Show ContentsJosey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Josey family

The surname Josey was first found in Haddingtonshire, where they held a family seat in their territories. The Pictish influence on Scottish history diminished after Kenneth Macalpine became King of all Scotland. But those east coast families still played an important role in government and were more accessible to Government than their western highland counterparts.

Early History of the Josey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Josey research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1636, 1689, 1720 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Josey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Josey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Jossy, Jossie, Josey, Josie, Joussie, Joussey and others.

Early Notables of the Josey family

More information is included under the topic Early Josey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Josey Ranking

In the United States, the name Josey is the 8,824th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Josey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Josey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • M Josey, aged 3, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1849 2
  • P Cipken Josey, aged 22, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1849 2
  • Joseph Josey, who arrived in Mississippi in 1855 2

Josey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Josey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Josey, (b. 1821), aged 19, English woodsman who was convicted in Berkshire, England for 15 years for robbery, transported aboard the "Eden" on 8th July 1840, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1902 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Josey (post 1700) +

  • Martha Josey (b. 1938), American former professional barrel racer and rodeo competitor
  • Richard Josey (1840-1906), prominent mezzotint engraver in Victorian London
  • Maurice Richard Josey (1870-1938), English mosaic artist

USS Indianapolis
  • Clifford Odell Josey, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 4


The Josey Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Je voy


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
  4. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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