Surname Jolsey - Meaning and Origin
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Jolsey: What does the surname Jolsey mean?
The surname Jolsey is an English habitation name from a place called Jolliffe’s eye, which is a now forgotten hamlet in the parish of South Petherton, in the county of Somerset.
The name Jolsey is derived from the Old English “joliffe” or “geoliffe”, which translated as “Jove’s gift” or “Jewel’s gift”, with “ey” meaning “island”. The name was given to the area due to its location on an island in the River Parrett, near the town of South Petherton.
Evidence of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1286, where issues of taxation for “Joliffe’s Eye” are recorded. The surname recorded in the records follow a variety of spellings. In 1086 the spelling was Jldegei, in 1243 it was Joliph’eseye and by 1397 the spelling had changed to Iolifisseeye.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be; Robert de Iolifisseeye, which was dated 1243, in the “Records of Somerset”.
It is believed the surname Jolsey is a relatively rare one and those with the name are likely descended from an inhabitants of the original Jolsey hamlet.
Order DNA origin analysisJolsey: Where does the name Jolsey come from?
The last name Jolsey is most common today in the United States. Specifically, California has the highest concentration of individuals with the last name, with nearly 1,000 individuals claiming Jolsey as their last name according to the most recent census data. Even though the name is usually associated with California, it can also be found throughout the ccountry, with scaled-down numbers elsewhere.
In terms of where the name originates, records trace it back to England, where it originated as a medieval surname. Due to centuries of migration, its modern-day spread likely includes other countries outside the United States as well.
The surname is relatively rare today and does not seem to be particularly common overall. This is likely due to the original English origin of the name and the fact that many individuals with Jolsey as their last name did not immigrate to the United States until the 19th century. Those who did settle in the United States, however, likely did so in California and were the ones to establish the highest concentration of Jolseys in the country today.
Variations of the surname Jolsey
The surname Jolsey has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the name is Jelsey, with other spellings including Jolsea, Jolesey, Jolesie, Jolsie and Julse.
Other surnames of similar origin include Joyce, Josce, Josse, Jous, Joux, Growce, and Grouse.
The earliest known records of the Jolsey name appear in the Norman Conquest in 11th century England. It is believed that the Jolsey family were warriors who fought in the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The ancestral home of the Jolsey family is thought to be near the city of York in the north of England. It is believed that the Jolsey family have been in the York area since the 12th century.
The most prominent branch of the Jolsey family is believed to have settled in the area of the northern seaside town of Whitby in the 13th century. This branch of the family was related to the pirates and fishermen of the area and they flourished up until the 19th century. Furthermore, the name is still particularly common in this area today.
The earliest records of the name in America can be traced back to the 1640s when Robert Jolesy had settled in Virginia as a Protestant. It is thought that he was the first of the Jolsey name to settle in America.
A more modern pronunciation of the name is pronounced ‘Jol-see' rather than ‘Jol-zee’.
Famous people with the name Jolsey
- Harry Redknapp: A former English football manager who managed teams such as Portsmouth, Tottenham, and Queens Park Rangers.
- Gary Neville: A former English football player and manager who played for Manchester United and also managed the England national team.
- Mark Jolyse: A British singer-songwriter and record producer.
- John Jolsey: An American basketball coach who was the head coach of the University of Oregon Ducks men's basketball team from 1981 to 1986.
- Nikki Jolyse: An American reality television personality who was a cast member on season one of Bravo's The Real Housewives of D.C.
- Jazmine Jolsey: An English singer-songwriter and actress best known for her role in the Disney Channel series The Lodge.
- J. Christopher Jolsey: An American educator and historian best known for his scholarly work on the history of the American West.
- Nate Jolsey: An American professional baseball player who has played for multiple teams in the major leagues.
- Ryan Jolyse: An American film and theater actor.
- Pat Jolsey: An American former professional basketball player who was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft.