James


Select James Surname Genealogy

The surname James comes from the personal name which has the same origin as Jacob (the Latin Jacobus).  Jacobus and James appeared interchangeable in 13th century records.

However, James developed as a separate name in its own right, largely because in the authorized version of the Bible the form James was 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 was called Jacob.  

It is a common surname throughout Britain and is particularly to be found in south Wales and the west country.

Select James Resources on The Internet

Select James Names

Jesse James was a legendary outlaw of the old West.
Henry James was an American-born writer in England during Victorian times of novels such as The Portrait of a Lady.   His brother was the philosopher William James.
Alex James was a Scottish footballer, one of the Wembley wizards who thrashed England in 1928.
Elmore James was blues guitarist from Mississippi, known as "the king of the slide guitar."
C.L.R James was the Trinidad-born writer and journalist, best known for his cricketing book, Beyond A Boundary.
P.D James is a popular English crime writer.

Select James Today
  • 152,000 in the UK (most numerous in London)
  • 67,000 in America (most numerous in Texas)
  • 54,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia)
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