JOCELIN: A double diminutive from Josse, for the Breton saint-name Jodoc or Judoc (from Breton jud, 'fighter'; Latinized Jodocus). Jodocus (+669), an Armorican prince of Welsh extraction, became a hermit at Ponthieu, where he is still remembered as S. Josse. In Cornwall he is commemorated as S. Just. Jocelin or Goscelin was elected bishop of Glasgow in 1174 and died 1199 (Dowcen, p. 298—299) Gocelinus, archdeacon of Dunkeld, c. 1188 (Scon, p. 27; RAA., I, p. 141). Gilbert, son of Jocennus or Goscelinus, burgess of Aberdeen, c. 1189—99 (RAA., I, p. 57,136). Jocelin hostiarins to King William the Lion, a. 1214 (RAA., I, p. 260). Gocelin de Balliol, brother of John Balliol, in record, 1260 (LAC., p. 152). William Gocelyn of Scotland rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 203). Gocelyn is a variant spelling of the name.

V. Joscelin. &c.

(English) Descendant of Jocelyn or Joscelin (the just).

Lord Roden's family are "of Norman origin, said to have come into England with William the Conqueror, and to have been seated at Sempringham, co, Lincoln, by the grant of that monarch." Shirley's Noble and Gentle Men.

Corruptions of the personal name Joscelyne.

A branch of the Barons of Briquebec: see Mitford. The first Baron of B. had two sons: Oslac, ancestor of the Barons of B.; 2, Amfrid the Dane. The latter had two sons, Turstan Goz, ancestor of the house of Avranches, Earls of Chester, and William. The latter was Baron of Bee and ancestor of the Barons of Bec-Crespin. Bis son or grandson, Gilbert Crespin, Baron of B. and Castellan of Tillieres, aided 1034 in founding the Abbey of Bee. He had, 1, William, 2, Gilbert de Tillieres. William II. of Bee supported Duke William against the French in 1054 (Wace, ii. 73), and came to England 1066. Be had, 1, William; 2, Gislebert, Abbot of Westminster; 3, Milo, a great baron 1086, who d. s. p. William III. of Bec had Jocelyn Crispin, Baron of Bec, who combated Henry I. at the Battle of Nogent, but was pardoned. In 1158 he paid fines for his lands in Essex and Hertford (Rot. Pip.). In 1165 he still possessed Bee, but is not mentioned in England, having transferred his estates to his younger sons, William and Robert. Of these, William Fitz-Jocelyn, 1165, held two fees in Essex, and Robert Fitz- Jocelyn one in Hertford (Liber Niger). The former had issue Richard Fitzwilliam, who occurs in Essex and Herts, 1203 (Rotulus Cancellarii). Jocelyn Fitz-Richard, his son, occurs in Hertford (Rotuli Curiae Regis); and William Fitz-Richard held the estates in Essex, 1236 (Testa de Neville), which, however, appear to have passed to the descendants of Jocelyn. Thomas Jocelyn of Herts, 1248, acquired Hyde in that county by marriage (Morant, i. 466). Ralph, his son and heir, in 1315 was assessor of aids in Herts (Parliamentary Writs). His descendants always held estates in Essex and Herts (Morant), and from them descended Robert Jocelyn of Hyde, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, ancestor of the Earls of Roden. Genealogists have furnished a fabulous pedigree for this family.

Joslin or Josling is a corruption of Jocelyn, Josceline, or Josselyn, the name of an ancient knightly Essex family of Hyde Hall that held the manor of High Roding and other extensive estates in this and the surrounding counties as far back as the 16th century (M.). The name is also established in the adjoining county of Suffolk.