JACOBS
Jacobs is a surname of Hebrew origin, derived from the personal name Jacob. The given name stems from the Hebrew Yakoov, traditionally interpreted as meaning “heel” and consequently “supplanter” or “one who follows”. In biblical tradition Jacob is the younger twin brother of Esau, reputed to have been born holding his brother’s heel, a narrative that underpins the semantic development of the name.
The surname is patronymic, signifying descent from an ancestor called Jacob. It first appears in medieval England in the mid‑13th century, with the earliest recorded spelling “Jacobes” belonging to Agnes Jacobes in 1244. Variant spellings such as Jacubs and Jakobs occur in contemporary records. By the late 17th century the name is documented in London parish registers, for example Henry Jacobs (married 1684) and Francis Jacobs (married 1696). The surname was also borne by emigrants, such as Kenny Jacobs, a famine refugee who sailed from London to New York in 1846.
Although the name is rooted in the English milieu, it is common among Jewish communities and has been transmitted globally through migration and immigration. In the British Isles the surname is principally associated with England, where it is spoken in the English language and historically linked to Christian religious contexts.
A heraldic emblem associated with a Jacobs family of Ripple in Kent features a quarterly division dancettee of sable and or, the first quarter bearing a golden pelican. This coat of arms illustrates the integration of the Jacobs lineage into the Anglo‑British gentry.
Typical given names associated with the Jacobs surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Daniel
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Karen
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Patricia
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Jacobs in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Jacobs are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Digestive.
There are approximately 16,925 people named Jacobs in the UK. That makes it the 525th most common surname in Britain. Around 260 in a million people in Britain are named Jacobs.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Jacobs
- Glenn Thomas Jacobs - American professional wrestler, actor, businessman, and politician
- W. W. Jacobs - Author of short stories and novels (1863 to 1943)
- Gillian Jacobs - American film, theater and television actress
- Jaye Jacobs - Actress
- David Jacobs - Broadcaster (1926 to 2013)
- Matthew Jacobs - Writer
- Michael Jacobs - Football player
- Jon Jacobs - Actor
- Louis Jacobs - Founder of Masorti (1920 to 2006)
- John Jacobs - Professional golfer (1925 to 2017)
- David Jacobs - Athlete (1888 to 1976)
- Francis Jacobs - Lawyer
- Gary Jacobs - Boxer
- Anthony Jacobs, Baron Jacobs - Businessman and an Independent politician (1931 to 2014)
- Wayne Jacobs - Professional football player
- Arthur Jacobs - Music critic and musicologist (1922 to 1996)
- Simmone Jacobs - Sprinter
- Michael J. Jacobs - Photojournalist
- Ron Jacobs - Rugby union player and administrator (1928 to 2002)
- Joyce Jacobs - -Australian actress (1922 to 2013)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.