Meaning & History
Josephs is an English surname derived from the given name Joseph. It is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Joseph," formed by adding the English possessive suffix "-s" to the first name. This type of surname, like many English surnames ending in "-s," originated from the medieval naming practice of identifying a person by their father's name.
Etymology and Origin
The underlying name Joseph has a long history, ultimately from the Hebrew name יוֹסֵף (Yosef), meaning "he will add" or "he will increase," from the root yasaf ("to add, to increase"). In the Old Testament, Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob and the first with his wife Rachel, known for his coat of many colors and his rise to power in Egypt. The New Testament features Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Joseph of Arimathea. As a given name, Joseph was especially common among Jews in the Middle Ages, and later gained popularity among Christians, particularly after the Protestant Reformation in England. Saint Joseph's increasing veneration in the late medieval period also boosted the name's use in Catholic regions like Spain and Italy.
Notable Bearers
Notable individuals with the surname Josephs include South African goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs (born 1980), American football player Joshua Josephs (born 2003), and English composer Wilfred Josephs (1927–1997). Earlier figures include English lexicographer and Hebraist Michael Josephs (1763–1849) and American reality television personality Margaret Josephs (born 1947).
Related Variants
Variant forms of the surname include Josephson (another patronymic) and Joseph itself when used as a surname. Cross-linguistic cognates include Dutch Joosten and Joossens (Flemish), French Joseph, and Central Asian forms such as Yusupov and Yusupova (Uzbek).
- Meaning: "son of Joseph"
- Origin: English patronymic surname
- Derived from biblical Joseph
- Primarily used in English-speaking countries
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Josephs