NameCensus.

UK surname

Joslyn

Derived from a place name meaning "Jocelyn's estate," referring to a Norman French personal name from the Middle Ages.

In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Joslyn surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 166, ranked #22,140, down from #18,412 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Witham and Tawstock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Kingston upon Thames and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joslyn is 179 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.9%.

1881 census count

113

Ranked #18,412

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2011

179 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Joslyn had 113 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,412 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Joslyn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Joslyn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Joslyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joslyn over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 38 #26,502
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 113 #18,412
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 91 #23,921
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 170 #19,505
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 156 #21,650
2008 modern 163 #21,238
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Joslyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Witham, Tawstock, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Ilfracombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Kingston upon Thames, Hertsmere, South Oxfordshire and Spelthorne. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Witham Essex
3 Tawstock Devon
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Ilfracombe Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
2 Kingston upon Thames 018 Kingston upon Thames
3 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
4 South Oxfordshire 015 South Oxfordshire
5 Spelthorne 008 Spelthorne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joslyn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Joslyn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Joslyn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Joslyn, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Joslyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Joslyn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Joslyn is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Joslyn is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Joslyn falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Joslyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Joslyn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Joslyn

The surname Joslyn is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Gislheard, which was composed of the elements "gis" meaning hostage and "heard" meaning hardy or brave. Over time, this name evolved into various spellings including Joslin, Josselyn, Jocelin, and Jocelyn.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Joslyn can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gislibertus" and "Gislebertus". These entries refer to individuals who held lands in various counties across England after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, there are records of a prominent family bearing the name Jocelyn, who held estates in Hertfordshire and Essex. One notable member was Sir Ralph Jocelyn (c. 1220-1292), who served as Lord of the Manor of Hyde Hall in Hertfordshire and was a knight of the shire for that county.

During the 14th century, the Joslyn name appears in various records from the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. One notable figure from this period was John Josselyn (c. 1330-1399), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Midhurst in Sussex.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Joslyn name gained prominence in the New World, with several individuals bearing this surname arriving in the British colonies of North America. One of the earliest recorded instances was Henry Joslyn (c. 1590-1672), who settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s and was one of the founders of the town of Hingham.

Another notable figure was John Joslyn (1638-1712), a merchant and landowner in Rhode Island, who served as the Attorney General of the colony and played a significant role in its early political affairs.

In the 18th century, the Joslyn name was well-established in various parts of New England, with several prominent families emerging in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. One notable individual was Ralph Joslyn (1717-1795), a militia captain and landowner in Connecticut during the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Joslyn name continued to be associated with various notable individuals, including Merritt Joslyn (1810-1899), a successful businessman and philanthropist in Omaha, Nebraska, and Mathew Joslyn (1835-1905), a prominent lawyer and judge in New York.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Joslyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Joslyn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 32 Joslyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.45x.

County Total Index
Essex 32 14.45x
Devon 18 7.71x
Surrey 12 2.20x
Glamorgan 11 5.63x
Somerset 9 4.98x
Hertfordshire 8 10.35x
Suffolk 8 5.85x
Kent 5 1.31x
Lancashire 3 0.23x
Middlesex 3 0.27x
Channel Islands 2 6.02x
Dorset 2 2.72x
Cumberland 1 1.04x
Hampshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilfracombe in Devon leads with 10 Joslyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 416.67x.

Place Total Index
Ilfracombe 10 416.67x
Colchester Holy Trinity 9 1836.73x
Swansea Town 9 56.21x
Bedminster 8 47.14x
Holton St Mary 8 13333.33x
Colchester St Peter 7 786.52x
Great Hormead 7 3500.00x
Manningtree 7 1944.44x
Camberwell 6 8.37x
Lamarsh 6 5454.55x
Canterbury St Mary 5 194.55x
Crediton 4 181.00x
Southwark Christchurch 4 76.05x
Tawstock 3 731.71x
Widnes 3 31.25x
Fordington 2 125.79x
Great Waltham 2 222.22x
Lambeth 2 2.04x
St Helier 2 18.48x
Ashford 1 112.36x
Bishopston Higher 1 1250.00x
Bishopston Lower 1 714.29x
Christchurch 1 20.04x
Fremington 1 212.77x
Mile End Old Town London 1 4.19x
Skilgate 1 1250.00x
St Martin In Fields 1 14.88x
Stapleford Tawney 1 1111.11x
Watford 1 16.67x
Workington 1 18.08x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Joslyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Florence 2
Phoebe 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Classey 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jemina 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Joslyn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 9
James 6
George 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
John 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Frank 2
Sidney 2
Alfred 1
Bertie 1
Carche 1
Charles 1
Chas.W. 1
Chas.William 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Gorner 1
Johnothan 1
Mark 1
Morris 1
Oxsborn 1
Spencer 1
Theophilus 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Joslyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Joslyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Joslyn surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Joslyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Joslyn a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Joslyn surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Jocelyn's estate," referring to a Norman French personal name from the Middle Ages.

What does the Joslyn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Joslyn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.