Surname "Jolly"?

Question:

Surname "Jolly"?

Is "Jolly" a perversion of something else, like "Jolie"?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: ENGLISH
The jolly surname originated in France, and was associated with the French Huguenots. It was transported to England after the family left France to avoid religious persecution. England was thought to be a country that was more tolerant of religious differences, and so it was that the jolly family took up residence there.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Jollie, Jolley, Jolly, Jollys and others.

First found in Edinburghshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Francis Jolly, who settled in Virginia in 1648; John Jolly settled in Virginia in 1637; along with Joseph, Marjorie, Mary; David, George, Thomas and Edward Jolly all arrived in Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1860.

FRENCH
Spelling variations of this family name include: Joly, Joli, Jolis, Jolly, Jolie, Jollie, Jolley, Joley, Jouly, Jouli, De Joly, De Joli, De Jolly, De Jolie, De Jollie, De Jolley, De Joley, De Jouley and many more.

First found in Languedoc, where this impressive family has been seated since early times.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Edward Joly settled in Philadelphia in 1878; Jacques Joly settled in Philadelphia in 1803; Vincent Joly, aged 28; settled in New York in 1882; John Jolly settled in Virginia in 1636.

Surname: Jolly
Jolley is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These nicknames were given with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, or to habits of dress and occupation. In this instance, the derivation is from the Middle English and Old French "joli(f)", merry, lively, appy, originally denoting someone of a cheerful disposition. Perhaps the ultimate origin of the word lies in the Old Norse "jol", the midwinter festival when people celebrated the gradual lengthening of the days. This festival was later appropriated by the Christian Church for celebration of the birth of Christ. Jolley is found recorded all over the British Isles as would be expected of a soubriquet handed down as being complimentary. Early examples of the surname include: John le Goly (Wiltshire, 1275), and Henricus Joly (Yorkshire, 1379). Recordings from London Church Registers include: the christening of Thomas, son of William Jolly, on March 10th 1595, at St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, and the christening of Barbara, daughter of William and Katherine Jolly, on November 26th 1637, at St. Andrew's, Holborn. The family Coat of Arms is a silver shield with a red mullet between three black pheons. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Jolif, which was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.