Map of England showing where the Joslyn arms are recorded
The Joslyn arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1620.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Joslyn arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Joslyn Family in England
The family name Joslyn traces its roots back to ancient Germanic origins, where it evolved from the personal name Gauzlin. This name eventually made its way into England following the Norman Conquest, where it became established among the landed classes. By the early seventeenth century, the family had developed a notable presence in the coastal region of Cornwall. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the family were living in this area during a time of significant social and economic transition in England. As the family grew, they became integrated into the local community, contributing to the agricultural and maritime life that defined the Cornish landscape. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name shifted through various forms, yet it maintained its connection to these early English roots.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Gaut
Derived from the Germanic tribal name for the Goths.
This name
JoslynA surname originating from the medieval given name Joscelin, meaning a member of the Goth tribe.
also spelled
Jocelyn
Josselyn
Joslyn
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Cornwall Archives, Parish Registers of Cornwall, 1620
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
