JOWSEY, JOWSIE, JOUSEY, JOWSEE, JOUSSIE, JOUSSEY, JOWSSEY, JOWSSIE, JOWSE, JOWSECY, JOWCEY, JOWICY, JOYSEY, JOICEY, JOICY, JOISSE, JOSSEY, JOUSSI, JOUSIE, JOUCEY, JOUCY, JOUSE, JOWSYE, JOWCY, JOWCYE, JOUSSE, JOUCIE, JOLSEY, JOWESY, JOWSY, JOWSAY, JOWSON, JOYSE, JOYSSE, JOYSSIE, JOYCE, JOYCYE, JOICE, JOISE, JOISEY, JOISCE, JOYCIE, JOYCEE, JOYSEY, JOYSIE, JOYSCEY, JOSS, JOSSE, JOISS, JOSSY, JOSSI, JOSSIE, JOSEY, JOSIE, JOSE, JOCE, JOSI, JOSSIER, JOCYE, JONSIE, JAWSEY, JAUCIE, JOHISIE, JOWIE, JOASS, JOSEA, JES
This unusual surname is one of the Scottish variants of the more familiar name Joyce , which is of English/Irish origin and derives from the medieval French name Josse/Iosse , from the earlier Joceus/Ioceus or Jodocus, Latinized forms of the Breton ( Celtic ) personal name "Iodac", a diminutive of "Iudh", meaning lord. Ioduc (Josse) was the name of a 7th century Breton prince, son of King Juthaêl of Brittany , who abdicated to Sidraga (Schaderias) in northern France, seeking the protection of Haymon, Count
Saint Josse, though never formally canonized , developed a local cultus . The veneration of Saint Josse subsequently spread through the Low Countries , Germany and Scandinavia, regions where variations of Josse, Joos, Joost and the diminutive Jocelyn became popular names. In 903, some monks of the abbey fled the invasion of Vikings (Norsemen) from Scandinavia and took refuge in England, bearing the relics of Saint Josse to Winchester . In 14th century England, Chaucer's Wife of Bath character swears "by God