Surname Jakab - Meaning and Origin

Jakab: What does the surname Jakab mean?

The surname Jakab is of Hungarian origin and is derived from the given name Jakab. Jerzy Jakabowicz, in his book Słownik nazwisk współcześnie w Polsce używanych, states that the name "Jakab" is derived from the name Jakub, an Old Testament name meaning "grasper, holder of the heel." This surname is found all over the world, especially in numerous parts of Central and Eastern Europe.

In Hungary, it is a very common surname, ranking 67th in terms of frequency. It is believed to have been in use since at least the 16th century. In the United States, the surname is found mostly in states with strong Hungarian heritages, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.

It is thought that the surname Jakab originates from a root word meaning "tamer, breaker, teacher, instructor." This root word is etymologically related to the old Turkish name Yaqub, which was brought to Hungary by nomadic Turkic-speaking people. It is likely that many different variations of this name were created by spelling changes and by the influence of different languages.

Jakab is thus a keeper of the legacy of the nomadic tribes that wandered the land and brought with them different languages, cultures, and traditions. This name and its many variations continue to live on as a testament to the rich history of the region.

Jakab: Where does the name Jakab come from?

The surname Jakab is most commonly found in Hungary. This surname is also present in various other Central and Eastern European countries, such as Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, and Croatia.

In Hungary, Jakab is an occupational surname. It is derived from the Hungarian word ‘jakab’, which means ‘smith’. As such, the surname is derived from the profession of metalworking or smithing. It is believed that those who bore the surname were able to work with copper, iron, and other metals.

In Slovakia, the surname Jakab is derived from the given name Jakab, which is a variant form of Jacob. The given name itself is derived from Hebrew and its meaning is “he who replaces”.

Today, Jakab is a rather uncommon surname. According to a study conducted in 2011, there are only 1,113 people in Hungary bearing the surname, compared to other frequently occurring surnames such as Kiss, Nagy, Horváth, and Kovács. The surname is also rather rare outside of Hungary, with some countries containing lower than 10 people bearing the surname, such as Croatia, Slovenia, and Germany.

Variations of the surname Jakab

Jakab (or Jacob) is a surname of multiple origins. Spellings and variants of this name include: Yakup, Yakab, Yakov, Jakabovics, and Jakabovic.

The Jakab surname is considered to be of Jewish origin from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means "supplanter." It is more commonly translated as "may God protect." The Jakab surname is found in former Austro-Hungarian territories, such as Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia. In some of these locations, the Jakab surname is written as "Jakabović," and in other places as "Jakabovič," to distinguish between male and female bearers.

The Jakab surname is also found in the United States. It is most likely an Americanized version of the more common Jacobs surname. The Jacobs surname is derived from the Low German Jakob, which was a medieval personal name. Jacobs is the most common spelling of this surname in the United States.

The Jakab surname is also found in northern and western Europe, especially in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic MacShuibhne surname, taken from the Old Irish element "Mac Giolla Sheachnaidh," meaning "son of the devotee of Saint Seachnall."

Ultimately, the Jakab surname has multiple spellings, variants, and origins—all making it a unique name.

Famous people with the name Jakab

• Andrij Jakab: Hungarian cyclist
• Balázs Jakab: Hungarian footballer
• Gábor Jakab: Hungarian mathematician
• Jenő Jakab: Hungarian historian
• László Jakab: Hungarian painter
• Szabolcs Jakab: Hungarian basketball player
• Zoltán Jakab: Hungarian visual artist
• Marcelo Jakab: Argentinian actor
• George Jakab: Hungarian-American musicologist
• Michal Jakab: Slovakian footballer
• Dusan Jakab: Slovakian basketball player
• Gejza Jakab: Slovakian footballer
• and Peter Jakab: Slovakian-Austrian artist

Other surnames

Jakameit