris Jowsey: British sculptor best known for her piece Penumbra which is part of the new ‘Business in the Community’ outdoor exhibition in Newcastle.

Other surnames

JowseJowsecyJowsee