Joseph Family History

English, French, German, Jewish, West Indian (mainly Haiti), and African (mainly Tanzania and Nigeria) are all derived from the personal name Joseph, which has its roots in the Hebrew Yosef meaning ‘may He (God) add (another son)’. This name was commonly used in medieval Europe, mainly by Jews, with the usual medieval English vernacular form represented by Jessup. In the Book of Genesis, Joseph is the favorite son of Jacob who is sold into slavery by his brothers but rises to become a leading minister of the Pharaoh in Egypt (Genesis 37–50).

In the New Testament, Joseph is recognized as the husband of the Virgin Mary, which contributes to the popularity of the name among Christians. In North America, the English form of the surname has incorporated cognates from various languages, including the Polish Józef, Slovenian Jožef, and Assyrian/Chaldean variants such as Yosep, Yousep, Yosip, and Yousip. Additionally, it absorbs forms that are predominantly Arabic like Yusuf, Yousef, and Yousif, as well as Ethiopian forms such as Yosef.

Furthermore, patronymic variations are evident, including Polish Jozefowicz and Armenian Hovsepian. The name Joseph ranks among the most common surnames in Haiti, alongside Jean and Pierre, and is similarly prevalent across the West Indies, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica.

In addition, the name Joseph is also found among Christians in southern India and Indonesia. However, since South Indians and Indonesians traditionally do not use hereditary surnames, the name was typically registered only after the immigrants reached the US. As a point of comparison, consider Josef.