The name Jeremias is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu, which means "appointed by God" or "Yahweh has uplifted." It is a biblical name, originating from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the 7th century BC and authored the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations.

The name Jeremias is a variant spelling of the more common English form, Jeremiah. It has been used in various European languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Scandinavian languages. In these languages, the name took on slightly different spellings, such as Jeremías in Spanish and Jeremias in German.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jeremias can be found in the biblical text itself. The prophet Jeremiah, also known as Jeremias in some translations, lived in the Kingdom of Judah and witnessed the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC. His prophetic writings and lamentations over the destruction of Jerusalem are recorded in the biblical books that bear his name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jeremias. One prominent figure was Jeremias Gotthelf (1797-1854), a Swiss writer and pastor known for his novels depicting rural life in Switzerland. Another was Jeremias de Dekker (1610-1666), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his genre scenes and portraits.

In the 16th century, Jeremias Felwinger (1486-1551) was a German Lutheran theologian and Protestant reformer who worked alongside Martin Luther. During the 17th century, Jeremias Drexel (1581-1638) was a Jesuit priest and author from Bavaria, known for his spiritual writings.

In the field of biblical scholarship, Jeremias Richter (1762-1807) was a German theologian and orientalist who made significant contributions to the study of the Old Testament and the Hebrew language.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Jeremias, reflecting its biblical origins and usage across various cultures and time periods.