Surname James - Meaning and Origin
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B. James
read moreJames: What does the surname James mean?
The surname James is of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical name Yaakov, or Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows." In the Bible, Jacob was known for cleverly taking his older brother Esau's birthright. Thus, this surname significantly refers to someone who overtakes or supplants another, often through cunning or deceit. In many cultures, names were often given to represent the character or behavior of a certain individual or their descendants. Over centuries, James has become widespread in English and non-English speaking countries due to the Christian tradition of naming children after saints and biblical figures. Despite its traditional meaning, the current bearers of the last name James do not necessarily share the historical behavioral attributes associated with the name.
Order DNA origin analysisJames: Where does the name James come from?
The surname James is of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Jacob. It was introduced to England by way of France during the Norman Conquest in 1066, at which time it was usually spelled 'Gemmes'. It later evolved into James. The surname was often bestowed as a nickname to someone who bore a fancied resemblance to a well-known bearer of the name James or Jacques.
As for its geographic popularity today, James is a very common surname in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States. According to data from the 2000 U.S. Census, it is the 80th most common surname in the United States. It is also prevalent in the United Kingdom, specifically in Wales and South West England. Moreover, it is commonly used as a masculine first name across the English-speaking world. In terms of global distribution, the highest concentration of people with the surname James is in Jamaica, followed by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and then the United States. The surname has significant presence in English-speaking Caribbean countries likely due to British colonial influence.
Variations of the surname James
The surname James has a Hebrew origin and it has been used as both a first and last name throughout history. Its Hebrew form is Yaʻaqov, transformed into Iacomus in Latin, which later gave rise to James in English.
The surname has been altered and anglicized over time creating several variants and spelling changes. Variants include Jaimieson, Jameson, Jamieson, Jemson, and Jimson, often with prefixes such as "Fitz" - as in Fitzjames, or "Mac" - as in MacJames. Spellings of the surname James can sometimes include a 's', as in 'James's'. There are also versions in different languages, like Giacomo in Italian, Jacques in French, Diego in Spanish, Diogo in Portuguese, Jakob in German and Jacob in Dutch and English.
In terms of the origin of surnames that are similar to James, they often indicate a relationship to a patriarch named James, or to a geographical location, with the 'son' suffix signifying 'son of James'. Some surnames like Jameson and Jamison are common patronymic derivatives. In general, it's critically important to note that the variants of the surname James are subject to the language, culture and specific regions.
Famous people with the name James
- LeBron James: American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- Jesse James: American outlaw, bank and train robber, and leader of the James–Younger Gang.
- Henry James: American author, who was born in New York City and later moved to England.
- James Dean: American actor.
- Jamie Foxx: American actor, singer, songwriter, and comedian.
- James Woods: American film and television actor.
- Billie Eilish: American singer and songwriter.
- James Franco: American actor, director, screenwriter, comedian, producer, and teacher.
- Willow Smith: American singer, songwriter, and actress.
- Billy Idol: English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor.