Surname Jelyn - Meaning and Origin
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Jelyn: What does the surname Jelyn mean?
The surname JELYN is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is a habitational name derived from the a place named Jely, which was found in Hampshire, a county in South England. It’s also possible that the surname was derived from galan which means kindred in ancient Gaelic.
In the Middle Ages, last names were created to help distinguish between two people with the same first name. This could be because people were often given the same first name but they needed to have a unique identifier so people knew who was who in their family, community, or country.
The name JELYN can be found throughout England and the United States, due to its usage by British immigrants and settlers in the 1700s. Today, many people in the United States and Canada have this name as part of their heritage.
JELYN is a surname with a rich and distinct history, reflecting the development of language and culture over centuries. Even today, when surnames are no longer necessary to differentiate people, the name still stands out to remind us of our shared past.
Order DNA origin analysisJelyn: Where does the name Jelyn come from?
The last name Jelyn is most commonly found originating in Haiti. It is an adaptation of the Spanish name Jeline, a surname that was given to someone named after the French name Hélène. Although there have been documented Jelyns in the United States, the first Jelyn to immigrate to America was from St. Domingue (Haiti) in the mid 1800s.
Today, Jelyn is still primarily concentrated in Haiti, especially in the eight administrative departments of the country: Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest and Ouest. These departments are split into 133 communes and 139 municipalities, most of which have reported at least one Jelyn family living in the area.
In parts of the United States, Jelyn is also relatively common. The 2000 U.S. Census reported a population of about 2,300 Jelyns in the United States living mostly in the states of California, New York, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts. Jelyn can also be found in small concentrations in other parts of the world, such as Canada, the Dominican Republic and some countries in Europe.
The Jelyn surname is most closely associated with Haiti, where it is still one of the most common last names. Jelyn families have been living in and contributing to the country for over 100 years, making it a strongly established family name in that region of the world.
Variations of the surname Jelyn
The surname JELYN has a number of variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Some of the variants include JAILIN, JELEN, JEALIN, JILIN, JYLIN, JELEAN, JEALEN, JALIN, JALEN, JYLINN, JEELEN, and JELEEN.
The origin of the surname JELYN can be traced back to Scotland and the borders between there and England. This surname originated from the Old English personal name Giffel or Giffelin, which itself is derived from the words ‘gamp’ (special) and ‘spel’ (a telling). The name was quite popular around 1150 AD and many people had Gifel as a personal name, which through dialectal changes became Jelen. This then evolved into variations such as the ones listed above.
In Scotland, many of the variants of the surname were documented in various charters. The variant JEALIN was noted as one of the several tenants of Alexander de Sevinby in Car Alexander in 1214, and JELEN was noted as a witness to a gift in the church of Melrose in 1240.
In Norway, variants of the surname JELYN are linked to the Valle and Vang districts of southern Norway. In Denmark, it can be linked to the region of Jutland.
No matter where the surname originates from, whether it’s Scotland, Norway, or Denmark, it’s variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin have all contributed to the rich history of the JELYN surname.
Famous people with the name Jelyn
- Zaijian Jaranilla: actor and voice-over artist from the Philippines
- Jennica Garcia: actress from the Philippines
- Jennica Lynn: actress and dancer from the Philippines
- Ladji Jelyn Diakite: Malian-French artist and art director
- Noli Jelyn de Guzman: Filipino actress
- Jelyn Fructuoso: Filipino actress and recording artist
- Jelyn Mercado: former Philippine beauty pageant titleholder
- Jeremiah Jelyn Ysasi: Filipino basketball player
- Lady Mae Jelyn Reyes: Filipino actress
- Bea Jelyn Tambolero: Filipino actress