Surname Joisey - Meaning and Origin

Joisey: What does the surname Joisey mean?

The last name Joisey is of English origin, and is derived from a place name. Specifically, it comes from the county of Essex, which is located in the south-east corner of England. The name is thought to be a corruption of the words 'East Saxon', giving rise to the nickname 'Easties'. The name may also be related to the Saxon word 'gōd', meaning 'water', with an allusion to the many rivers and coasts of Essex.

In modern times, the name Joisey is associated with the state of New Jersey in the USA. This refers to a distinct dialect which developed in the state, and its distinct nicknames such as 'The Garden State' and 'The Crossroads of the East'. This nickname follows the locals' use of the term ‘Joisey’ to distinguish their state from neighboring New York.

In terms of modern usage, the surname Joisey can be found in many places, from the USA and Canada to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It is a surname which has been carried around the world by people whose ancestors were originally from the county of Essex, England.

Joisey: Where does the name Joisey come from?

The last name Joisey (or Joycee, Joycey, Jossey, etc.) is most commonly encountered in the northeastern United States, particularly in states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

New Jersey offers the second-highest concentration of people with this name, after Rhode Island. Various records suggest that the first settlers of the name Joisey arrived in the colonial New World in the mid- to late-1700s. This suggests waves of migration from England and Ireland to the area helped to establish and spread the surname.

The origin of the Joisey name remains unclear; it has been speculated to derive from either a nickname formed from the Old French name Josse, or the French place name Jouy. With an increasing interest in family genealogy and the spread of the last name around the region, many modern-day Joisey families have looked into the history of the surname and continue to research its roots.

Despite being less common today, the last name Joisey is still relatively frequent in certain regions of the northeastern United States, as well as in England, Ireland, France, and other parts of Europe.

Variations of the surname Joisey

The surname Joisey has a variety of spellings and variants stemming from the traditional French surname Josse, meaning "young". Variations include Joise, Joyse, Joize, Joyze, Joys, Joyss, Joysse, and Joysses, and it is estimated that over 20 different spellings of the surname exist.

In French, the ending suffix for the name is "eau", and the final consonant is usually added when the name is transliterated to English. Thus, Joisey is derived from Joise, as the "y" is representative of the French "eau".

The name can also be a variation of Joice or Joyce, which is derived from the Latin name "Gaudens" and can be translated to mean "rejoicing". Similarly, Jocey, derived from the French diminutive for Joice, is another variation that can be found.

Outside of France, many immigrants have added or substituted letters in the surname due to unfamiliarity with the French language or to render anglicised versions more easily palatable. For example, some spellings such as Joice, Joyse, Joicey, Joisey, and Jocey, which have garnered traction in the UK, found their way to the US in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Other variations of the surname Joisey, Joise, Joyse, and Joice, include Joce, Josse, Jossey, Josseau, Josseau, Joceau, Joceen, Jossor, Jozor, and Jocéen. More contemporary versions of the surname, such as Jocee, Josée, Jexy, and Jozie, exist as well. The name Joisey is typically seen in unexpected places, such as Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, Spain, and South America, where the name was spread by immigrants and those of French ancestry.

Famous people with the name Joisey

• Senator Cory Booker: Senator Booker is a United States senator for the state of New Jersey. He was elected in 2013 and is best known for his efforts to pass criminal justice reform legislation.
• Matt Lauer: Matt Lauer is a former host of the NBC morning show Today. He was born in New Jersey and lived in the state for many years before moving to New York City for his television career.
• Kevin Smith: Kevin Smith is an actor, director and comedian born and raised in New Jersey. He is best known for his “View Askewniverse” films, including Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
• Whitney Houston: Whitney Houston is one of the best-selling female artists of all time. She was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey and is known for her hit songs such as “I Will Always Love You” and “Greatest Love of All.”
• Bruce Springsteen: Bruce Springsteen is an iconic musician born and raised in Freehold, New Jersey. He is regarded as one of the most influential recording artists of the past four decades, selling over 135 million albums worldwide.
• Jon Stewart: Jon Stewart is a comedian, actor and television host. He was born in New York City, but moved to New Jersey when he was a child. He hosted The Daily Show for over a decade, entertaining viewers with his unique blend of wit and political insight.

Other surnames

Joise