Surname Jakoby - Meaning and Origin
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Jakoby: What does the surname Jakoby mean?
The surname Jakoby is of Germanic origin, meaning "son of Jacob". The Jacob in question was a biblical patriarch, the father of the twelve sons who gave their names to the twelve tribes of Israel. As a surname, Jakoby first appeared in German records in the 1500s and has since spread across Europe and beyond.
In Germany, Jakoby is a common surname and is usually associated with people of Jewish descent. The name may have been adopted by German Jews who converted to Christianity to avoid persecution but retained pieces of their Jewish identity by keeping the ancestral surname. There are a number of variants of the name Jakoby, such as Jakobsen, Jacobson, Jacobi, and Koby.
The Jakoby surname is very rare in the United States, but can be found in parts of Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. It is thought that the earliest Jakobys to settle in America arrived in the 1700s from Germany, likely seeking economic opportunities or religious freedom.
While Jakoby may not be a common name, it still carries important cultural significance. Those who bear the surname are a living reminder of the struggles of Jewish people throughout history and the perseverance of those who risked much in their search for a better life.
Order DNA origin analysisJakoby: Where does the name Jakoby come from?
The last name Jakoby is commonly found in countries in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Slovakia, Poland, and Belarus. Jakoby is also common in parts of Germany and Austria.
The name can be traced back to the 12th century, when it is believed to have originated in the region of southern Germany. Records from the late Middle Ages suggest that the root of the name comes from the first name Jakob, and the suffix -oby which means 'son of'. Over time, the surname has been modified and spread throughout parts of Europe, hence the prevalence in those countries today.
In American records, Jakoby is traceable to the mid-1800s, when a wave of immigration brought with it a number of families with the surname Jakoby. The largest concentrations of Jakoby in the United States are found in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
Today, the Jakoby surname is found scattered across the globe. Variations of the name, Jakobovič or Jakóby, can still be found in Europe. In America, slight alterations in spelling, such as Jakoby or Jakobowy are more popular among those of Slavic descent.
Variations of the surname Jakoby
The Jakoby surname is a German-Hebrew surname derived from the male first name “Jakob”, meaning “God may protect”. Variants and spellings of the Jakoby surname include Jacoby, Jejacoby, Jaccoby, Jocoby, Jakobey, Jakobie, Jacoby, Jakob, Jakoboff, Jakobowitz, Jakobovitz, Yakoby, Yaccoby, Yakobie, Yakoby, Yacoby, Yekobe, Yaoobie, Yaooby, Yaacoby, Yaecoby, Yaokoby, Yaakoby, Yaokobie, and Yakobish.
The Jakoby surname is found primarily in the United States, where it is the 581st most common surname. Other countries with significant populations of Jakoby’s include Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria.
A few notable individuals with the Jakoby surname include Brian Jakoby (1927-2004), a taxonomic expert specializing in the classifications of lizards; John Jakoby (1943-2007), a former professional baseball player; and Rik Jakoby (1900-1962), a professional ice hockey player.
The Jakoby surname can also be spelled with a “J” or a “Y”, depending on the region. Other surnames derived from the same origin, such as Jacobson, Jacobsen, and Jacobsen, may also be encountered.
Famous people with the name Jakoby
- Michael Jakoby: German actor best known for his roles in The Physician, The Baader Meinhof Complex, and Holy Smoke.
- Grażyna Jakoby: Polish politician and doctor who served as Minister of Health from 2001 to 2005.
- Vincent Jakoby: French actor known for his roles in Les Journalistes, Stalag 17, and Dynasty.
- Jerry Jakoby: American film producer and television executive who is best known for his work on films like Iron Man and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
- Tracy Jakoby: American television executive best known for her work on the television series Desperate Housewives and One Tree Hill.
- Rafał Jakoby: Polish soccer player who has played in multiple clubs in Poland like Legia Warsaw, Lech Poznań, and Wisła Kraków.
- Olaf Jakoby: German actor best known for his roles in Freunde (TV series), Wertheim Village, and Insider.
- Jerzy Jakoby: Polish weightlifter and coach who was a three-time European Champion and won silver in the 1948 Summer Olympics.
- Leszek Jakoby: Polish writer and poet who wrote several books, including Stanisław i Karafiata and Dywan Nocy.
- Robert Jakoby: German actor best known for his roles in Praxis Bullerbü, Hochzeit (TV series), and Warum lügt Anton.