First found in Hampshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

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More about the Joseph History...

Please remember that this page is only a small extract of our complete history that includes:

• Ancient origin of the name (usually pre-1100)
• Known spelling variations
• Early movement of the family name during the Middle Ages
• Noteworthy bearers from the 1500-1600s
• First settlers to North America
• Notable contemporary bearers of the name
• A description and/or full color picture of the Coat of Arms, Crest, and Motto (where available)

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Joseph surname or a spelling variation of the name include : one Joseph who sailed to Nantasket, Massachusetts in 1630; Tobias Joseph to South Carolina in 1741; Captain Joseph to Boston in 1768; Henry Joseph to America in 1772 and M. Joseph to San Francisco in 1851..

For more information on the last name Joseph, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.