The name Jeremiah originated from the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu, which means "Yahweh has uplifted" or "appointed by Yahweh." The name dates back to ancient times, around the 7th century BC.

Jeremiah was the name of one of the major prophets in the Hebrew Bible. He lived during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, before and during the Babylonian exile. The Book of Jeremiah, which records his prophecies and lamentations, is part of the Old Testament.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jeremiah is found in the Hebrew Bible, referring to the prophet himself. However, the name was likely in use before that time, as it follows a common pattern of Hebrew names incorporating the name of God (Yahweh).

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures named Jeremiah. One of the most famous was Jeremiah of Libnah, a Jewish scholar and scribe who lived in the 9th century AD. He is known for his work in preserving and transmitting the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible.

Another prominent figure was Jeremiah Horrocks, an English astronomer who lived from 1619 to 1641. He is best known for being the first person to predict and observe the transit of Venus across the sun's disc in 1639.

Jeremiah Denton was an American naval aviator and prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He was born in 1924 and famously blinked "torture" in Morse code during a televised interview in 1966, revealing the mistreatment of American prisoners of war.

Jeremiah Massey was an African American educator and civil rights activist who lived from 1828 to 1900. He was a prominent figure in the struggle for equal education rights for African Americans in the post-Civil War era.

Jeremiah Horrocks, the English astronomer mentioned earlier, was also a notable mathematician and theologian. He made significant contributions to the understanding of planetary motion and the development of calculus.