The origin of the name James

The origin of the name James

English: from a given name that has the same origin as Jacob but that is now felt to be a separate name in its own right. This is largely because in the Authorized Version of the Bible (1611) the form James is used in the New Testament as the name of two of Christ's apostles (James the brother of John and James the brother of Andrew), whereas in the Old Testament the brother of Esau is called Jacob. The form James comes from Latin Jacobus via Late Latin Jac(o)mus, which also gave rise to Jaime, the regular form of the name in Spanish (as opposed to the learned Jacobo).

Augmentative: Italian: Giacomoni.

Cognates: Catalan: Jaume. French: Jacquème. Italian: Comi, Como, Cumo, Giacomi, Giacomo, Giamo, Iacomi, Iacomo. Provençal: Jamme, Jammes, Jaulme, Jaulmes, Jaume, Jaumes, Jayume. Spanish: Jaime.

Diminutives: French: Jacquemet, Jacqueminet, Jacqueminot, Jacquemot, Jacquemy, Jaqueminet, Jaqueminot, Jaquemy. Italian: Camoletto, Camolli, Comoletti, Comolli; Camosso, Giacomozzo, Mozzetti, Mozzi, Mozzini; Comizzoli, Mizzi; Comelini, Comelli, Comellini, Comello, Giacomelli, Giacomello, Giammelli, Iacomelli, Mello; Cometti, Cometto, Giacometti, Giametti, Giamitti, Iacometti, Iamitti; Cominello, Cominetti, Comini, Comino, Cominoli, Cominotti, Giacomini, Iacomini; Comucci, Comusso, Comuzzo, Giacomucci, Giacomuzzi, Giacomuzzo, Giamusso, Giamuzzi, Mucci, Muccino, Mucillo, Muselli, Musilli, Mussetti, Mussettini, Mussolini, Musso, Mussotti, Muzzi, Muzzillo, Muzzini, Muzzolo, Muzzullo; Mottinelli, Mottini, Motto. Provençal: Jamet, Jammet, Jamot, Jaumet.

Patronymics: English: Fitzjames; Gemson, Gimson, Jemison, Jimpson, Jimson; Jameson; Jamieson, Jamison (chiefly Scotland);. Italian: Di Giacomo. Scots: McKeamish, McJames (Gaelic Mac Sheumais). Spanish: Jaimez.

Patronymics (from a diminutive): Italian: Di Giacomettino.

Pejoratives: French: Jacmar, Jacmard, Jacquemar, Jacquemard, Jaquemar, Jaquemard. Italian: Comazzo, Giacomasso, Giacomazzo, Mazzo.

Fitzjames was the surname assumed by James Fitzjames (1670 — 1734), illegitimate son of James II of England and Arabella Churchill, sister of the Duke of Marlborough. He was created Duke of Berwick but was attainted after taking part in the siege of Londonderry. He then served as a soldier in Hungary and France, and was created Marshal of France. The family's European titles include the French dukedom of Fitzjames and the Spanish dukedom of Alba.


James or variants was the 52nd most common name in England and Wales according to a survey taken by H.M.Treasury in 1944, with a relative frequency of 0.19%.


pinkJames in my family tree


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