Jacob History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Germany 
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  Ireland 


The name Jacob is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Jacob. The surname Jacob referred to the son of Jacob which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames.

"The medieval surname was not Jewish. Jacob is found before the Conquest as the name of an ecclesiastic. After the Conquest, it is impossible to decide how common the name was as the Latin Jacobus was used for both Jacob and James." 1

Early Origins of the Jacob family

The surname Jacob was first found in Huntingdonshire where Jacob (with no forename) was listed c. 1250. The same rolls included Walter Jacob. Agnes Jacobes was found in Bedfordshire in 1244 and Alan Jacob was listed in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1324. 1

"Nicholas Jacob was rector of Burgh in 1419; and William Jacob was a cavalier of Mendham in 1642; the name was also represented in Creeting in Suffolk in 1648. In the reign of Edward I. we find this name in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire." 2

Early History of the Jacob family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jacob research. Another 159 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1290, 1563, 1564, 1588, 1597, 1620, 1623, 1624, 1640, 1641, 1662, 1666, 1667, 1675, 1679, 1688, 1692, 1693, 1703, 1722 and 1739 are included under the topic Early Jacob History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jacob Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Jacob include Jacobs, Jacob and others.

Early Notables of the Jacob family

Distinguished members of the family include

Jacob World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jacob is the 1,894th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Jacob is ranked the 836th most popular surname with an estimated 6,407 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Jacob is the 529th popular surname. 6 France ranks Jacob as 171st with 19,579 people. 7

Migration of the Jacob family to Ireland

Some of the Jacob family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.



Jacob migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Jacob Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Jacob Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Jacob Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Jacob Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Jacob migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jacob Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Jacob Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jacob migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Jacob Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jacob migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Jacob Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Jacob (post 1700) +





Suggested Readings for the name Jacob +





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