Surname Jowette - Meaning and Origin
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Jowette: What does the surname Jowette mean?
The surname Jowette is of English origin, derived from the personal name "Jowett." This is a diminutive form of the name "Jewett," itself an altered version of the medieval personal name "Juet." Its meaning can be traced back to the Old French "Jeu," meaning "game," and has an added diminutive suffix "-et." Thus, Jowette can be roughly interpreted as "little game player," suggesting an ancestry of individuals who might have been playful or competitive. Variations of the name include Jewett, Jewitt, and Jouet. Like many surnames, the spelling has been altered over time due to a myriad of factors including the evolution of language, literacy levels, and regional accents. It should be noted that names also often had their origins in a person’s occupation, the place they lived, or even a descriptive term about the person. Therefore, it's possible the name could refer to someone who played games as a profession, perhaps a performer, or it could be a nickname given to someone who loved to play games. It's impossible to determine an exact meaning, as surnames had a variety of influences over centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisJowette: Where does the name Jowette come from?
The surname Jowette is of English origin. It is a variant of the name Jowett, which is believed to have first been used in West Yorkshire. The surname is thought to have derived from a medieval personal name, possibly a diminutive of Julian. Substantial emigration from England in the 19th and 20th centuries spread the surname to various countries around the world.
Today, the surname Jowette is not particularly common in any specific region, in part because of its relative rarity. It still has some presence in the United Kingdom, specifically in and around the Yorkshire area where it first emerged. Individuals bearing this surname can also be found sporadically in countries that saw significant English immigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite this dispersion, the surname Jowette remains relatively uncommon overall.
Variations of the surname Jowette
The surname Jowette has origins in England. It is derived from the personal name "Jowett," used as a nickname for a Jew, or possibly a pet-form of Julian. There are different variants and alternate spellings of Jowette due to regional pronunciations and phonetic spellings over the centuries. These include Jowitt, Jowet, Jowett, Jowetts, and Jouet.
In some cases, the surname may have originated from a geographical location called Jowett in West Yorkshire, England. Surnames based on locations were often bestowed on individuals who moved from that location, thereby serving as an identifier.
Hence, Jowet and Jowett both have been used as surnames by those who originated from this place. Some French surnames also sound similar, like Jouett, but these may or may not have the same origins.
While researching variants of the surname, it is important to consider potential spelling changes after immigration. In the past, clerks often wrote surnames as they heard them, leading to a varied spelling of the same surname. The name may have also changed in order to assimilate to the culture of a new country.
Over time, these different variations have come to be embraced by different branches of the same family.
Famous people with the name Jowette
- Lawrence Jowette: A former professional cricket player representing England and Surrey.
- Andrew Jowett: An English-Australian film and television director.
- Peter Jowett: A British actor known for Doctor Who, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Wire in the Blood.
- Christopher Jowett: An English-born Australian stage and television actor.
- Joanne Jowett: An Australian actor known for Summer Bay, Kath & Kim and Packed to the Rafters.
- Tiernan Jowette: A Welsh actor known for his roles in Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Lilies .
- Gareth Jowett: An English actor known for Holby City, Awaydays and The Secret of Wealthy People.
- John Jowett: A former English cricketer who represented Nottinghamshire and Somerset.
- Adam Jowett: An English actor known for his role as Pete Barrett in BAFTA nominated drama Skins.
- Rob Jowett: An English film editor known for working on television series such as 24 Hours in A&E.