The name Jowitt reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is based on the ancient personal name Julien. The surname of Jowett was a baptismal name which means Julien. [1]
Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the French "jouet" which means "play, sport, fun." English records we find both Jouet and Jowet." [2]
Another source agrees with this direction. The Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Geoffry Guuit (or Guet), Normandy, 1180-95. "Matilda Joute, Richard Joyet, William Juet, Engl. c. 1272." [3]
The surname Jowitt was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Bredbury from early times. The lands were granted by William the Conqueror to a Norman noble by the name Jouet, from the Isle of Rhe in France. By the twelfth century they had branched to Ashton-under-Lyme in that same shire.
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing: William Juet, Huntingdonshire. [4] William Jouet was listed in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1229 and the next year, Richard Jouot was listed in the same county in the Assize Rolls of 1300. In Kent, Goger Guet was found in the Assize Rolls for 1317 and later, Robert Jowet was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jowitt research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1643, 1720, 1693, 1694, 1701, 1675, 1631, 1639, 1639 and 1641 are included under the topic Early Jowitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Jowitt has been recorded under many different variations, including Jowett, Jowet, Jowit, Jowitt, Jewett, Jewet, Juet, Jouet, Juett and many more.
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Nehemiah Jewett (1643-1720), an American colonial politician, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (1693-1694) and in 1701; during his tenure, he was responsible for compensating those damaged by the Salem witch trials.
Randal or Randolph Jewett (d. 1675), was an organist and composer, is said to have received the (honorary?) degree...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jowitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.