Joshua
A biblical surname taken from the Hebrew personal name Joshua, meaning “the Lord is salvation” or “Yahweh saves.”
The #9,552 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 90,727 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname comes from the biblical given name Joshua, which entered English through Latin and Greek forms of the Hebrew name Yehoshuaʿ. Its underlying meaning is usually given as “the Lord is salvation,” “Yahweh saves,” or similar. The name became a surname mainly through use of an inherited personal name rather than from a place or occupation.
History
In English surname use, Joshua is generally a rare hereditary surname or a surname adopted from a given name. It is found in English records, but far less commonly than many other biblical surnames such as Joseph or John. The 19th-century sources consulted treat it straightforwardly as a Hebrew name, reflecting its long-standing biblical associations.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century surname dictionary glossed Joshua as “The Lord, the Saviour,” showing how strongly biblical meanings shaped surname explanations at the time.
From the historical record
“JOSEPH. (Heb.) Increase, addition. JOSHUA. (Heb.) The Lord, the Saviour. JOSIAH. (Heb.) The fire of the Lord. JUDAS. (Heb.) Same as Judah, praise of the Lord. JULIUS. (Greek.) Soft haired, or mossy-bearded. JUSTIN. (Lat.) From Justus, just, virtuous. KENARD. (Sax.) Kind disposition. KENHELM. (Sax.) Defense of his…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names