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The son of Juliana, from the martyr of that name, beheaded at Nicomedia under Galerius. Popular at an early period, both in the Low Countries and in Normandy. It attained such favour in England that Jack and Jill took the place of Godric and Godgivu as representatives of the sexes. The ordinary form was Julyan and Gillian, in which latter shape it reached the 16th century. The diminutive was Juliet, a name later on to be made famous forever. This was ordinarily corrupted to or modified into Juet, Jewett, or Jowett. Hence the various Jewitts, Jewetts, Jowetts, and Jowitts, also Jewitsons, Jowetsons, Jewisons, and Jewsons. Besides Juliet there was the corresponding form Gillot or Gillet. But English Gilletts and Gillotts must be referred to William. From Juliet or Gilot we got 'jilt.' Constant association with Jack made it a cant term for an inconsistant girl: "All shall be well, Jack shal have Gill; Nay, nay, Gill is wedded to Will."
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