Joule (surname)

The surname Joule is of English origin. It is believed to be derived from the Old French "Jöel" or "Jouel," which are pet forms of the personal name "Josse," a Breton name meaning "lord." Alternatively, it could be a nickname for a lively or cheerful person, derived from the Old French word "jouel" meaning "jewel" or "plaything." The name is most prominently associated with the physicist James Prescott Joule.

The distribution of the surname is primarily within English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States. Variations in spelling are relatively uncommon.

Notable people with the surname Joule include:

• James Prescott Joule (1818-1889): A British physicist, best known for his research on electricity and thermodynamics, leading to the formulation of Joule's law and the Joule as a unit of energy.