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Joss is a shortening of the original Russian/ Lithuanian name of Joselowitz. "Owitz" is Russian for "Son of" so Joselowitz means 'Son of Josel" When Jews were forced to choose a surname by the Russian government for census purposes, many went back to the original Hebrew name which was expressed as for example, "David, son of Aaron".. (David Ben Aharon".) So at that time, our ancestors used their Hebrew name to select a surname, hence Joselowitz or "Son of Josel."
According to the Lithuanian marriage records which are available online, "Khaim Yoseliovich" (my grandfather) married "Nekha Nariunsky" (my grandmother) on July 24th, 1901 in Kaunus Lithuania (also known as Kovno). Khaim was 20 years old and Nekha was 28 at the time. The witnesses to the wedding were Mortkhel Leizer Bender and Icyk Mones. Check this out online under "Jewish Geneology - Lithuania Marriages and Divorces" - www.data. jewishgen.org The listings are alphabetical so look for "Yoseliovich".)