Jopson

This interesting name is the patronymic form of the surname "Job", which has four possible origins. The first derives from the Hebrew personal name "Iyor" or "Job", meaning "persecuted one", which was borne by the biblical character who is the central figure of the "Book of Job". From this came the nickname "Job", applied to a "wretched creature" or possibly one tormented with boils, as Job was. The Old French "job" or "joppe", was also a nickname for a "sorry wretch", probably in a transferred sense from the biblical character. The third possible origin is from the Middle English "jubbe" or "jobbe", meaning a large vessel containing four gallons, where the surname would be a metonymic occupational name for a cooper. Finally, the name may derive from the Old French "jube", a long woollen garment and have been given to a maker or seller of these garments. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Jopson. which was dated 1382, in the "Records of the Abbey of Whitby", Yorkshire. during the reign of King Richard 11, known as "Richard of Bordeaux" 1377 - 1399. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.