Joseph Justus Scaliger was a French Calvinist religious leader and scholar, known for expanding the notion of classical history from Greek and Ancient Roman history to include Persian, Babylonian, Jewish and Ancient Egyptian history. He spent the last sixteen years of his life in the Netherlands.

Joseph Kanon is an American author, best known for thriller and spy novels set in the period immediately after World War II.

Joseph Kehrein was a German educator, philologist and historian of German literature.

Joseph-Marie-Bruno-Constantin, Baron Kervyn de Lettenhove was a Belgian historian and politician.

Joseph Kessel, also known as "Jef", was a French journalist and novelist. He was a member of the Académie française and Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Joseph Gedaliah Klausner , was a Lithuanian-born Israeli historian and professor of Hebrew literature. He was the chief redactor of the Encyclopedia Hebraica. He was a candidate for president in the first Israeli presidential election in 1949, losing to Chaim Weizmann. Klausner was the great uncle of Israeli author Amos Oz.

Joseph Nikolaevich Knebel was a Russian publisher, cultural scholar, and philanthropist of Jewish descent. He was the father of Maria Knebel. Knebel founded Russia's first specialized publishing house for fine art.

Iosif (Joseph) Davydovich Kobzon was a Russian singer, known for his crooner style.

Joseph Koenig was a German-American lawyer, educator, businessman, manufacturer, and prolific inventor who lived most of his life in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Joseph Quincy Krumgold was an American writer of books and screenplays. He was the first person to win two annual Newbery Medals for the most distinguished new American children's book.