Josey
A surname that usually began as a pet form of Joseph or Josephine, especially in English-speaking communities.
The #8,006 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 74,739 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Josey is most likely an English surname formed as a familiar or diminutive form of the given name Joseph, ultimately from Hebrew Yosef, meaning “he will add.” In some cases it may also reflect a pet form of Josephine or a spelling influenced by French-style diminutives. As with many surnames from personal names, it could arise independently in more than one family line.
History
The surname is found mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it likely developed from informal use of a given name and then stabilized as a hereditary family name. Spellings of this type often vary widely in records, so Josey may overlap with Joey, Josie, and other local forms. Its modern distribution is likely shaped by immigration, regional spelling habits, and the common popularity of biblical names such as Joseph.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it looks like a modern first name, Josey can be mistaken for a nickname even when it has been a hereditary surname for generations.