NameCensus.

UK surname

Joshua

A Biblical name derived from the Hebrew Yehoshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "God saves."

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Joshua surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 536, ranked #9,486, up from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llangeler and Llanddewi-Aberarth, Llansaintffraid. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Southwark and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joshua is 536 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 142.5%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

536

2016, ranked #9,486

Peak year

2016

536 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Joshua had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016, ranked #9,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Joshua surname distribution map

The map shows where the Joshua surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Joshua surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Joshua over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 195 #10,620
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 236 #13,278
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 267 #12,360
1997 modern 359 #11,956
1998 modern 390 #11,563
1999 modern 403 #11,382
2000 modern 395 #11,503
2001 modern 392 #11,384
2002 modern 420 #11,041
2003 modern 391 #11,441
2004 modern 408 #11,117
2005 modern 415 #10,878
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 454 #10,264
2008 modern 471 #10,091
2009 modern 481 #10,148
2010 modern 511 #9,882
2011 modern 499 #9,965
2012 modern 507 #9,761
2013 modern 512 #9,847
2014 modern 529 #9,683
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 536 #9,486

Geography

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Where Joshuas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llangeler, Llanddewi-Aberarth, Llansaintffraid, London parishes and Panteague. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Southwark, Ealing, Gwynedd and Neath Port Talbot. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Llangeler Cardiganshire
3 Llanddewi-Aberarth, Llansaintffraid Cardiganshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Panteague Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
2 Southwark 022 Southwark
3 Ealing 019 Ealing
4 Gwynedd 009 Gwynedd
5 Neath Port Talbot 006 Neath Port Talbot

Forenames

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First names often paired with Joshua

These lists show first names that appear often with the Joshua surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Joshua

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Joshua, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Joshua surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Joshua household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Joshua is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Joshua is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Joshua falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Joshua is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Joshua, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Joshua

The surname Joshua is primarily an English surname derived from the Hebrew personal name Yehoshua, which means "Yahweh is salvation" or "God is deliverance." The name has its roots in biblical times and is associated with the leader Joshua, who succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land of Canaan.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Joshua can be traced back to the 13th century in England. It is believed to have been adopted as a surname by individuals who had a connection to the biblical figure Joshua, either through their own faith or as a form of veneration.

In medieval times, the name Joshua appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the surname was already in use during the Norman period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Joshua was John Joshua, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is mentioned in several historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of 1194, which documented tax payments made to the Crown.

Another notable figure was Sir William Joshua, a 14th-century English knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was instrumental in the capture of the French town of Calais in 1347 and was rewarded with land and titles for his bravery.

In the 16th century, the surname Joshua was also associated with the village of Joshua in Northamptonshire, England. The village likely derived its name from an earlier landowner or local figure with the surname.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several prominent individuals bore the surname Joshua, including:

1. Josiah Joshua (1634-1700), an English Puritan minister and author. 2. John Joshua (1678-1761), an English mathematician and astronomer. 3. Samuel Joshua (1720-1772), an English engraver and artist. 4. Benjamin Joshua (1745-1819), an English merchant and politician. 5. William Joshua (1764-1835), an English naval officer and explorer.

These examples illustrate the widespread use and significance of the surname Joshua throughout English history, spanning various professions and social classes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Joshua families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Joshua surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Monmouthshire leads with 50 Joshuas recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.94x.

County Total Index
Monmouthshire 50 31.94x
Glamorgan 45 11.94x
Carmarthenshire 32 35.06x
Middlesex 29 1.34x
Pembrokeshire 17 24.70x
Cardiganshire 13 24.61x
Durham 9 1.40x
Gloucestershire 8 1.88x
Staffordshire 5 0.68x
Northamptonshire 3 1.47x
Midlothian 2 0.69x
Somerset 2 0.57x
Sussex 2 0.55x
Hampshire 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.14x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 2.52x
Royal Navy 1 3.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trevethin in Monmouthshire leads with 16 Joshuas recorded in 1881 and an index of 108.25x.

Place Total Index
Trevethin 16 108.25x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 30.35x
Hubberston 9 891.09x
Llandyssil 9 407.24x
Llantwit Vairdre 9 212.26x
Llangadock 8 317.46x
Llangeler 8 655.74x
Carmarthen St Peter 7 89.74x
Kilgerran 7 843.37x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 7 234.90x
Panteg 7 283.40x
Hylton 6 526.32x
Llanwenarth Ultra 6 526.32x
Hampstead London 5 14.83x
Kensington London 5 4.15x
Kingswinford 5 18.84x
Llandilo Fawr 5 122.85x
Llansamlet Higher 5 177.94x
Paddington London 5 6.28x
Aberystruth 4 28.99x
Cirencester 4 69.57x
Coedfrank 4 153.26x
Llangeinor 4 180.18x
Llangynwyd Higher 4 220.99x
St George Bloomsbury 4 32.21x
Aberdare 3 11.59x
Blaenpenal 3 731.71x
Cheltenham 3 9.16x
Desborough 3 196.08x
Upper Llanvrechva 3 123.46x
Christchurch 2 41.32x
Hillingdon 2 28.99x
Islington London 2 0.95x
Leominster 2 169.49x
Llanpumpsaint 2 540.54x
St Marylebone London 2 1.73x
St Woollos 2 11.45x
Stranton 2 9.22x
Bedminster 1 3.05x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 7.06x
Conwil 1 86.96x
Cwmdu 1 21.79x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.76x
Edgware 1 166.67x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 16.61x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 17.73x
Escomb 1 33.78x
Harrow On The Hill 1 23.09x
Isleworth 1 10.38x
Llanddausaint 1 212.77x
Llandyfodwg 1 46.73x
Llanover 1 18.69x
Llanuwchllyn 1 125.00x
Llanvihangel Pontymoile 1 357.14x
Newport 1 89.29x
Penbryn 1 97.09x
Roath 1 5.84x
Royal Navy 1 4.53x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.58x
Swansea Town 1 3.24x
Usk 1 76.92x
Walcot 1 5.39x
Wavertree 1 12.17x
Westminster St Margaret 1 9.58x
Ystradyfodwg 1 3.02x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Joshua surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 9
Sarah 7
Rachel 6
Ann 5
Jane 5
Hannah 4
Catherine 3
Emily 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Cecilia 2
Edith 2
Marie 2
Rachael 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Ciseelia 1
Elias 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gwenllian 1
Harriet 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Loveiza 1
Lucy 1
Luisa 1
Mabel 1
Margaretta 1
Margretta 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Rebecca 1
S. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Joshua surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 16
William 12
David 8
Thomas 6
Edward 5
George 4
Philip 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
James 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Evan 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Joshua 2
Albert 1
Caleb 1
Clement 1
Frank 1
Geo.Wilden 1
Gwilym 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Ivor 1
J. 1
Jonah 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Moss 1
Robert 1
Seth 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm.Mc 1

FAQ

Joshua surname: questions and answers

How common was the Joshua surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Joshua surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Joshua surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016. That gives Joshua a modern rank of #9,486.

What does the Joshua surname mean?

A Biblical name derived from the Hebrew Yehoshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "God saves."

What does the Joshua map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Joshua bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.