Contents [hide]

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

Ireland United States New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Sources

Joseph History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Ireland

Etymology of Joseph

What does the name Joseph mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Joseph comes from the baptismal name for the son of Joseph.

"Many of the modern directory Josephs are of Jewish extraction, but there are also a fair number of Josephs who have a purely English descent." 1

Early Origins of the Joseph family

The surname Joseph was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the Latin form Josephus was recorded. 2 Later in Norfolk, Joseph (no forename) was listed at Holme (1141-1149) and later in Lincolnshire in 1187. In Herefordshire, Umfridus filius Josep was found there in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205 and then William Joseph was entered in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1191 and in the Curia Regis Rolls for Suffolk in 1205. 3

Joseph of Exeter, in Latin Joseph Iscanus (fl. 1190), was a mediæval "Latin poet, was, as he tells us himself, a native of Exeter, being the fellow-townsman and lifelong friend of Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury." 4

Early History of the Joseph family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Joseph research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1191, 1205, 1273, 1754, 1764, 1784, 1788, 1790, 1792, 1797, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1815, 1846 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Joseph History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joseph Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Joseph were recorded, including Joseph, Josephs, Josephson and others.

Early Notables of the Joseph family

Distinguished members of the family include

George Francis Joseph (1764-1846), Irish painter. He is said to be a native of Dublin, was born 25 Nov. 1764. He became a student at the Royal Academy in 1784, and in 1792 gained the gold medal for a...
Samuel Joseph (1790-1850), the English sculptor, is said to have been son of the treasurer of St. John's College, Cambridge, although the college registers give no authority for the statement. He was...

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. 5 However, in Canada, the name Joseph is ranked the 415^th most popular surname with an estimated 11,209 people with that name. 6 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Joseph is the 305^th popular surname. 7 France ranks Joseph as 614^th with 7,706 people. 8 Australia ranks Joseph as 579^th with 6,686 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Joseph as 552^nd with 1,273 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Joseph as 891^st with 7,687 people. 11 South Africa ranks Joseph as 321^st with 20,802 people. 12

Migration of the Joseph family to Ireland

Some of the Joseph family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Joseph migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Joseph family emigrate to North America:

Joseph Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Evan Joseph, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 13
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 13
Tobias Joseph, who landed in South Carolina in 1741 13
Georg Henrich Joseph, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 13
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 13
Eugène Joseph, who arrived in New Orleans in 1822
Clemontina Joseph, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 13
Nikolaus Joseph, who arrived in America in 1833 13
Philip Joseph, who arrived in New York in 1836 13
... (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 13
William Henry Joseph, who landed in Alabama in 1920 13

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 14
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 15
Moses Joseph, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 16
Louis Joseph, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Bartlett" in 1847 17
William Joseph, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1848 18
... (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 19
... (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 20
Charles Joseph, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 16th District, 1916; Defeated, 1919 20
... (Another 49 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Joseph Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cas ni charo y wlad a'i mago
Motto Translation: Loathed be he that loveth not his native land

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"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