Joslin Family Name and Heraldry

Your Joslin ancestor may well appear as Gosling in earlier records. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “from Gocelin, or young goose”. Before spelling was fixed, Gosling was also written Joslin. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. Related forms: Goslin.

The 2010 US Census counted 6,868 people named Joslin, ranking it number 5,094 among American surnames. It sits among the 10,000 most common last names in the country. French civil records give 168 births under the name Joslin from 1891 to 2000, peaking in 1981–1990.

Looking for a Joslin coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Want more than a summary? See the Joslin family name pack.