Surname St. Jacques - Meaning and Origin
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St. Jacques: What does the surname St. Jacques mean?
St. Jacques is a French surname, traditionally used in France and French-speaking countries. In English, 'St. Jacques' literally translates to 'Saint James'. It is often used to denote a lineage or ancestral connection to a person named Jacques who was of high regard or miracle-working in his community, hence considered a saint. However, it does not necessarily imply canonization by the Catholic church. 'Jacques' is equivalent to 'James' in the English-speaking world, so you can infer that St. Jacques implies 'Saint James'. This is a common practice in many cultures where they adopt the names of saints, hoping to receive their holy blessings and protection. The surname also suggests geographical origins from a place named after Saint James, such as the numerous Saint-Jacques found throughout France.
Order DNA origin analysisSt. Jacques: Where does the name St. Jacques come from?
The last name St. Jacques is common in the regions of France and Canada. In France, “St. Jacques” is an academically-recognized variant of the more common “Saint-Jacques.” The two spellings are both derived from the French word “saint-jacques,” which is the diminutive form of the name “Jacques” or “James” in English.
The St. Jacques surname is particularly common in the French regions of Québec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In Québec, 37 percent of households with the St. Jacques surname are concentrated in the province's Central region. In Nova Scotia, 73 percent of households with the surname are concentrated the Halifax Regional Municipality area.
The surname is also common in the Metropolitan Montreal and Montréal region for a total of about 140 thousand Province of Québec residents.
The St. Jacques name is even more common in Canada's Atlantic Region than in its other provinces and territories. In 2016, the most recent year for which census data is available, the surname was the 75th-most-common name in Canada.
In addition to being common in France and Canada, the surname is also found in the United States, with an estimated 10,059 people having the surname As of 2020. This makes it one of the top five most common French-Canadian last names in the United States.
The surname is also found in Algeria, Haiti and Madagascar where it is also relatively common.
Variations of the surname St. Jacques
The surname St. Jacques can be variously spelled and have several related variants and surnames with the same origin.
The variants of St. Jacques include St. Jacque, St. Jack, St. Jacks, St. Jackes, and St. Jacq.
A few alternate spellings of the surname are St. Jakes, St. Jacks, St. Jacque, St. Jacquesse, and St. Jacquet.
It is also sometimes spelled as Saint Jacques or St. Jak.
Related surnames of the same origin include accumulation of spellings such as Jakovich, Jak, Jack, Jacobs, Jacob, Jacq, Jacquez, Jacks, and Jackes.
Surnames which derive the same meaning or theme from St. Jacques include Kott, Gott, Gottfried, Gotte, and Gottlieb.
Additionally, surnames related to a similar meaning or origin could be Jacqueson, Jacquelin, Jacquemain, Jacquemin, Jacquesseau, and Jacqueminot.
The surname has Slavic origins, derived from the root word “jak” meaning “hawk”. It is found usually in persons of French--Canadian descent, though it is sometimes seen in British records.
The name is also held by families in England, France, and Belgium, as well as in other parts of Europe.
Overall, the surname St. Jacques can have many spellings, variants, and surnames with the same origin, and is found in many countries around the world.
Famous people with the name St. Jacques
- Micheline St. Jacques: Canadian actress best known for her roles on Papou et maboul, Deux filles en fil and Vivre et laisser mourir.
- Stéphane St. Jacques: Canadian actor and stuntman from films such as Rendez-vous, Dead Man's Curve, Hobo with a Shotgun and Wolfcop
- Stéphane St. Jaques: Canadian bobsleigh athlete from the 2009-2010 World Cup and 2010 Winter Olympics
- Donald St. Jacques: Canadian actor and producer known for his work on the films Rendition, Convenience and All the Wrong Reasons
- Fernand St. Jacques: Canadian actor best known for TV series like Elena of Avalor, Amber Alert, and The Net
- Luc St. Jacques: Canadian actor, singer, and voiceover artist from the films Friday After Next, Red Letter Day, and Charlie Belle.
- Patrice St. Jacques: Canadian film and television director, best known for his work on the television series Wonderfalls and Powerplay.
- Rémy St-Jacques: Canadian actor from films such as Little Criminals, Le Dompteur and the 2021 release St-Alexandre.
- Pierre St. Jacques: Canadian track and field athlete, track and field coach, and coach of the Canadian Olympic Team.
- Alexandre St. JacquesJuchereau de Saint-Denys: Canadian soldier and military officer best known for leading the battle against the British during the Canadian Rebellion in 1837.