Surname Josefs - Meaning and Origin

Josefs: What does the surname Josefs mean?

The last name Josefs is a patronymic surname of Jewish origin derived from the Hebrew given name "Yosef" which means "God will increase". The surname is popular amongst Ashkenazi Jews residing in Eastern Europe and the United States.

Josefs families are descendants of the ancient biblical patriarch Joseph, who was one of twelve sons of Jacob. According to the Jewish Bible, he was sold into slavery by his brothers and eventually became the viceroy of Egypt. It is said that he was blessed with the gift of prophecy and insight, through which he interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and led Egypt out of famine.

In modern times, the Josefs surname has become widely popular. The Josefs family is seen in Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and Russia, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Argentina. In the United States, the Josefs surname is said to have been established by Jacob Josef, his wife Sarah, and their sons in the late 1800’s.

Although the Josefs surname has come to be used by people of many nationalities and backgrounds, it began as an unambiguous testament to the enduring legacy of the ancient biblical patriarch Joseph, his descendants, and the great faith of the Jewish people.

Josefs: Where does the name Josefs come from?

The last name Josefs is most commonly seen today in Israel. Josefs is a Jewish surname, derived from the Hebrew given name Yosif or Yosef, which is the same name as Joseph. It is among the most common of last names in Israel, due to the historic prevalence of Jewish people in the region.

It is also present in other countries with Jewish immigrants from Israel, such as the United States, Germany, England, Canada, and Australia. It is also found in countries where Sephardic Jews have emigrated, such as France and Mexico.

Josefs is also present in eastern Europe, where Ashkenazi Jews are found in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania. Many of these immigrants to Israel, as well as other countries, have adopted the name Josefs at some point in their ancestry.

In other countries, such as South Africa, where there is a large population of Jews that originate from Eastern Europe, Josefs is also a prominent name.

Overall, Josefs is a common last name in Israel, as well as in other countries where there has been a large influx of Jewish immigrants. Its presence is due to the immigration of Jews from various places around the world, all of who have at one time or another adopted the Josefs name as their own.

Variations of the surname Josefs

The surname Josefs is derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, which is the Aramaic form of the biblical name Joseph. The Josefs surname is also spelled Josef, Jozef, Jozefs, Yozefs, Joszefs, Josepf, and Josif. Possible variants of Josefs are Josefsohn, Josefsdatter, Josefsson, Josefson, Jossif, Joszefowska, Josifovski, Josevits, Yosefson, Yosifov, Jozefowicz, and Josephs.

The most common variant of Josefs is Joseph, which is the English version of it. Joseph is the third most common surname in the United States, as of 2019. It is also common in many countries around the world due to its biblical origin.

The Josefs surname has Jewish origins. Some Jews adopted the spelling Josef to show solidarity with the Jewish community and to distinguish themselves from non-Jews. Other Jews adopted the spelling Josef because of slurs and stereotypes linked to the Joseph biblical figure.

Some of the surnames and variants of Josefs are derived from geographical locations. For example, Josefsdatter is a variant of Josefs found among Danish families, while Jozefowicz is a Polish variant of the surname. In other parts of the world, such as in Russia, the surname is often spelled Josifovski and Yonosov or Yonsosov.

In short, the surname Josefs has many spellings and variants that are all derived from the biblical figure Joseph. These variants are often geographically and culturally specific.

Famous people with the name Josefs

• Rebecca Josefs: Rebecca Josefs is a Los Angeles-based fashion designer and performer. She is known for her bold and eclectic style, and has been featured in interviews and fashion shows all over the world.
• Kurt Josefs: Kurt Josefs is an Austrian-born actor and producer, most recently known for his roles in the television series How to Get Away With Murder and 13 Reasons Why.
• Oliver Josefs: Oliver Josefs is a German-born actor and filmmaker, who has won several awards for his performances and films.
• Anna Josefs: Anna Josefs is a professional Swedish volleyball player who has won several awards for her performances on the court.
• Richard Josefs: Richard Josefs is a British-Israeli investment banker and philanthropist. He is the founder of the Josefs Family Foundation, which supports education and social programs across the world.
• Eva Josefs: Eva Josefs is a Dutch-American technology entrepreneur. She is the CEO of DataEco, a technology company specializing in data-driven insights.
• Sonja Josefs: Sonja Josefs is an Austrian-American opera singer. She has performed in numerous venues around the world and has won several awards for her musical talent.
• Mariah Josefs: Mariah Josefs is an Austrian fashion designer and textile artist. Her unique style has been featured in national and international fashion magazines.
• Isaac Josefs: Isaac Josefs is a Canadian conductor and composer, specializing in classical music. He has conducted orchestras around the world and is currently a professor of music at the University of Alberta.

Other surnames

Josef