English form of the biblical Hebrew name Yosef, meaning ‘(God)
shall add (another son)’. This was borne by the favourite son of
Jacob, whose brothers became jealous of him and sold him into
slavery (Genesis 37). He was taken to Egypt, where he rose to
become chief steward to Pharaoh, and was eventually reconciled
to his brothers when they came to buy corn during a seven-year
famine (Genesis 43–7). In the New Testament Joseph is the name
of the husband of the Virgin Mary. It is also borne by a rich
Jew, Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50;
John 19:38), who took Jesus down from the Cross, wrapped him in
a shroud, and buried him in a rock tomb. According to medieval
legend, Joseph of Arimathea brought the Holy Grail to Britain.
The name was uncommon in Britain in the Middle Ages but was
revived in the mid 16th century and had become popular by the
1630s, remaining so ever since.