Surname Jewel - Meaning and Origin
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Jewel: What does the surname Jewel mean?
The surname Jewel is of English origin and is believed to be derived from the old French word "jouel," which means 'treasure' or 'priceless thing', later incorporated into Middle English as "jewel." It was often given as a nickname during the Middle Ages to someone who was highly valued or loved - much like a precious gem or jewel. In some cases, the surname may have been used to denote someone who was a jeweler or made a living dealing with precious stones. Like many surnames, over time, spelling variations of this name have emerged including Jewell, Jowell, Jowle, Jouel, and others. However, its meaning remained the same signifying something precious. Therefore, the surname Jewel generally signifies preciousness, value, or rarity, much like the gemstones it represents.
Order DNA origin analysisJewel: Where does the name Jewel come from?
The surname Jewel is of English origin. It dates back to the medieval period and is derived from a medieval nickname for someone who was precious or valued, from the Middle English, Old French "jouel" meaning "jewel" or "plaything". Jewel as a surname first surfaced in Cornwall, England, where a family held a family seat from ancient times.
In today's context, Jewel is not a very common surname. According to Forebears, it is most common in the United States where it ranked 4,210th in 2014 and about 20,000 people bear this surname. It's also found, though less common, in England (mainly in the regions of South West and Yorkshire and the Humber), Australia, Canada, and Wales. It's rare in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Based on the current population distribution, the surname Jewel is most prevalent in the United States.
Variations of the surname Jewel
The surname Jewel has seen several variations over the centuries due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Some of its most common variants include Jewell, Jewelle, Juel, Juell, Jowell, Jowle, and Jowett.
Loss of letters or phonemes can cause names like Jewel to become Juel or even Uel. Similarly, doubling of letters can result in Jewell or Jewelle. In some cases, the 'e' at the end might fall off due to pronunciation changes or spelling errors, leading to names like Jowel or Jowl.
The suffix '-ett' is commonly used in English surnames to denote 'little' or 'belonging to.' Hence, Jowett could have originally been used to refer to the offspring or someone belonging to the Jewel family.
Well-documented surnames of the same origin include Joule and Jules, which similarly stem from the Old French 'jouel' meaning 'gem.'
Some surnames have evolved from first names or occupations related to jewels or jewelry, such as Goldsmith or Diamond. However, these do not share an etymological origin with Jewel.
In terms of actual origin, Jewel name first appeared in Cornwall, one of the most southwestern regions in England known for its distinct Celtic heritage separate from the rest of England.
However, please remember that surnames and their variants can be highly specific to individual families and regional histories, hence considerable variations are possible.
Famous people with the name Jewel
- Jewel Staite: Canadian actress, known for her roles in television series like Stargate Atlantis, Firefly and The Killing.
- Jewel Kilcher: American singer-songwriter, actress and poet, best known for chart-topping hits like “Who Will Save Your Soul” and “Foolish Games."
- Jewel Akens: American R&B singer best known for his 1965 hit “The Birds and the Bees.”
- Jewel De’Nyle: American former adult film actress and director.
- Jewel McCabe: British actor, host and entrepreneur.
- Jewel Taylor: Liberian politician, former First Lady of Liberia and current Vice President of the country.
- Jewel Blanch Graham: American accountant and the first African-American woman to be certified with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
- Jewel Zellerbach: American heiress and philanthropist, member of the Zellerbach family.
- Caroline Jewel: Singer-songwriter, pianist and producer based in New York City.
- Jake Jewel: American actor, singer and songwriter.