Origin
Joseph : English French German Jewish West Indian (mainly Haiti) and African (mainly Tanzania and Nigeria): from the personal name Joseph Hebrew Yosef ‘may He (God) add (another son)’. In medieval Europe this name was borne frequently but not exclusively by Jews; the usual medieval English vernacular form is 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 Pharoah in Egypt (Genesis 37–50). In the New Testament Joseph is the husband of the Virgin Mary which accounts for the popularity of the personal name among Christians. In North America the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages e.g. Polish Józef Slovenian Jožef Assyrian/Chaldean Yosep Yousep Yosip and Yousip forms that are predominantly Arabic such as Yusuf Yousef and Yousif or Ethiopian such as Yosef and also patronymics such as Polish Jozefowicz and Armenian Hovsepian. Joseph is one of the most frequent surnames in Haiti (along with Jean and Pierre) and elsewhere in the West Indies (e.g. in Trinidad and Tobago Saint Lucia Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica). The name Joseph is also found among Christians in southern India and Indonesia but since South Indians and Indonesians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames the southern Indian and Indonesian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Compare Josef.
Allso : apparently a reduced form of Allsopp. Compare Eliz Alsop 1783 John Allso 1795 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Joseph Alsop 1825 Joseph Allso 1827 in IGI (Walsall Staffs).
Andrepont : American French: combination of one of the first names and the last name of the first bearer of this surname in North America Joseph André Pont.
Bavister : Titford suggests that this is a late variant of Vavasour. It would be a dissimilated form of Vavister and Vavester variants of Vavasour that are evidenced in Lincs also in Cambs whence the name spread into Beds. Compare Willa Vavister 1579 in IGI (Scopwick Lincs); Thomas Vavister 1615 in IGI (Cranwell Lincs); Mary Vavester 1708 Joseph Vavisor 1738 in IGI (New Sleaford Lincs).
Bettany : variant of Betteley (in the W Midlands) and Beatley (in E England) with /n/ substituted for /l/. Tooth notes that in the parish registers for Seighford (Staffs) Joseph Betteley (1762) is buried as Joseph Bettany (1806). Compare Margret Bettony 1596 Thomas Betley 1612 in IGI (Chester Cheshire); Johanes Betteny 1675 Anna Betteley 1709 Daniel Bettany 1796 in IGI (Stone Staffs); Stephen Beatley 1696 Charles Bettany 1715 in IGI (Norwich Norfolk).
Butfield : reduced form of Butterfield. Compare Simon Butfield 1656 Simon Butterfield 1721 in IGI (Leighton Buzzard Beds); Sarah Butterfield 1740 Martha Butfield 1742 in IGI (Ivinghoe Bucks); David Butterfield 1769 Joseph Butfield 1780 in IGI (Whitehaven Cumb).
Caspall : perhaps a late variant of Catchpole. Compare Joseph Catchpole 1685 Martha Caspell 1772 in IGI (Deal Kent); William Catchpole 1708 Sarah Caspell 1773 in IGI (Lympne Kent); Edwd. Caspell 1752 William Caspole 1777 in IGI (Margate Kent).
Chiddle : variant of Chittle (see Chettle) with voicing of /t/ to /d/; compare Joseph Chittle 1770 Hannah Chiddle 1782 in IGI (Farnham Surrey).
Cribbett : probably an altered form of Gribble. With the bearers cited below compare Joseph Gribble 1761 in IGI (Widecombe in the Moor Devon).
Dabner : probably as variant pronunciation of Dabney; see Daubney and compare Joseph Dabner 1766 John Daubena 1828 Joseph Dunston Daubney 1850 in IGI (Willoughton Lincs).
Dellicott : from Dallicote in Claverley (Shrops) recorded as Dalicot' in 1261-2 and Dallicott in 1617 perhaps a compound of the Old English personal names Dealla or Dealing + Old English cot ‘cottage’. Compare Daley.alternatively perhaps an altered form of Derricott (see Darracott) with substitution of /l/ for /r/ as apparently illustrated in Julia Derricott 1876 in IGI (Tipton Staffs) and Joseph Dellicott in Census 1881 (Tipton Staffs). However it is also possible that Derricott is a pronunciation of Dellicott from the name in (i).
Denial : variant of Daniel pronounced Denyel. Compare Roger Daniel 1604 Joseph Denial 1795 in IGI (Ecclesfield WR Yorks).
Dewison : apparently a late variant of Jewison (see Jewson); compare Joseph Jewison 1817 in IGI (Prestbury Cheshire) with the 1850 bearer below.
Duckfield : perhaps a reduced form of Duckenfield assuming that the concentration of the surname in Pembrokes is due to migration. Compare James Duckenfield 1825 John Duckinfield 1834 Joseph Duckfield 1842 in IGI (Bristol Gloucs).perhaps from a lost or unidentified place named with Old English dūce ‘duck’ + feld ‘open country’.
Eedle : probably a variant of Eatwell with voicing of /t/ to /d/. Compare Joseph Eadle 1807 Joseph Ettle 1836 in IGI (Siston Gloucs) and see Ettle.
Emblow : late variant of Embley. Compare Joseph Embley 1742 in IGI (Normanton on Trent Notts) with the 1717 bearer below; Normanton on Trent is approximately five miles from Laxton.
Endall : perhaps a variant with an intrusive -d- of the now extinct name Ennall (see Ennals) which is probably in most cases from the Middle English personal name Ernold (see Arnold). Compare Edward Arnold 1561 Edmund Ennall 1616 James Endell 1708 John Andell 1712 in IGI (Saint Giles Cripplegate London); Edward Arnold 1644 Mary Endall 1673 Simon Arnol 1724 in IGI (Wantage Berks); Joseph Arnold 1707 Mary Endell 1730 in IGI (Ross on Wye Herefs). However these surnames may be coincidental occurrences of different names in the same parish and are no proof that the families were genealogically or onomastically related.
Ephraim : Jewish Welsh West Indian and African (e.g. Nigeria and Tanzania): from the Biblical personal name Ephraim a Latinized form of Hebrew Efrayim from a word meaning ‘fruitful’. In Genesis 41:52 Ephraim is one of the sons of Joseph and founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In Wales it is found as a late surname derived from use of the Biblical name as a personal name among Nonconformists.
Epsom : apparently from Epsom (Surrey) but no evidence for a local Surrey or Kent surname from this place has been found. It is more likely an altered form of Empson influenced by false association with the place-name as illustrated perhaps in Joseph Empson 1692 Joseph Empsom 1697 Elizabeth Epsom 1706 in IGI (Saint Dunstan Stepney Middx). Alternatively Epsom and Epson might be pronunciations of Ebbison itself a variant of either Ibbotson or Hebson. Compare Margrett Ebbison 1661 Mary Eberson 1662 Jo Ebbeson 1673 in IGI (Saint Dunstan Stepney Middx).
Eversham : 1: altered form of Everson; see Evison. 2: perhaps also a late variant of Evesham; compare Joseph Evesham 1789 in IGI (Sutton Saint Nicholas Herefs) and Elizabeth Eversham 1875 in IGI (Fownhope Herefs).
Evry : variant of Avery; see also Every and compare Daniel Every 1838 Joseph Evry 1840 in IGI (Batheaston Somerset).
Extance : variant of the lost Exten with post-medieval excrescent /s/. Exten centred on Heytesbury and Bishopstrow (Wilts) a few miles north of Motcombe and east of Frome and is a variant of Exton; compare Robert Exton 1671 in IGI (Heytesbury Wilts) and Joseph Exten 1696 in IGI (Heytesbury Wilts).
Gauton : probably a variant of Galton via forms such as Gaulton. Compare Elizabeth Gaulton 1653 in IGI (Bunbury Cheshire); Joseph Gaulton 1694 in IGI (Wistaston Cheshire); Richard Gaulton 1720 in IGI (Coppenhall Cheshire) with the bearers below.
Heague : variant of Hague itself a variant of Haigh. Compare Isabel Hague 1692 Jonathan Heague 1701 in IGI (Hartshead WR Yorks); David Hague 1723 Thomas Heague 1736 in IGI (Ladykirk Berwicks); Joseph Hague 1784 Joseph Heague 1789 in IGI (Bromsgrove Worcs).
Hearse : 1: see Harse. 2: variant of Hurst with assimilation of -st to -s as is probably illustrated in Joseph Hearse 1687 John Herst 1708 in IGI (Hastings Sussex) and Wyllyam Hurs 1592 Wyllyam Hurst 1597 John Hurse 1627 Kathering Hearse 1644 in IGI (Great Yarmouth Norfolk).
Heminsley : perhaps from a lost or unidentified place. Alternatively perhaps a late variant of Hammersley; compare Richard Hamersley 1673 Geo. Hammersley 1717 Elizabeth Hemersley 1794 Joseph Heminsley 1810 in IGI (Willenhall Staffs).
Hickerton : of uncertain origin; bearers from before the 19th century have not been found and so this appears to be a late development of another name. It may be a variant of Hickton itself a variant of Higton. Compare Joseph Hickton 1769 in IGI (Tewkesbury Gloucs) and Mary Caroline Higton 1776 in IGI (Trowbridge Wilts) with the bearers below. Alternatively it could be variant of Hickleton.
Hodger : 1: of uncertain origin. Perhaps an altered form of Hodge; compare Phillip Hodge 1615 Phillip Hodger 1616 in IGI (Witheridge Devon); Jonet Hodge 1634 Jonet Hodger 1655 in IGI (Edinburgh Midlothian). 2: apparently sometimes an irregular variant of Hedger. Compare John Hodger 1723 Ann Hedger 1724 in IGI (Shipley Sussex); Elizabeth Hedger 1782 John Hodger 1785 in IGI (Angmering Sussex); Joseph Hedger 1783 Sarah Hodger 1784 in IGI (Worcester Worcs); Robert Hedger Robert Hodger 1786 in IGI (Heyshott Sussex).
Inshaw : variant of Henshaw. Compare Thomas Henshaw 1743 John Inshaw 1765 Mary Hinshaw 1796 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks); Francis Hinshaw 1767 John Inshaw 1774 Joseph Henshaw 1799 in IGI (Sheffield WR Yorks)
Jess : 1: English: from a short form of the Middle English personal name Jessop a vernacular form of Joseph.2: North German: from the personal name Jess a variant of Jens.
Kerrod : apparently a variant of Kerwood itself a variant of Curwood. Compare John Kerwood 1639 Joseph Kerrod 1781 John Kerwood 1788 in IGI (Banbury Oxon).
Lawcock : variant of Lowcock itself a variant of Lucock. Compare John Lowcock 1649 Joseph Lawcock 1654 in IGI (Skipton WR Yorks); Johis. Lowcock 1708 Johis. Lawcock 1718 in IGI (Gisburn WR Yorks); Mary Lawcock 1735 Diana Lowcock 1736 in IGI (Glentham Lincs); Sarah Lowcock 1766 Betty Lawcock 1778 in IGI (Addingham WR Yorks).
Misseldine : variant of Missenden. Compare John Missendine 1677 Joseph Misseldine 1711 in IGI (Barton upon Humber Lincs).
Mordle : probably a variant of either Morden or Marden with /l/ substituted for final /n/ and rounding of the vowel in Marden and Mardon. See also Mardell and compare George Mordall 1595 Alexander Marden 1637 in IGI (Strood Kent); Joseph Mardle Rowlond Mordle 1710 Richard Mordle 1716 in Parish Registers (Knebworth Herts). In Devon and Somerset the name is perhaps a variant of Mardon.
Mortiboys : of uncertain origin. It could have arisen from a compound of Old French mort(i)er ‘mud’ (attested with this sense only in the place-names (Le) Mortier and (Les) Mortiers numerous in N France) and Old French bois ‘wood’. No French place-name with this compound has been identified so the question arises whether *Morterbois later becoming Mortiboys might be a translation of English Fulwood (‘muddy wood’) possibly originating in Anglo-Norman French legal documents . In Warwicks where Mortiboys is mainly recorded Fulwood was the former name of Clay Hall in Tanworth in Arden (Warwicks) and had been the surname of its owners since at least the 13th century (see Fullwood). The co-occurrence of both surnames in the following parishes could be mere coincidence: Thomas Mortyboies 1540 and Fraunces Fulwoode 1576 in IGI (Solihull Warwicks); Margareta Fulwood 1585 and Joseph Morteboyes 1707 in IGI (Tanworth in Arden Warwicks where Thomas Mortiboys owned land probably in the early 1500s); Mary Fulwood 1653 and Anne Mortiboys 1691 in IGI (Wootton Wawen Warwicks). Perhaps members of the Fullwood family used Mortiboys as an alias but this is unproven.
Musham : variant of Muschamp; compare Ann Muschamp 1664 William Musham 1735 in IGI (Weston WR Yorks); William Musham 1741 Joseph Muschamp 1751 in IGI (Guiseley WR Yorks); Isabella Mushchamp 1791 Benjamin Musham 1804 in IGI (Marton cum Grafton WR Yorks).
Needley : variant of Needler. Compare Michaell Needler 1704 Joseph Needley 1845 in IGI (Binbrook Lincs); William Needler 1819 Deborah Neadley 1838 in IGI (Hilston ER Yorks).
Olgin : 1: Hispanic (Olgín): altered form of Olguín (see Olguin).2: Jewish (American): pseudonym based on the Russian female personal name Olga used by a political journalist and writer Moissaye Joseph Olgin (1878–1939) born in Ukraine as Novomeysky.
Paulger : perhaps an altered pronunciation of Poucher. Compare John Poucher of North Thoresby (1369 in Feet of Fines) which is close to the villages in N Lincs where Pawger and Pauger are recorded. The change in vowel is irregular and this may not be the right explanation.alternatively perhaps a variant of Palgrave in which -grave has been reduced to -ger. In N Lincs compare Thomas Powlgrave 1577 in IGI (Winteringham Lincs); James Poulgrave 1585 in IGI (Winterton Lincs); Robt. Poulgrave 1632 Robt. Palgrave 1637 Joseph Palegrave 1644 in IGI (Barton upon Humber Lincs). However there is insufficient evidence to be confident of this explanation.
Porath : 1: German (of Slavic origin): nickname or perhaps metonymic occupational name for a counselor from a Germanized form of Slavic porada ‘consultation; advice counsel’ (see also Porada).2: Jewish (Israeli): from a Biblical personal name meaning ‘fruitful’ (an allusion to Joseph).
Pougher : probably from Middle English *pougher ‘maker or seller of bags sacks or pouches’ an agent derivative of Middle English pough(e) ‘sack pouch; fish trap’ (Old English pohha ‘bag’). Compare John le Poghwebbesone ‘the bag-weaver's son’ 1306 in Assize Rolls (Staffs). Compare also Poucher with which this name was probably confused in sense and pronunciation. In ER Yorks Pougher is locally pronounced /pauʤə/ as illustrated by the spellings of the name borne by Joseph Powjer 1793 and William Poujer 1832 in IGI (Beverley ER Yorks). These men presumably belong to the same family as Thomas Pougher 1826 in IGI (Beverley ER Yorks). See also Paulger.
Proom : of uncertain origin. It might be a variant of Plume with [r] for [l]. Compare James Plum 1583 Edmund Plume 1746 Hannah Proom 1748 in IGI (Bury Saint Edmunds Suffolk). No evidence has been found of Plume in Staffs where the earliest examples of Proom occur but compare Joseph Ploom 1796 in IGI (Birmingham Warwicks). Alternatively Proom might be a variant of Plumb with a lengthened vowel though this name is also rare and late in Staffs.
Pyrah : perhaps a variant of Perry via the alternative pronunciation /pɪri/ or its alternative northern form Peary alternatively spelled Piery with the common northern alteration of final -y to -er and -ah. If this is right Py(e)rah would originally be a spelling of /pɪrə/ or /pɪərə/ rather than /paɪrə/. Correlations of Py(e)rah with Perry include James Perry 1700 William Pyerah 1773 in IGI (New Malton NR Yorks); Robt. Pyrer 1723 Jane Perry 1747 in IGI (Deane by Bolton Lancs); James Perry 1723 Joseph Pyra 1790 in IGI (Calverley WR Yorks); Ellen Pyrer 1730 John Perry 1780 in IGI (Formby Lancs); and Richard Perry 1733 Bettey Pyrah 1748 in IGI (Batley WR Yorks). These correlations could alternatively be coincidental pairings of unrelated names in the same parish or town in which case the origin of Pyrah remains to be discovered.
Rachel : 1: German (mainly Bavaria): probably a topographic name from Middle High German rach ‘rough steep’.2: German: habitational name from a place called Rachel in Bohemia.3: Sorbian: from an Upper Sorbian derivative (originally also spelled Rachol) of the personal name Rach.4: French: from the female Biblical name Rachel meaning ‘ewe’ in Hebrew. In the Bible (Genesis 28–35) Rachel is the wife of Jacob and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.5: English: habitational name from an unidentified place.6: English: perhaps sometimes from the Middle English and Biblical personal name Rachel (see 4 above) which is absent in England before the Reformation. Whatever its origin the surname has sometimes been influenced by the Hebrew name; it is otherwise unexplained.
Reik : 1: German (mainly Baden-Württemberg): variant of Reick.2: Jewish (from Belarus): variant of Rayk an acronymic surname taken in honor of one of two famous authorities in Jewish law known under Hebrew acronyms RIK either Rabbi Joseph Caro (1488–1575) from the Land of Israel (born in Spain) or Rabbi Joseph Colon (circa 1420–80) from Italy.
San Jose : Spanish (San José; also Sanjosé): habitational name from any of the places called for a local church or shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph (Spanish San José); see Joseph.
Worters : variant of Warters. Compare James Warters 1794 Joseph Worters 1814 in IGI (Bexley Kent); Charles Warters 1807 Patrick Worters 1809 in IGI (Holborn Middx).
Wothers : apparently an irregular variant of Withers. Compare Thoms. Wothers 1733 Wm. Withers 1754 in IGI (Corley Warwicks); Joseph Withers 1757 Joseph Wothers 1762 in IGI (Rostherne Cheshire); Robert Withers 1797 Mary Wothers 1800 in IGI (Holbeach Lincs); Mary Ann Withers 1852 Daniel Wothers 1854 in IGI (Burntwood Staffs).
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
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