Surname Josst - Meaning and Origin
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Josst: What does the surname Josst mean?
The last name Josst is an uncommon name derived from the German and Swiss-German language. It is a combination of two given names: Joseph and Johannes. This combination of the two given Germanic names suggests that the person who has this surname has ancestral roots in Germany. This last name could also indicate that a member of the family was once a person of high importance as the name Josst is derived from the Latin form of these names, Joannes and Josephus, meaning "God's Gracious Gift".
The name Josst has many different meanings depending upon the context of its usage. One common interpretation is that it indicates a nation or place of origin, with the "Jo" meaning "God" and the "ss" part coming from a common Swiss-German suffix signifying “from.” This indicates that members of the family are likely to have had ancestors originating from Germany or Switzerland.
The name Josst could also take on a religious meaning, suggesting that the bearer of this last name is a devout and pious individual. The combination of Joseph and Johannes suggests that the bearer could be a religious leader or spiritual authority as both names are integral to the Abrahamic religions. Additionally, according to Genesis, Joseph was a man devoted to God and given the gift of prophecy by God.
In short, the last name Josst is an uncommon German/Swiss-German surname that is most likely of religious or regional origin. The combination of Joseph and Johannes could reference a spiritual authority or a place of origin.
Order DNA origin analysisJosst: Where does the name Josst come from?
The last name Josst is most commonly found today in the German-speaking countries of central Europe, with the highest incidence in the countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is believed to have originated as a topographical name for someone who lived near a stream, derived from the German word "jost" which translates into English as "creek". It is an uncommon name, with fewer than 1,000 people having the last name Josst globally.
In the countries where the last name is most commonly found, there is a large degree of mobility within the population, and historically the number of people with the name Josst has grown or decreased in relation to its national origin. This means that many people living in a given country with the last name Josst may have immigrated from another part of Europe over the last several centuries, resulting in wider dispersal of the surname.
Austria is known to possess the highest population of people with the name Josst, although there are only a few hundred people bearing the surname in the country. Most of these are found in the federal states of Lower Austria, Vienna, and Upper Austria. In Germany, the surname is most common in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg. A smaller number of people with the surname Josst can also be found in Switzerland, primarily in the Canton of Zürich.
In the United States, the last name Josst is very rare, with records only stretching back to the mid-19th century. Most people who currently reside in the US with the last name Josst are descended from German immigrants. However, their exact country of origin may be difficult to determine since many migrated through the port of New York before fanning out to settle in different areas of the country.
Variations of the surname Josst
The surname Josst has many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Variants of Josst include Josste, Joset, Jost, Jusst, Joust, Joost, Josef, Jos, Joester, Joas, Joss, Josse, Josso, Joess, Joce, Joos, Jocelyn, Josslyn, Joscelyn, Jocelin, Jossy, Joicy, Jocey, Joassey, and Jocelete.
Spellings of Josst include Jost, Joust, Joost, Josef, Josso, Joess, Joce, Joos, Joassey, and Jocelete. These spellings are generally phonetic variations of the original surname which are still recognizable.
The surnames of the same origin as Josst range from other versions of the original surname, such as Josse, Josslyn, Joscelyn, Jocelin, Jossy, Joicy, Jocey, and Jocelete, to surnames with similar sounds, such as Joost, Joset, Jusst, Josef, Jos, Joester, Joas, and Joss. Many of these surnames have distinct origin stories, but often trace their roots back to either Germanic or Nordic origins.
The surname Josst is often found in various European countries, but it is most commonly found in German speaking countries as well as some Scandinavian nations. As such, many of the surnames of the same origin as Josst are also found in these locations.
Famous people with the name Josst
- Philippe Josst: French entrepreneur and business executive.
- Christian Josst: French actor and comedian.
- Gérard Josst: Belgian graphic artist.
- Richard Josst: French priest and professor.
- Louis Josst: French Olympic gold medalist in foil fencing.
- Johann Josst: German composer.
- Jean Josst: French politician.
- Paul Josst: German geologist and seismologist.
- Otto Josst: German rower and Olympic medalist.
- Fritz Josst: Austrian lawyer and business executive.
- Louis Josst: Belgian burgomaster and musician.
- Maureen Josst: Canadian artist and educator.
- Zola Josst: German painter and illustrator.
- Jack Josst: American television director.
- Eric Josst: British aviator and World War II veteran.
- Walther Josst: German author and biographer.
- Katharina Josst: German film producer.
- Ernst Josst: Austrian electrical engineer and inventor.
- Richard Josst: German composer and conductor.
- Janette Josst: Dutch painter and sculptor.