Surname Jakobson - Meaning and Origin

Jakobson: What does the surname Jakobson mean?

The last name Jakobson is of Scandinavian origin and it translates to "son of Jakob." This follows a traditional Nordic naming system, where the father's name is included in the child's surname to indicate lineage or genealogy. In this case, someone named Jakobson is identified as Jakob's son. The name Jakob, also spelled Jacob in different cultures, is of Hebrew origin and is said to mean "seizing by the heel" or "supplanting." Thus, the surname Jakobson signifies a patronymic relationship to a person named Jakob. This type of naming convention is common in many cultures, especially in regions with Nordic or Scandinavian influence such as Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. Patronymic surnames are less common today but still used, especially in Iceland.

Jakobson: Where does the name Jakobson come from?

Jakobson is a patronymic last name of Scandinavian origin, most common in countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland. It means "son of Jakob," similar to other patronymic names following the Nordic tradition of using the father’s first name as the child’s surname, often with the suffix "-son" or "-sen". The name 'Jakob', equivalent to 'Jacob' in English, has roots in Hebrew, originating from the name 'Ya'aqov', meaning "seizing by the heel" or "supplanting."

Today, Jakobson is fairly common in Scandinavian countries and it's also found among people of Scandinavian descent around the world, particularly in places like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, despite this overall spread, the surname still retains its strongest presence in its countries of origin, such as Sweden and Denmark. In Iceland, the surname is less common due to a different naming tradition, where the suffix "-son" or "-dóttir" follows the first name of the father or mother on a case by case basis.

Variations of the surname Jakobson

The surname Jakobson, a common surname in various Scandinavian and Nordic countries, has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Jakob", formed by adding a suffix to the personal name of the father.

Some common variants include Jakobsen, which is mostly used in Norway, and Jakobsson, which is primarily used in Sweden. Other spellings might substitute the "k" in Jakob for a "c" (Jacobsen, Jacobsson) or a "ck" (Jackobson, Jackobsson). The replacement of "son" with "sen" is also common, as these endings are used interchangeably in many Nordic countries to indicate "son of". Some English variants may include Jacobson or Jacobsons.

Other surnames of the same origin, stemming from the name Jakob, include Jakob, Jacobs, Jakobs, Jacob, and Jacobi. The Russian equivalent of this surname is Yakovlev (son of Yakov), while in Polish it could be Jakubowicz. In Hebrew, a similar surname would be Ben-Ya'akov, meaning "son of Ya'akov", another version of Jakob.

It's important to note that while the origins of the names are the same, their usage can be strongly tied to regional and cultural differences.

Famous people with the name Jakobson

• Mose Jakobson: Estonian professional hockey player and coach
• Roman Jakobson: Russian linguist who made significant contributions to structural linguistics and Russian formalism
• Mart Jakobson: Estonian politician and former Prime Minister
• Paul Jakobson: Estonian physician and academic
• Kristina Jakobson: Swedish journalist, moderator and editor
• Heiki Jakobson: Estonian lawyer and businessman
• Georg Jakobson: Estonian lawyer and politician
• Roland Jakobson: French philosopher
• Indrek Jakobson: Estonian horse rider
• Olavi Jakobson: Estonian professor and historian

Other surnames

JakobsJakobschakJakobsenJakobskötterJakobskrügerJakobsmeierJakobsmeyerJakobsohnJakobsonsJakobsson