Find out how popular the last name Josiah is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Josiah.

Josiah, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Josiah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Josiah in America

Josiah is the 43969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Josiah surname appeared 490 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Josiah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Josiah to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Josiah

The surname Josiah has its roots in the Middle Ages, originating from the biblical Hebrew name Yoshiyahu, which means "God supports" or "God heals." The name gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in England and parts of Western Europe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Josiah can be traced back to the late 12th century in England. One notable example is Josiah of Tewkesbury, a monk and chronicler who lived from 1170 to 1242. His work, the "Annales de Tewkesburienses," is an important source for understanding the history of medieval England.

In the 13th century, the surname Josiah appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and taxpayers across England. One entry mentions a Robert Josiah, who held land in the county of Oxfordshire.

During the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with the rise of the Josiah family in the county of Gloucestershire. This family held significant landholdings and produced several notable figures, including Sir John Josiah (1320-1385), a prominent knight and military leader who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the surname Josiah gained further recognition with the birth of Josiah Wedgwood (1530-1595), a renowned English potter and founder of the Wedgwood pottery company. His descendants, including his grandson Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795), continued the family's legacy in the pottery industry.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Josiah was Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), an American scientist and mathematician known for his contributions to the fields of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and physical chemistry. His work laid the foundation for modern chemical engineering and played a crucial role in the development of the field of physical chemistry.

The surname Josiah has also been associated with religious figures throughout history. One example is Josiah Quincy (1689-1744), a prominent minister and leader in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who played a significant role in the Great Awakening religious movement in the American colonies.

During the 19th century, the surname Josiah was carried by several notable writers and poets, including Josiah Royce (1855-1916), an American philosopher and author, and Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881), an American novelist and poet known for his works on ethical and moral themes.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname Josiah, from its biblical origins to its impact on various fields, including religion, literature, science, and industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Josiah

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Josiah.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Josiah was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Josiah has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Josiah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Josiah, please contact us.

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