James History,

Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name James was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the personal name Jacob, the Latin Jacobus via the Late Latin Jacomus. The Latin Jacobus is derived from the Hebrew name Yaakov which is traditionally interpreted as coming from the Hebrew akev, which means heel. [1]

“The first appearance of this Christian name in our annals is in the Domesday [Book].” [2]

James the Cistercian (fl. 1270), also called James the Englishman, “was the first professor of philosophy and theology in the college which Stephen Lexington, Abbot of Clairvaux, founded in the house of the counts of Champagne at Paris for the instruction of young Cistercians. ” [3]

Early Origins of the James family

The surname James was first found in Surrey. At an early time the name migrated from Normandy under the name FitzJames, as one of the noble house of Normandy. In nearby Utrecht the name became Van Haestrecht, whence it became FitzJames again, having migrated from Utrecht into England, into the manor of Ightham, at the time of King John, about the year 1210 A.D. They acquired the manors and estates of Hamon de Cravignuier, from De Inge, Zouch of Harringworth, Read, and Willoughby, and thence to the noble house of James.

“In early documents the name is usually Jacobus, but James is occasionally found in the 12th and 13th centuries, sometimes alternating with Jack or its diminutives Jackamin, Jackett and Jacklin.” [4]

“The principal home of this name is in South Wales and Monmouthshire. Lower tells us of a very ancient Pembroke family possessing an estate successively held by thirteen persons bearing the name of William James. [2] The name is also frequent in Shropshire and Herefordshire on the Welsh border, and in the neighbouring counties of Gloucester and Stafford. It is also numerous in the south – west of England, especially in Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall. In the eastern counties it nearly disappears, but it reappears in the north, though in no great numbers. ” [5]

Early History of the James family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our James research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1592, 1638, 1592, 1573, 1629, 1573, 1593, 1635, 1619, 1593, 1542, 1617, 1542, 1610, 1681, 1653, 1661, 1661, 1620, 1700, 1661, 1679, 1689, 1690, 1619, 1670, 1654, 1656, 1624, 1705, 1659, 1626, 1685, 1659, 1673, 1702, 1644 and 1719 are included under the topic Early James History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

James Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include James, Fitzjames, St. James, Jaimes, Geames and many more.

Early Notables of the James family (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Richard James (1592-1638), English scholar, born at Newport in the Isle of Wight in 1592, the third son of Andrew James of that town, by his wife Dorothy, daughter of Philip Poore of Durrington, Wiltshire. [3] Thomas James (1573?-1629), was Bodley’s librarian, uncle of Richard James [q. v.], was born about 1573 at Newport, Isle of Wight. [3] Thomas James (1593?-1635?), was a navigator, a kinsman, it is believed, of Thomas James (d. 1619), alderman and twice mayor of Bristol, was born about 1593. [3]William James (1542-1617), was Bishop of Durham, the second son of… 
Another 257 words (18 lines of text) are included under the topic Early James Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

James World Ranking

In the United States, the name James is the 71^st most popular surname with an estimated 261,135 people with that name. [6] However, in Canada, the name James is ranked the 159^thmost popular surname with an estimated 22,043 people with that name. [7] And in France, the name James is the 947^th popular surname with an estimated 5,534 people with that name. [8]Australia ranks James as 46^th with 41,206 people. [9] New Zealand ranks James as 73^rd with 4,726 people. [10] The United Kingdom ranks James as 46^th with 85,698 people. [11] South Africa ranks James as 357^th with 19,311 people.