Surname Jakobsen - Meaning and Origin

Jakobsen: What does the surname Jakobsen mean?

Jakobsen is a patronymic surname originating from the Scandinavian countries, primarily Denmark and Norway. The name directly translates to "son of Jakob," where Jakob is the Scandinavian form of the name Jacob. The suffix "-sen" is a common ending in Scandinavian surnames that means "son of." Thus, people with the last name Jakobsen are traditionally understood to be descendants of a person named Jakob. Across history, this naming convention has enabled easier tracing of lineage and ancestry. The name Jacob itself originates from Hebrew and is typically taken to mean "supplanter" or "one who follows." This naming system was common in Scandinavia until the usage of fixed surnames became more prevalent. As such, Jakobsen shares its origins with many other patronymic surnames such as Andersen, Petersen, and so on. Sometimes, this surname might be spelled as Jacobsen, especially in English-speaking countries.

Jakobsen: Where does the name Jakobsen come from?

The last name Jakobsen is of Scandinavian origin, more specifically from Denmark and Norway. The name is patronymic, meaning it is derived from the father's given name. In this case, Jakobsen translates to "son of Jakob", similar to how Johnson in English means "son of John".

Patronymic surnames were common in Scandinavia, only becoming fixed hereditary family names towards the end of the 19th century. As a result, Jakobsen is a commonly found surname in countries with Scandinavian roots. Today, it remains most common in its original countries of Denmark and Norway. However, due to global migration patterns, the surname has also found its way into other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada among others, particularly in regions with a significant Scandinavian diaspora.

Variations of the surname Jakobsen

The surname Jakobsen is of Scandinavian origin, mainly used in Denmark and Norway, meaning "Son of Jakob". Variations and alternative spellings of this surname can be influenced by geographic location, dialect, and changes over time. Some of them include Jacobsen, Jakobson, Jacobson, and Jakobsson.

It's also possible to find variations when the patronymic format changes to a matronymic one, e.g., Jakobsdatter (daughter of Jakob). The variant 'Jakob' may also be spelled as 'Jacob', giving rise to surnames such as Jacobson and Jacobsen, common in English-speaking countries. In some cases, a morphed form of the initial name is used, such as "Cobson" (from Cob, a diminutive of Jacob), but these are much less common.

In Icelandic tradition, the suffix 'sen' is replaced with 'son', hence, Jakobson. Similarly, in Sweden, the surname can become Jakobsson.

It should be noted that the surname can also be shortened or lengthened, giving rise to variants like Jakobs, Jakob, Jacobs, or Jacob.

Finally, these surnames can also appear in their female variations as Jacoba, Jacobina, or Jakobina, often used when adapting to different languages or cultures.

Famous people with the name Jakobsen

• Jens Jakobsen (Danish chef and restaurateur)
• Nicolai Jakobsen (Danish professional football goalkeeper)
• Niels Jakobsen (Danish former professional footballer)
• Morten Jakobsen (Danish professional ice hockey player)
• Søren Jakobsen (Danish chess master)
• Lars Jakobsen (Danish-American former professional basketball player and coach)
• Glenn Jakobsen (Norwegian professional ice hockey player and coach)
• Karsten Jakobsen (Danish rower)
• Emil Jakobsen (Norwegian speed skater and Olympic medalist)
• Line Jakobsen (Danish former professional floorball and field hockey player)
• Petur Jakobsen (Faroe Islands international footballer)
• Boidu Jakobsen (Norwegian former track and field athlete)
• Anita van der Jakobsen (Dutch field hockey player)
• Mattias Jakobsen (Swedish professional ice hockey player)
• Daniel Jakobsen (Danish professional ice hockey player)
• Oskar Jakobsen (Icelandic former professional footballer)
• Henrik Jakobsen (Danish mathematician, professor, and researcher)
• Claus Jakobsen (Danish-Swedish former track and field athlete)
• Jørn Jakobsen (Danish-Faroese professional football manager and former player)
• Line-Eva Jakobsen (Norwegian handball player, coach, and referee)

Other surnames

JakobsJakobschakJakobskötterJakobskrügerJakobsmeierJakobsmeyerJakobsohnJakobsonJakobsonsJakobsson