The name Joziah is a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Josiah, which means "God supports" or "God heals." It is derived from the Hebrew words "Yeho" (meaning God) and "yasha" (meaning to save or deliver). The name can be traced back to the Old Testament of the Bible, where it was borne by several individuals, including a prominent king of Judah.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Josiah is in the Book of Kings, where it refers to Josiah, the son of King Amon, who reigned over the Kingdom of Judah from 640 to 609 BCE. King Josiah is celebrated for his religious reforms, during which he restored the worship of Yahweh and purged the land of idolatry. He is also renowned for his discovery of the Book of the Law, which led to a spiritual revival in Judah.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Joziah or its variant spellings. One of the earliest was Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), an English potter and entrepreneur who founded the famous Wedgwood company and was a pioneering figure in the industrialization of the manufacturing process. Another famous bearer of the name was Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), an American scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of thermodynamics, chemistry, and mathematics.

In the religious realm, Josiah Royce (1855-1916) was an American philosopher and one of the founders of the American philosophical tradition known as pragmatism. His works explored topics such as idealism, ethics, and the philosophy of religion. The name was also borne by Josiah Quincy (1744-1775), an American lawyer and patriot who played a prominent role in the American Revolution.

Another notable figure with the name Joziah was Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), a physician and statesman who was one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence. He later served as the fourth Governor of New Hampshire and as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

While the name Joziah has its roots in ancient Hebrew culture and the Bible, it has been adopted and used across various cultures and time periods, with notable bearers contributing to fields ranging from pottery and manufacturing to philosophy, science, and politics.