Origin of the Joshua Surname
The Joshua surname is of African American origin (English). In the 2010 U.S. Census it ranked #9,552 with 3,403 Americans (1.15 per 100K people).
What the name meant to the first families who bore it — and how Joshua traveled across regions and centuries — is written out in the full Heritage Report.
Quick Facts
| Surname | Joshua |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Full etymology in the Heritage Report |
| Origin | African American |
| Language | English |
| US Rank (2010) | #9,552 |
| US Count (2010) | 3,403 |
| Per 100K People | 1.15 |
| First Letter | J |
Ethnic Distribution of Joshua
Among 3,403 Americans named Joshua, the largest self-reported group is Black (57.24%).
The full multi-group chart (every percentage, print-ready) is inside the Heritage Report — not repeated here.
Popularity of Joshua Over Time
Between the 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census, the national rank of Joshua moved up. Exact counts for both years — print-ready — are in the Heritage Report.
Where did the Joshua family really come from?
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The Complete Story of the Joshua Family
What you’ve read above is just the overview. Your full Joshua Heritage Report goes far deeper — and it’s yours to keep, print & share with your family.
- ✓ The true origin & meaning of Joshua
- ✓ The Joshua coat of arms & heraldry
- ✓ Migration journey across the world
- ✓ Where Joshua families live today
- ✓ Notable Joshua bearers in history
- ✓ Name variations & spellings worldwide
- ✓ A step-by-step guide to start tracing your own family tree
🎁 A heritage keepsake to pass down — perfect as a gift.
Get one Joshua fact most families never hear by email — a teaser, not the full etymology (that’s in the report).
Similar Surnames to Joshua
These surnames share similar popularity, spelling, or cultural background with Joshua.
Other African American Surnames
Explore more surnames with African American roots. There are 162,254 surnames in our database — here are some that share the same African American origin as Joshua.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua
Top Surnames Starting with J
The most common American surnames that begin with the letter J, ranked by population.
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