Jep is an obsolete English masculine given name, originating as a medieval diminutive of Geoffrey. The name Geoffrey itself came to England through the Normans, derived from a Frankish name whose precise etymology is uncertain: the second element is Old High German fridu "peace", while the first element could be *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe), gawi "territory", or walah "foreigner". Additionally, Geoffrey may have merged with the distinct name Godfrey (meaning "divine peace") in the later Middle Ages.As a diminutive, Jep would have been used as a short form or pet name among English speakers during the medieval period, but it eventually fell out of common use. The standard longer form Geoffrey (often spelled Jeffrey in modern times) revived in the 20th century, but Jep remains noncurrent. It shows a typical English diminutive pattern, such as the more common variant Geoff and the nickname Jeff.Notably, in Catalan, Jep also exists but as a diminutive of Josep (Joseph), with derived forms such as Jepet, Jepó, and Jepot. However, the two names are etymologically unrelated despite their similar forms. The English name Jep is historically connected only to Geoffrey, not to Joseph.Surname descendants of the Jep form include the English patronymics Jephson and Jepson, which attest to its earlier usage in medieval England.Notable BearersNo historically notable individuals are recorded under the name Jep in English literature or records; given its rarity and obsolescence as a separate given name, it primarily survives in records as an intimate form used within families or small communities. Its revival is unlikely, unlike the related Geoffroy, Joffrey, or Jofre in other European linguistic traditions.Meaning: Diminutive of Geoffrey, ultimately from Old Germanic elements meaning "Geat" or "territory" and "peace"Origin: Medieval English, Norman French, Frankish rootsType: Diminutive, now obsoleteUsage Regions: England (medieval history), also a separate diminutive in Catalan for Josep