Surname St. James - Meaning and Origin
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St. James: What does the surname St. James mean?
The surname St. James is of patronymic origin, derived from the name of a person's father. However, it is also associated with locations named after St. James, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus in the Christian religion. The "St." part reaffirms this religious connotation, referring to "Saint". Thus, this last name generally represents descendants, devotees or inhabitants of places dedicated to St. James, who were often pilgrims. The surname is popular among English and French ancestries. St. James was also known as James the Great. He was the patron saint of Spain, and his relics are enshrined at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Therefore, the family name St. James carries with it connotations of devout Christian heritage, pilgrimage, and historical religious importance.
Order DNA origin analysisSt. James: Where does the name St. James come from?
The last name St. James is common today primarily in the United States and Canada. It is also found in some Caribbean islands, such as Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda, as well as in countries in the Indian Ocean, such as Mauritius and Seychelles.
The original meaning of the name St. James refers to the pilgrimage made to the shrine of St. James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This site is considered the third holiest in Christendom (after Jerusalem and Rome) and was a major destination for religious pilgrims during the Middle Ages. The last name is believed to come from people who completed this pilgrimage or had a connection to it in some way.
Today, the last name St. James is most popular in the US. The 2010 Census recorded more than 3,800 people with the last name. Most of the individuals with the last name are concentrated in the south and eastern US, with the largest population found in Georgia (706 people) and Alabama (469 people).
In Canada, the last name is more heavily concentrated in Ontario and Quebec. The 2006 Canadian Census recorded 1,009 St. James households, and the 2016 Canadian Census reported 1,425 St. James households - an increase of 41%.
In addition, people with the last name St. James can be found in some Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, Colombia, and Mexico. The origins of these St. James households remain unknown, but it is likely that they come from Spanish progenitors from Spain or the Caribbean.
Variations of the surname St. James
The surname St. James (or St James) can refer to multiple distinct variants and spellings. Some of these variations include Saint James, Saintjames, St Jamies, Staizes, Staiz, Sainzamor, Saint-James, Saint Jamme, St. Jamme and St. Jaime. There may also be surnames that have evolved out of the origin of the same name, with slight alterations in spelling for example, Saintjameson, Stjamison, Saintjameson, Stjameson and Saintejamson.
In some cases, the surname St. James can also refer to the name Jameson, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacSean, an established variant of St. James. Other related surnames include Stjamieson, Stanton, Stanson, Jamison, Sainte, Sainzemore, and Saintmor.
In France, the name Saint-Jacques is a variation equivalent of the surname St. James, derived from Saint Jacques, the French for Saint James.
All of the aforementioned spelling variations appear to have their roots from the historical French spelling of Saint Jacques, a form of Jacques, meaning supplanter, was one of the apostles and martyrs of Christ. To this day, it is believed to be the most widely recognized surname across Europe, with variations found throughout France, Belgium, Germany and Scotland.
The name of Saint James likely refers to the historical martyr, Saint James the Greater, who was one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is renowned for his contribution to the Christian faith, and for his missionary travels to modern-day Spain. Not only is he regarded as an influential figure in Christian culture, but he is also the patron saint of Spain, serving as the nation’s protector and source of national pride.
Famous people with the name St. James
- Jessie St. James, American actor
- Earl St. James, American politician
- Kate St. James, American author
- Thomas St. James, Australian cricketer
- Stuart St. James, American singer and songwriter
- T.R. St. James, music producer
- George St. James, British actor
- Moses St. James, American musician
- St. James Infirmary, American blues band
- Tim St. James, British footballer