James
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James Surname Genealogy
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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.
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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.
America. The first James in America would appear to have been John James, a Welshman from Carnarvon who came to Virginia around 1650. His descendants became Baptists and settled in Kentucky. Later descendants were the outlaws Jesse and Frank James.
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.
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James Resources on
The
Internet
- Twelve James Family Generations. A James family from Staffordshire to Pennsylvania.
- Stray Leaves. A James Family in America since 1650.
- Some Ancestors of Jesse James. Ancestors of the outlaw.
- James DNA Project. James DNA.
America. The first James in America would appear to have been John James, a Welshman from Carnarvon who came to Virginia around 1650. His descendants became Baptists and settled in Kentucky. Later descendants were the outlaws Jesse and Frank James.
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
Select Surname List
For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.
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