Josephus
/dʒəˈsiːfəs/noun
Josephus is the Latinized form of Joseph and is especially associated with the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.
Did you know?Flavius Josephus began as a Jewish commander in the revolt against Rome, then surrendered and adopted the imperial family name Flavius after claiming a prophecy that Vespasian would become emperor.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
יוסף (Yosef)
“He will add; a name derived from the verb meaning “to add” or “increase””
3rd–2nd Century BCE
Greek
Ἰώσηπος (Iōsēpos)
“Greek form of the Hebrew personal name Joseph”
1st Century CE
Greek
Ἰώσηπος (Iōsēpos)
“The name used by the Jewish historian later known as Flavius Josephus”
1st–2nd Century CE
Latin
Iosephus
“Latinized form of the Greek name”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Josephus
“Scholarly and ecclesiastical Latin form of the name”
Modern English
English
Josephus
“A proper name, chiefly referring to the historian Flavius Josephus”