Jakob Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Jakob surname: its meaning, its roots in Germany, and its heraldry.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Jakob coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Jakob name
Jakob comes from the personal name Jakob, the German form of Jacob, which reached Europe through the Bible and was spread by the cult of St James the Great, Jakobus. In the German lands Jakob became one of the most frequent baptismal names of the later Middle Ages. As a surname it is most common in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland, often in the forms Jacob and Jacobi.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Jakob name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Jakob name in Germany. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland and the United States; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Jakob family history
The researched Jakob pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Jakob coat of arms.
Jakob name FAQ
What does the Jakob name mean?
From Jakob (Jacob). Common variants include Jacob, Jacobi, Jäckel.
Where does the Jakob surname come from?
It originates in Germany, and is also found in Austria, Switzerland and the United States.
Is there a Jakob coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Jakob crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Jakob coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).