The name Ephraim has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew words "ephrah" meaning "ash heap" or "fertile" and "parah" meaning "to bear fruit." The name is thought to have originated sometime around the 2nd millennium BC.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ephraim comes from the Bible's Old Testament. Ephraim was one of the two sons of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers in the Book of Genesis. Ephraim and his brother Manasseh were born in Egypt to Joseph's wife Asenath. The two brothers went on to become the patriarchs of two of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In the Book of Joshua, the territory allotted to the tribe of Ephraim is described as being located in the central region of ancient Palestine, roughly corresponding to modern-day Samaria. The tribe played a significant role in the history of ancient Israel, with several notable figures bearing the name Ephraim.

One such figure was Ephraim, son of Elhanan, who was one of David's mighty warriors according to 2 Samuel 23:34. Another was Ephraim, son of Micah, who is mentioned in Judges 17:1-4 as the maker of a silver idol that became the object of worship for the tribe of Dan.

During the reign of King Jeroboam I in the 10th century BC, the northern tribes of Israel broke away from the united kingdom, forming their own kingdom with its capital in Samaria. This northern kingdom was often referred to as the "House of Ephraim" or "Ephraim" due to the tribe's prominent role.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Ephraim. One was Ephraim Syrus (306-373 AD), a prominent Christian theologian and hymnographer who was born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia. Another was Ephraim of Antioch (c. 505-546 AD), a Byzantine theologian and author who served as Patriarch of Antioch from 538 to 546 AD.

In more recent times, notable figures with the name Ephraim include Ephraim Chambers (c. 1680-1740), an English writer and editor who published the influential Cyclopaedia, or a Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. Ephraim McDowell (1771-1830) was an American physician credited with performing one of the first successful abdominal surgeries in 1809.