Surname Josef - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Josef: What does the surname Josef mean?
The last name Josef is of German, Jewish (Ashkenazic), Czech, and Polish origin and can be derived from several possible sources. One source is the German name Joseph, which comes from the Hebrew personal name Yosef, meaning "God will increase." In the Bible, Joseph is the son of Jacob, who was blessed by God with ruling authority. In addition to being a given name, Joseph can also be used as a surname.
The surname can also be traced back to a root word meaning “He will add,” which could be a reference to someone born into a growing family as the phrase “God will increase” implies the addition of more family members. Additionally, the meaning of the last name Josef could refer to a quality of an individual, in which case it would mean "one who is distinguished,” referring to someone of great prominence or with high social status.
The last name Josef is also found in Czech and Polish related languages, where it is derived from regional variations of Joseph. Over time, the name has taken on different forms and variants in each culture, though the basic meaning remains the same.
Various versions of the last name include Joseph, Josef, Yoseph, Yoef, Ioseph, and Iosef. While most variations of the name are found in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, it is becoming increasingly common to find it in other countries. In the United States, for example, the name is often seen spelled as Joseph or Josef.
Order DNA origin analysisJosef: Where does the name Josef come from?
Josef is a name of Hebrew origin which is common in many countries today. In Europe, it is popular in countries such as Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, among others. In North America, it is more common in the United States and Canada, as well as parts of Latin America where Hispanics and Latino populations are present. In the United States, Josef is more commonly used among Hispanic and Latino families. For instance, Josef is the 107th most popular name in California, the 37th most popular name in Texas, the sixth most popular name in Florida, the 120th most popular name in New York, and the 111th most popular name in Illinois. Interestingly, Josef is also becoming increasingly popular in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where it is the 40th most popular name in the country. It's also a popular name in the Philippines where it ranks 211th in the country. All in all, Josef is a classic name that continues to be used in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Josef
Josef is a common given name of Czech, Slovak, and German origin. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef meaning "He will add" or "God will increase". Common variants of Josef include Jozef, Jozefa, Yozef, Yosif, Józef, Yosef, Joszef, Siosef, and Seosamh.
Common related surnames of Josef include Joseff, Josefy, Yosifov, Josefi, Yosifian, Josifov, Yosifov, Józefowicz, Joseffsen, Josifovic, Josefs, Josifovski, Yosifovitch, Josifovska, Joefs, Josefiak, Josepfson, and Yosifoff.
Many families with origins in Europe, particularly Catholics, often have multiple spellings of the same surname using different endings such as “-ef” or “-off”. These spellings can be found within families and can vary greatly from one nation to another.
Often times immigrants to the United States anglicize their surnames and transliterate the names to English. Such names could include Joseph, Josephs, or even Josipovic, which is a combination of the Spanish form of Yosef, or the modern Croatian spelling.
Josef is also a patronymic surname meaning "son of Josef". This can be found in various ethnicities, especially Swedish. The Swedish patronymic surname can range from Josefzson to Josefinen or Josefsen.
In some cases Josef can become Josefosky or Josefov, which is used to indicate ancestry from a particular town or region in southeastern Europe.
In conclusion, Josef is a common name with many variants and surnames of different origins. Different spellings due to anglicization, immigration, and/or ethnic backgrounds helps to identify where a certain group of people with a common surname have their roots trace back to.
Famous people with the name Josef
- Walther Josef Antoni: German professional poker player.
- Joseph Szigeti: Hungarian violinist and composer.
- Alois Josef Schicklgruber: Father of Adolf Hitler.
- Sir William Josef Stein: British journalist, publisher and politician.
- Alister Josef Krueger: British racing driver.
- Ben Josef: Irish professional football player.
- David Josef Zschimmer: German theologian and philosopher.
- Jürg Josef Egger: Swiss chemist and professor.
- Heinz Josef Baus: German politician and political advisor.
- Josef Mullender: Dutch football referee.
- Josef Ehlich: German merchant and member of the Frankfurt Parliament.
- Adolph Josef Muller: German film and television actor.
- Josef Yellin: American sculptor and woodworker.
- Maurice Joseph Zundel: Canadian Roman Catholic missionary.
- Josef Austerlitz: Austrian biologist and protester.
- Walter Josef Knoll: German businessperson and founder of an upholstery company.
- Thomas Josef Mayer: German sculptor and church builder. 18.habo Joseph: Canadian singer-songwriter.
- Josef Stránský: Czechoslovakian air force officer and resistance fighter.
- Robert Josef Auer: Austrian jazz violinist.