Jekelson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Jekelson is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is derived from the baptismal nameJukel or Gikel. The surname Jekelson referred to the son of Jukel which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames.

"The ancient Breton name Judicaël gave birth to the twin-names Juhel and Gicquel, appearing in mediæval English records as Jukel and Gikel." 1

"The Christian name of Judhael de Totnes is still found as a surname in Devonshire as Jewell, and elsewhere as Jekyll and Joel." 2

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Jukel' or 'Gikel.' Although the personal name soon died out, the surname formed from it struggled into existence and still lives.' 3

As a forename, the first occurrence was found in the Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London, 1188-1274 where Jukel Alderman was listed as Sheriff of London in 1194. 3

Early Origins of the Jekelson family

The surname Jekelson was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the original Latin forms of the name were found in two entries in Cheshire: Judichel uenator and Judicaelis. 4

A few years later, Gykell, Jukel de Jertheburc was listed in Lincolnshire c.1170 and in 1182; Johannes filius Jokell', Jukell' was entered in the Assize Rolls for 1218; and Jukel Brito was in the Curia Regis Rolls for Norfolk in 1207. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two early listings of the family: Johannes Jukel, Buckinghamshire; and Richard Gikell, Lincolnshire. 3

Dr. Henry Jekyll and his alter ego Mr. Edward Hyde, is the main character of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde." However, Stevenson makes no mention of why he chose the protagonist's name.

Early History of the Jekelson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jekelson research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1174, 1201, 1273, 1570, 1646, 1653, 1663, 1670, 1680, 1687, 1697, 1698, 1702, 1717 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Jekelson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jekelson Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Jekelson are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Jekelson include: Jeckell, Jeckel, Jekyl, Jekyll, Jeckyll, Jeckyl, Jekylls, Jekel and many more.

Early Notables of the Jekelson family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Jekyll (1570-1653), English antiquary, born in the parish of St. Helen, Bishopsgate, London, on 12 Jan. 1570, the eldest son of John Stocker Jekyll of Newington, Middlesex, by Mary, daughter and heiress of Nicholas Barnehouse of Wellington, Somerset. "Availing himself of his access to legal records, Jekyll filled above forty volumes with valuable materials for the histories of Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk (Gough, British Topography, i. 345). A portion of the Jekyll collection was included in the list of manuscripts belonging to John Ouseley, rector of...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jekelson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jekelson family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Jekelson or a variant listed above: John Jeckyll, who sailed to New England in 1733; George Jekel to Philadelphia in 1844; Peter Jeckel to America in 1853; Thomas Jaekle to New York in 1861.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)