Contents [hide]

Joslin History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Joslin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

While surnames were well-known during the English medieval period, Cornish People originally used only a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames came into common use is interesting. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Patronymic surnames were derived from given names and were the predominant type of surname among the Celtic peoples of Britain. However, the people of Cornwall provide a surprising exception to this rule, and patronymic surnames are less common among them than other people of Celtic stock, such as their Welsh neighbors. This type of surname blended perfectly with the prevailing Feudal System. One feature that is occasionally found in Cornish surnames of this type is the suffix -oe or -ow; this is derived from the Cornish plural suffix -ow. is a patronymic surname that came from the Germanic personal name Jocelyn, meaning Goth.

Gocelin or Gotselin (fl. 1099), was an early English "biographer, is said to have been born at or near Terouanne. He was originally a monk in the monastery of St. Bertin, and was brought over to England by Hermann, Bishop of Salisbury (1045-1077), possibly in 1058. He himself states that he accompanied Hermann to Rome shortly before the great council of Rheims (3 Oct. 1049), and as Hermann returned to England soon after Godwin's death." 1

Jocelin (d. 1199), was Bishop of Glasgow, a monk of Melrose. "After filling the office of prior he was, on 22 April 1170, chosen abbot. On 23 May 1174 he was elected bishop of Glasgow at Perth, and was consecrated at Clairvaux on 1 June 1175 by Eskilus, Archbishop of Lunden in Holstein. " 1

Jocelin de Brakelond (fl. 1200), was Chronicler of St. Edmunds Abbey, a native of Bury St. Edmunds, where two ancient streets were called Brakelond. 1

Another Jocelin or Joscelin (fl. 1200), the hagiographer, was a Cistercian monk of the Abbey of Furness in Lancashire, and was one of the monks brought from Furness, towards the close of the twelfth century, by John de Curci to the new monastery founded by him at Down in the north of Ireland. 1

Early Origins of the Joslin family

The surname Joslin was first found in Lanarkshire but one of the first records of the name was Josceline de Bohon (or Joscelyn fitz Richard de Bohon or Joscelin de Bohun) (c. 1111-1184) who was Bishop of Salisbury. His son, Reginald fitz Jocelin (sometimes Reginald Italus, Richard the Lombard, or Reginald Lombardus) was Bishop of Bath and an Archbishop of Canterbury-elect. Jocelin (or Jocelyn) (died 1199) was a twelfth-century Cistercian monk and cleric who became the 4th Abbot of Melrose and later Bishop of Glasgow, Scotland. Another branch was seated at Sempringham in Lincolnshire by grant of William the Conqueror. 2

Early History of the Joslin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joslin research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1174, 1188, 1296, 1490, 1553, 1596, 1616, 1623, 1638, 1641, 1675, 1683, 1688, 1739, 1743, 1756 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Joslin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joslin Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Jocelyn, Gocelyn, Josselyn, Josselyne and others.

Early Notables of the Joslin family

Notable amongst the family at this time was John Josselyn or Jastleyn (c.1490-1553), an English politician.Elizabeth Jocelin (1596-1623), was author of 'The Mother's Legacie to her Unborne Childe,' born in 1596, and was the daughter of Sir Richard Brooke of Norton, Cheshire, and his wife Joan. 1Ralph Josselin (1616-1683) was an English vicar of Earls Colne in Essex...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Joslin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joslin Ranking

In the United States, the name Joslin is the 5,029^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Joslin family to Ireland

Some of the Joslin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 94 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joslin migration to the United States +

An investigation of the immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Joslin:

Joslin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Joslin, who arrived in Maryland in 1677 4

Joslin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Chr Joslin, who landed in Virginia in 1714 4

Joslin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

C Joslin, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
Mrs. S. B. Joslin, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1894
A. L. Joslin, aged 62, who landed in America, in 1895

Joslin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Jay Joslin, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1902
Alfred Joslin, aged 25, who landed in America from London, in 1903
Clara Joslin, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1907
Jennie M. Joslin, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
M. M. Joslin, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Joslin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Joslin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Andrew Joslin U.E., "Jostlin" born in Rhode Island, USA from Rhode Island, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport 5
Mr. Andrew Joslin U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 5
Mr. John Joslin U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1784 5

Joslin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Joslin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Joslin, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mrs. Ann Joslin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thames" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th November 1849 6
Mr. Charles Joslin, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Thames" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th November 1849 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Joslin (post 1700) +

William Murray Joslin (1901-1981), American electrical engineer
Elliott Proctor Joslin MD (1869-1962), the first doctor in the United States to specialize in diabetes
Margaret Joslin (1883-1956), American film actress
John D. Joslin, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Alpena, Michigan, 1864 7
Jeanne Joslin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Hampshire, 1980 7
Falcon Joslin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alaska Territory, 1916 7
Ervin Stephen Joslin (b. 1870), American Republican politician, Member of Vermont State House of Representatives from Waitsfield, 1910 7
Edwin W. Joslin, American politician, Mayor of Watervliet, New York, 1915 7
Debra I. Joslin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alaska, 2008 7
Chauncey Joslin, American politician, Mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1858-59; Circuit Judge in Michigan 22nd Circuit, 1882-87 7
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Joslin 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: Faire mon devoir
Motto Translation: To do my duty.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html