Jew Family History

Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 周 see Zhou Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 趙 and 招 see Zhao 1 and English: nickname from Middle English Jeu Old French giu ‘Jew’ applied to someone (whether Jewish or not) who was suspected of usury or who drove a hard bargain.

In medieval England only Jews could legally lend money for profit but they were expelled in 1290 and were not officially allowed to return and settle until the late 17th century well after the main period of English surname creation.

English: from the Middle English personal name Jewe also found as Julle, Gelle, Golle, Jowe, and Juwe, a pet form of the male name Julian or the female name Juliane (also Gellian).

See Julian and compare Gill 3 and Gillian.