Surname Jousse - Meaning and Origin

Jousse: What does the surname Jousse mean?

The last name Jousse is of French origin and is derived from the Latin word “jussus,” which translates to “order” or “command”. This surname was given to individuals who were either of noble blood or who had been given an order or command by someone else. Historically, this name was predominantly found in Normandy and the surrounding area.

The name is believed to have first originated with a Norman knight bearing the title “Jousse de Monchy”, who led a division of Knights on the Second Crusade. He and his men fought bravely against the Muslim forces, and the name has remained associated with a noble birthright ever since.

In modern times, the last name Jousse is still found predominantly throughout northern France, but has spread slightly throughout Europe and North America. Bearers of the name often draw off of its roots through deep-seated notions of nobility and gallantry, opting to pass down stories about the knight whose courage gave the start of the family's legacy.

It is unclear whether the name has any specific historical meaning, though it is popularly thought to mean something relating to honor. In any case, it is a strong-sounding name with the power of a noble legacy and an inspiring history to live up to.

Jousse: Where does the name Jousse come from?

The last name Jousse is most common in France today. According to France's National Institute of Statistics, Jousse is among the 40,000 most common family names in the country. It can be found in all of the provinces of France, though it is more popular in the country's central regions. It is also found in some other parts of the French-speaking world, such as the Belgian region of Wallonia and the tiny nation of Luxembourg.

In France, records indicate that the Jousse family name dates back to at least 1544. It was at that time a very distinctive name, with only about 100 individuals recorded. Currently, there are thought to be more than 120,000 people bearing the name Jousse in France, making it one of the most common last names in the entire country.

Outside of France, records indicate that the Jousse family name is also found in parts of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Here, the name is typically spelled slightly differently than it is in traditional French, since it has been anglicized over time. Overall, the name Jousse is quite common throughout the French-speaking world today, though its original origins are almost certainly French.

Variations of the surname Jousse

Jousse is a French surname of ancient Norman origin, which is thought to have first appeared around the 11th century and derived from the personal name Jousse, which is itself derived from the old German root ‘juov’. Throughout the centuries, Jousse has undergone several spelling variations, including Houze, Housse, Jost, Jouce, judas, Joussé and Juze. Although there are several cognates and variants of the surname, the most common are Jousse, Jost, and Housse.

The Jousse surname is also common in Germany, where it is spelled ‘Jost’, and in the Netherlands as ‘Joz’. Variants of the surname were also found among French-Canadian immigrants to Quebec, leading to the Canadian spelling of ‘Jusse’. In Belgium, variants of the surname include ‘Jousseau’, ‘Judon’, ‘Jouzaux’, and ‘Jouver’.

In England, the surname Jousse exists mostly as ‘Houze’ or ‘Hows’, while ‘Joussé’ can also be found in Ireland. The Irish variant may be a variant of the French surname Joussier, which is a derivative of the medieval personal name ‘Jauceau’.

In Spain, the surname ‘Juze’ is quite common. In northern Italy, some of the variants of the surname are ‘Guzzo’, ‘Gusso’, and ‘Guzzi’. In Portugal and Brazil, descendants of the Jousse family live under the surname ‘Jouse’.

Overall, the variations of the surname Jousse are numerous and distinct, illustrating its widespread migration and evolution in different parts of the world.

Famous people with the name Jousse

• Nicolas Jousse: French photographer who is known for his black-and-white lifestyle photographs.
• Nicolas Jousse: French composer and music producer who has composed film scores for several films.
• Maurice Jousse: French literary scholar and translator who is best known for his translations of English and German classics.
• Jean-Claude Jousse: French film director, screenwriter, and author who is best known for his work on the films Un Dimanche à la campagne and Les Travailleurs de la nuit.
• François Jousse: French singer-songwriter, composer, and producer who has worked with artists like Celine Dion, Zazie, and Mylène Farmer.
• Sylvain Jousse: French former professional road bicycle racer who was a professional from 1989 to 2002.
• Jean Jousse: French ancient historian and philologist who was a professor at the Collège de France from 1815 until his death in 1852.
• Louis-Jean Jousse: French astronomer and mathematician who was a professor at the University of Paris and a member of the French Academy of Sciences.
• Lucas Jousse: French singer-songwriter and musician who has released several albums as a solo artist and with his band Rhum for Pauline.
• Alexis Jousse: French international rugby union player who currently plays for Lyon OU in the Pro D2 league.

Other surnames

JousseyJoussiJoussie