Just

Recorded in the spellings of Just, Juste, Gaster, Gister, Goster, Jewster, Juster and possibly others, this is a surname of probably pre medieval French origins. It would seem to derive from the Latin word 'justus' and if so was probably introduced into England by the Norman-French invaders after the famous conquest of 1066, although it is possible that it was earlier. It is reasonable to assume that it was originally a metonymic or nickname for a person who was considered to be 'just', or who dispenced justice, although this may not have been a judge or similar dignitary. Indeed some of the early recordings suggest that it may have been satirical for a person considered the opposite of just! An early recording is that of Gilbertus Juste in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Lincoln in the year 1203. It is said that the baptismal name first reached prominence in the 4th century a.d. when one 'Justus' was appointed as the bishop of Lyon, in France. In so far that it achived popularity in England, the surname seems to be most associated with the county of Suffolk in East Anglia. There two brothers Martin and Roger Just are recorded in the pipe rolls for the county for the year 1292, these people being particularly associated with the village of Thurlestone, whilst Thomas le Guste appears in the Subsidy Rolls of the county of Somerset in 1327. This recording suggests that Thomas was not so 'just'. Jonathan Juster is also recorded as Jonathon Jewster in the registers of St Ann Blackfriars in the city of London between November 16th 1651 and November 4th 1653!