Surname Jowit - Meaning and Origin
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Jowit: What does the surname Jowit mean?
The surname Jowit is of medieval English origin and is a diminutive form of the given name John, coined with the Middle English suffix "-it". "John" originates from Hebrew meaning "Jehovah has been gracious." The "it" suffix suggests an endearing or pet name. Therefore, taken together, Jowit could roughly translate to "beloved or dear John". Surnames like this would have been used during the Middle Ages for people who were commonly referred to by these pet names. The surname has different variations including Jowett, Jewett, Jowitt, and Joett. As with many surnames, it evolved over time due to its phonetic spelling and variants have emerged due to different regional accents and dialects. The earliest instance of the name is found in Yorkshire, England in the late 1200s.
Order DNA origin analysisJowit: Where does the name Jowit come from?
The last name Jowit is of Anglo-Saxon origin from the Old French personal names "Jewet" and "Juwet". These names prominently appeared in the historical English county of Yorkshire and eventually transformed into several variations such as Jowit, Jowett, Jewett, and others.
It originated from a baptismal name 'the son of Jowet'. "Jowet" was a diminutive of the Old French personal name "Jou", introduced into England by the Normans during the major periods of immigration in the 11th century, and derived from the old German word "Gaut", which was originally a tribal name.
As of now, Jowit may not very common globally, but it has good representation in England. Over the years, many individuals with this surname might have dispersed and settled into different corners of the world, causing a reduction in its density in any one area. However, it can be found in modern-day Great Britain, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Still, it is over-represented in Yorkshire and surrounding areas, which historically has been its stronghold.
Variations of the surname Jowit
The surname Jowit has several variants and alternative spellings that may have been used throughout history or in different regions. Some of these variations include:
Jowett, Jewett, Jouet, Jowette, Jowit, Jowet, Jowatt, Juett, Jowitt, Juet, Jowets, Jowuts, Jewit, Jewitt, and so on.
Many of these surnames may also have been used as occupational or location-based names in medieval England. For instance, 'Jouet' or 'Juet' might be related to jewel-making or jousting, while 'Jowet' could possibly mean 'jewel' in the native tongue.
The surname 'Jowit' itself is of early medieval English origin. It's believed to have originated from two possible sources; firstly, it may be a diminutive of the Middle English given name 'Jew', a variant of 'Julian' or 'Julius'. Alternatively, it could be from the Middle English term 'jowet', meaning 'sweetheart' or 'darling'.
The surname, regardless of spelling, is especially associated with Yorkshire in England, but people with these names can be found throughout the United Kingdom, as well as in countries where English-speaking people have migrated, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Jowit
- Emily Jowitt: British Labour Party politician
- David Jowitt: British law professor
- Kim Jowitt: British anesthesiologist
- Judith Jowitt: British political scientist
- Margaret Jowitt: British Labour Party politician
- Stefan Jowitt: British playwright and theatre director
- Anthony Jowitt: Australian Supreme Court Justice
- Jamie Jowitt: British professional footballer
- Loretto Jowitt: British wheelchair racing champion
- John Jowitt: British composer and bassist