Show ContentsJollymore History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Jollymore

What does the name Jollymore mean?

The name Jollymore comes from the ancient Norman culture that was established in Britain after the Conquest of 1066. It was a name for a person originating in France, and was associated with the French Huguenots. This nickname surname originated with an early member who was a happy and lively person. But we must look to Normandy where the earliest records of the root name was found. As a variant of Jolliffe, it was found there as early as 1195 with N. Giolif. Three years later Robert Jolif was listed in a census in the same area of Normandy. 1

Early Origins of the Jollymore family

The surname Jollymore was first found in Yorkshire where there are numerous variations of the name listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 including: Johannes Yoly, Agnes, servienes Joly Johnan, Henricus Joly; Ricardus Jolyman; Willelmus Jolyman and Johannes Jolyman. 2

This distinguished Huguenot family were granted lands firstly in Staffordshire. Many moved north into Scotland where records there show Alan and Bervy Jolly were granted lands in the county of Edinburgh in 1450. 3

As confirmation of their Huguenot origin, not all of the family moved far from the English coastline. Some stayed in Cornwall as Pencoose in the parish of St. Enoder was a seat of the family of Jolly in early years. This was afterwards purchased in the reign of Charles II. by Arthur Fortescue, Esq. 4

Early History of the Jollymore family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jollymore research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1610, 1629, 1642, 1646, 1647, 1659, 1666, 1677, 1684, 1692, 1703, 1714, 1716, 1757 and 1764 are included under the topic Early Jollymore History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jollymore Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Jollie, Jolley, Jolly, Jollys and others.

Early Notables of the Jollymore family

Notable in the family at this time was Rev. James Jollie, senior chaplain of the Church of Scotland and chaplain of St. Andrew's Church in Madras.Thomas Jollie (1629-1703) was an English Dissenter, a minister ejected for his beliefs from the Church of England. He was "born at Droylsden, near Manchester, on 14 Sept. 1629, and baptised on 29 Sept. at Gorton Chapel, then in the parish of Manchester. His father, Major James Jollie (1610-1666), was provost-marshal general of the forces in Lancashire (1642-1647), and was nominated (2 Oct. 1646) an elder for Gorton in the first or Manchester classis in the...
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jollymore Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jollymore family to Ireland

Some of the Jollymore family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jollymore family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Jollymore or a variant listed above were: Francis Jolly, who settled in Virginia in 1648; John Jolly settled in Virginia in 1637; along with Joseph, Marjorie, Mary; David, George, Thomas and Edward Jolly all arrived in Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860..



  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print


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