Jacobs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
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Jacobs is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal name Jacob. The surname Jacobs 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 Jacobs family

The surname Jacobs 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 Jacobs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jacobs 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 Jacobs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jacobs Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Jacobs has been recorded under many different variations, including Jacobs, Jacob and others.

Early Notables of the Jacobs family

Distinguished members of the family include

Jacobs World Ranking

In the United States, the name Jacobs is the 231st most popular surname with an estimated 114,402 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Jacobs is ranked the 721st most popular surname with an estimated 7,440 people with that name. 4 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Jacobs is the 278th popular surname with an estimated 160 people with that name. 5 France ranks Jacobs as 4,714th with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 6 Australia ranks Jacobs as 491st with 7,794 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Jacobs as 435th with 1,546 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Jacobs as 596th with 10,973 people. 9 Netherlands ranks Jacobs as 29th with 22,312 people. 10 South Africa ranks Jacobs as 17th with 130,364 people. 11

Migration of the Jacobs family to Ireland

Some of the Jacobs 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.


Jacobs migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Jacobs or a variant listed above:

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

Jacobs migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Jacobs Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Jacobs migration to Australia +

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

Jacobs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Jacobs 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:

Jacobs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Jacobs (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Jacobs +
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