Show ContentsGosselin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Gosselin

What does the name Gosselin mean?

Gosselin is one of the thousands of new names that the Norman Conquest of 1066 brought to England. It comes from the Germanic given name Gozzelin, which is a diminutive that translates as the little god. The surname Gosselin was formed in the vernacular or regional naming tradition, which is the oldest and most pervasive type of patronymic surname. According to this custom, names were originally composed of vocabulary elements from the local language. Vernacular names were widespread throughout Normandy. Accordingly, many typical English and French names are in fact, originally of Germanic origin and often have cognates in other European countries.

Early Origins of the Gosselin family

The surname Gosselin was first found in Jersey where the earliest on record was Robert Gosselin who was made Governor of the fortress of Mont Orgueil after saving the fort from the French.

However, Cheshire may be an early origin of the family too, as Henry Goseling was listed there in the Assize Rolls for 1260. Years later, Robert Goseling and Maud Gosselyng were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Cheshire in 1327. "Gosling is, no doubt, often a late development of Goslin." 1

"A family of Norman origin who have long resided in Guernsey. They claim descent from Robert Gosselin, who for eminent services in the rescue of Mont Orgueil from the French in 1339, is said to have been made governor of that fortress, and to have received from Edward III. a grant of the arms now borne by his descendants." 2

Early History of the Gosselin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gosselin research. Another 46 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1229, 1529, 1566, 1603, 1614, 1619, 1621, 1626, 1632, 1678, 1679, 1693, 1696, 1704, 1733, 1758 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Gosselin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gosselin Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Gosselin family name include Gosselin, Goselin, Goselyn, Goslin, Gosline, Gosling, Gosslyn, Gossling, Gosselyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Gosselin family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Joscelyn or Josselin (1529-1603), Latin secretary to Archbishop Parker and Anglo-Saxon scholar, third surviving son of Sir Thomas Josselin of Hyde Hall, Hertfordshire, and High Roding, Essex, a direct descendant from Sir Thomas Jocelyn, who was knighted in 1229, and belonged to an ancient family of Brittany. 3 John Gostlin or Gostlyn MD (c. 1566-1626), was an English academic and physician, Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge from 1619 till his death in 1626 and Regius Professor of Physic. Also a politician, he was Member of Parliament for Barnstaple, Devon (1614-1621.) 3 Ralph...
Another 140 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gosselin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gosselin World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gosselin is the 5,064th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Gosselin is ranked the 161st most popular surname with an estimated 21,575 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Gosselin is the 50th popular surname. 6 France ranks Gosselin as 498th with 8,996 people. 7

Migration of the Gosselin family to Ireland

Some of the Gosselin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Gosselin migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Gosselin family to immigrate North America:

Gosselin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Gabriel Gosselin, who landed in South Carolina in 1756 8
  • Andreas and Barbara Gosselin, who settled in Charles Town in 1766
Gosselin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Gosselin, who arrived in New York in 1821
  • Felex Gosselin, aged 17, who immigrated to the United States from Paris, in 1899
Gosselin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Emma Gosselin, aged 24, who settled in America from Cettavre, France, in 1912
  • Alfred Gosselin, aged 57, who landed in America from Paris, France, in 1915
  • Georges Gosselin, aged 22, who landed in America from Bordeaux, France, in 1919
  • Berthe Gosselin, aged 42, who settled in America from Paris, France, in 1920
  • Henri Gosselin, aged 54, who immigrated to the United States from Havre, France, in 1920
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gosselin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gosselin Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Gabriel Gosselin, originally of Normandy, who settled in Champlain in the middle of the 17th century. He married Françoise Lelièvre in Quebec, the 18th of August, 1653
  • Gabriel Gosselin, son of Nicolas and Marguerite, who married Françoise Lelievre, daughter of Christophe and Georgette, in Quebec on 18th August 1653 9
  • Nicolas Gosselin, son of Nicolas and Marguerite, who married Louise Guillot, daughter of Godfroy and Marie, in Sainte-Famille, Quebec on 4th october 1677 9
  • Ignace Gosselin, son of Gabriel and Françoise, who married Marie-Anne Ratté, daughter of Jacques and Anne, in Saint-Pierre-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 23rd November 1683 9
  • Michel Gosselin, son of Gabriel and Françoise, who married Marie-Michelle Miville, daughter of François and Marie, in Quebec on 12th November 1684 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gosselin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Pierre Gosselin, son of Gabriel and Louise, who married Marie-Madeleine Garinet, daughter of François and Constance, in Rimouski, Quebec on 1st September 1701 9
  • Louis Gosselin, son of Gabriel and Louise, who married Jeanne-Marguerite Du Roy, daughter of Pierre and Marguerite, in Quebec on 23rd November 1711 9
  • Ignace Gosselin, son of Ignace and Marie-Anne, who married Marguerite Godbout, daughter of Antoine and Marguerite, in Saint-Laurent, Quebec on 25th February 1714 9
  • Gabriel Gosselin, son of Hyacinthe and Marie, who married Marie-Anne Renaud, daughter of Joseph and Marie, in Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Quebec on 10th August 1716 9
  • François Gosselin, son of Ignace and Marie-Anne, who married Françoise Lemelin, daughter of Louis and Marie-Anne, in Saint-Laurent-de-lîle-d'Orléans, Quebec on 11th February 1716 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gosselin Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Dominique Gosselin, aged 45, who settled in Quebec, Canada, in 1922

Gosselin migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 10
Gosselin Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Gosselin, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • William Gosselin, aged 21, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 8
  • Mr. William Gosselin, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Gosselin (post 1700) +

  • Robert Gosselin, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives 42nd District; Elected 1998 12
  • Antonio Gosselin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for New Hampshire Governor's Council 3rd District, 1956 12
  • Thomas le Marchant Gosselin (1765-1857), English admiral, second son of Colonel Joshua Gosselin of the militia 13
  • Edward W. Gosselin (1917-1941), US Navy officer killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, eponym of the USS Gosselin (APD-126)
  • Marcel Gosselin (b. 1920), preacher, born at Wasmes (Belgium), the son of Narcisse Gosselin, director of a music-school, and Alphonise Huart
  • Charles Gosselin (b. 1929), prefect and a member of the French State Council, born in Argenteuil (Seine-et-Aise), married Jacqueline Fescher in 1955. In 1988, he was elevated to advisor to Michel Rocard (Prime Minister of France) and State Councillor
  • Gaston Gosselin (b. 1918), reporter and the director of a paper, the son of Victor Gosselin, a civil servant, and of Augustine Roussel. Honored officer of the Legion of Honor, French military decoration, Medal of the Resistance, and knight of the insignia of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, he acted as director-chief of publications of the Society of Publications and Periodicals and Press-publication since 1963
  • Mario Gosselin (b. 1971), Canadian professional racecar driver
  • Mario Gosselin (b. 1963), Canadian NHL ice hockey player
  • Jean-François Gosselin (b. 1975), Canadian politician
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Louis Gosselin (1870-1914), Canadian First Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 14
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Joseph Adjutor Gosselin, American Radioman First Class from Massachusetts, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15
  • Mr. Edward Webb Gosselin, American Ensign from Illinois, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  6. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  11. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020
  14. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  15. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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