Contents [hide]

Joseph History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Joseph History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

Etymology of Joseph

What does the name Joseph mean?

The prominent surname Joseph originated in France, a country which has been a dominant presence in world affairs for centuries.The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in France were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. As well as the names of the saints of the Christian Church, many of the most common French surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. The name Joseph is derived from the Hebrew given name Yosef, which is familiar from The Bible, and means May he (God) add another son.

Early Origins of the Joseph family

The surname Joseph was first found in Maine, where the family was anciently seated.

Early History of the Joseph family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joseph research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1577, 1638, 1680 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Joseph History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joseph Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Joseph, José, Jauzé, Joséphine, Josette and many more.

Early Notables of the Joseph family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

François Leclerc du Tremblay Joseph

Joseph World Ranking

In the United States, the name Joseph is the 384^th most popular surname with an estimated 72,123 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Joseph is ranked the 415^th most popular surname with an estimated 11,209 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Joseph is the 305^th popular surname. 3 France ranks Joseph as 614^th with 7,706 people. 4 Australia ranks Joseph as 579^th with 6,686 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Joseph as 552^nd with 1,273 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Joseph as 891^st with 7,687 people. 7 South Africa ranks Joseph as 321^st with 20,802 people. 8

Joseph migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Joseph Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Evan Joseph, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 9
Bonaventure Joseph, who settled in America around 1658

Joseph Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jurig Joseph, who arrived in New York in 1709 9
Tobias Joseph, who landed in South Carolina in 1741 9
Georg Henrich Joseph, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 9
Captain Joseph to Boston in 1768
Henry Joseph to America in 1772

Joseph Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Salomon Joseph, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 9
Eugène Joseph, who arrived in New Orleans in 1822
Clemontina Joseph, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 9
Nikolaus Joseph, who arrived in America in 1833 9
Philip Joseph, who arrived in New York in 1836 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Joseph Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Hermann Joseph, who arrived in Arkansas in 1903 9
William Henry Joseph, who landed in Alabama in 1920 9

Joseph migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Joseph Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Udin Joseph, (b. 1806), aged 13, English seaman who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), listed as absconded 10
Mr. Philip Joseph, (Josephs, Moses), (b. 1798), aged 22, British Hawker who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1855 11
Moses Joseph, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
Louis Joseph, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Bartlett" in 1847 13
William Joseph, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1848 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Joseph migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Joseph Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Jacob Joseph, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Exporter
Moses Joseph, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Hyam Joseph, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Exporter
Israel Joseph, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
Mr. J. Joseph, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Prince of Wales" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 3rd January 1843 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Joseph (post 1700) +

Carlos Joseph (1980-2021), American professional football offensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes
James A. Joseph (1935-2023), American diplomat, born in Plaisance, Louisiana, President of the Cummins Engine Foundation from 1971-1976, , U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, 1995-1999
Anton Joseph (1923-2009), American Minnesota politician
Quinton Joseph (b. 1946), American rhythm and blues artist
Jackie Joseph (b. 1934), American comedy actress, remembered for her role in the original 'Little Shop of Horrors'
Thomas Joseph, American lawyer and politician, who served in Vietnam War 1969-1970, was governor of Pennsylvania 1995-2001, and the 1st Secretary of Homeland Security 2003-
Salvatore Joseph, American jazz pianist and composer
John Joseph, three-time Academy Award and seven time Golden Globe winning American film actor
Charles Joseph, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1960 16
Charles Joseph, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 16th District, 1916; Defeated, 1919 16
... (Another 47 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN BARTLETT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847JohnBartlett.gif
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Hooghly.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html