Joseph Nissan Haroonoff (also spelled Harounoff) was born in 1898 in Bokhara to Nissan and Yokheved Haroonoff, both of them Bokharan, as was he. He was married to Allegra Harounoff (born 1913), and was a carpet import and export merchant. At the time of his naturalization in 1933, he lived at 159 Highbury New Park, Highbury, in the County of London, the same address as Samuel Nissan Harounoff, son of Nissan and Yohevet (who is therefore his brother).

            In a neighborhood record dated 1939, he is listed as living at 3 Clifton Grove, Torwood Road, Torquay, Devon, in southwest England, with his wife and Mazeara (spelling uncertain, born March 31, 1920), whose occupation, like that of Allegra, is listed as “unpaid domestic duties.” Three other individuals are listed underneath, but their names are blocked off. Living at this same address were a number of fur, skin, and carpet merchants and their families, bearing the last names Levy, Natanel, Khodadad, and Harounoff. These other household members are listed as Hadi H. Levy, Hanna Levy, and another individual whose name is blocked out; Aharon Natanel, Habib Khodadad, Naomy Khodadad, and two other individuals whose name are blocked out; Jospeh N. Harounoff, Allegra Harounoff, Mazal Harounoff, and three other individuals whose names are blocked out; Shimon R. Harounoff, Benzion Harounoff, Mazel Harounoff, and another individual whose name is blocked out; and Samuel Nissan Harounoff, Rebecca Harounoff, Jacob Harounoff, three other individuals whose names are blocked out, and Reuben Harounoff.