Increase is a masculine
given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...
. It is the English language
literal translation of the name
Joseph, which originates from
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
.
Originating in England, the name was given primarily among
Puritans in
colonial New England and in the early 19th century in the United States. Since the 19th century, the name has decreased in popularity and is now rare, if not extinct.
Meaning and origin
The name Increase is the English literal translation of the name Joseph, which originates from the Hebrew language. The Hebrew version of Joseph, ''Yosef'' (''יוֹסֵף''), translates as meaning "
Yahweh
Yahweh was an Ancient Semitic religion, ancient Semitic deity of Weather god, weather and List of war deities, war in the History of the ancient Levant, ancient Levant, the national god of the kingdoms of Kingdom of Judah, Judah and Kingdom ...
will/shall increase/add," or "He will add."
This name, in turn, originates from the Hebrew verb ''yasap'' (''יסף''), which means "to add, increase, or repeat."
Thus, the name Increase, originated in England and was a literal translation of the Hebrew name and verb, which relates to "increase" as another child as a gift from God.
While first originating in England, the name Increase came to be used primarily by
Puritans in the early colonial United States, particularly in New England.
It was written about
Increase Mather (1639–1723), the Puritan minister, academic, and influential figure in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony, that the reason he was given the name Increase was "... the never-to-be-forgotten increase, of every sort, wherewith God favoured the country about the time of his nativity".
Notable people
*
Increase A. Lapham (1811–1875), American writer, scientist and naturalist
*
Increase Mather (1639–1723), American
Puritan minister and academic, President of
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate education, undergraduate college of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Scienc ...
*
Increase Moseley (1712–1795), American politician, Speaker of the
Vermont House of Representatives
*
Increase Nowell (1590–1655), English-born American colonial settler and administrator
*
Increase Sumner (1746–1799), American lawyer, politician, Associate Justice of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and 5th
Governor of Massachusetts
The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The governor is the chief executive, head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonw ...
*
Increase N. Tarbox (1815–1888), American writer and theologian
*
Jerome Increase Case (1819-1891), Founder of the
Case Corporation
See also
*
Joseph
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Increase
English given names
English-language masculine given names
English masculine given names
Masculine given names
Given names of Hebrew language origin
North American given names
Puritanism in the United States