Justus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

Etymology of Justus

What does the name Justus mean?

As early as c. 1172, this name was used by judicial officers or judges and it is from this source the surname was more than likely derived. While there may have been Norman roots at La Justice in Normandy, the name was more likely an occupational name for someone who held the office of "the justice," in other words a judge.

Saint Justus (d. 627), was the fourth Archbishop of Canterbury, sent in 601 from Rome by Pope Gregory along with Laurentius, Mellitus, and others to reinforce the Kentish mission. Justus died on 10 Nov. 627, and was buried in St. Peter's porch at St. Augustine's, Canterbury. 1

Early Origins of the Justus family

The surname Justus was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, and Angus where one of the first records of the name was Patrick Justyce as a tenant of the mill at Kelso in 1472. Just two years later, Patrick Justice, a priest who witnessed an instrument of sasine in this shire in 1474. As the forename Patrick was not very popular at this time, these two references may be the same person. The lands of James Justeis and Thomas Justeis are mentioned in Scone in 1491. 2

The variants Jewson and Juson were mostly found further south in England. This illustrious family were originally found in Colchester, Essex where Richard Juwesone, Jullesome, Jullesone was recorded in 1333, 1340 and 1341. 3 It is generally thought the entries were all for the same person.

Early History of the Justus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Justus research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1450, 1567, 1600, 1673, 1745 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Justus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Justus Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Justice, Justine, Justus and others.

Early Notables of the Justus family

More information is included under the topic Early Justus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Justus Ranking

In the United States, the name Justus is the 4,393^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4

Justus migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Justus Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Justus, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1764 5

Justus Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Johann Justus, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1806 5
Anthony Justus, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Maryland in 1840 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Justus (post 1700) +

Larry Thomas Justus (1932-2002), American politician, Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
May Justus (1898-1989), American author of children's books; she received the Julia Ellsworth Ford Prize in 1935 and 1936
Carolyn King Justus, American politician, Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly
Jolie L Justus (b. 1971), American lawyer and politician from Missouri, Member of the Missouri Senate (2007-)
Jolie Justus, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Missouri, 2008 6
Jeff Justus, American Republican politician, Elected Missouri State House of Representatives 156th District 2012 6
Irving J. Justus, American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Beacon, New York, 1934-37 6
Anna Justus, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Montana, 1944 6
Julian Justus (b. 1988), German sports shooter at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Steffen Justus (b. 1982), German triathlete at the 2012 Summer Olympics
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Justus Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non sine causa
Motto Translation: Not without a cause.

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html