Jacobs is a patronymic medieval surname. Its origin is from the given name Jacob, derived from the Latin Jacobus, itself derived from the Hebrew language personal name Yaakov, from the Hebrew word akev ("heel"). It is common in English speaking countries and German speaking countries. There are many variant spellings. The first record of the surname is in 1244 in the "Cartularium Monasterii de Rameseia". Jacobs is also an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the baptismal name Jacob. The surname Jacobs referred to the son of Jacob which belongs to the category of patronymic surnames. Notable people with the surname Jacobs include:
A A. J. Jacobs (born 1968), American journalist and author AJ Jacobs (rugby union) (born 1985), South African rugby referee Aad Jacobs (born 1936), Dutch businessman Abe Jacobs (1928–2023), New Zealand professional wrestler Adolph Jacobs (1939–2014), American guitar player Adrian Jacobs (born 1980), South African rugby player Alan Jacobs (academic) (born 1958), American writer and professor Alan Jacobs (filmmaker), American film director and screenwriter Aletta Jacobs (1854–1929), Dutch physician, feminist and pacifist Alfred Jacobs (1897–1976), Australian activist for civil liberties and Aboriginal rights Allan Jacobs (born 1928), American urban designer, planner and writer Allen Jacobs American football player Alma Smith Jacobs (1916–1997), American librarian Amber Jacobs (born 1982), American basketball player Ananda Jacobs (born 1983), American actress, singer, model, producer and composer Andreas Jacobs (born 1963), German businessman Andrew Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Andrew Jacobs (journalist), reporter for The New York Times and documentary film director and producer Andrew Jacobs Sr. (1906–1992), lawyer, judge, and Congressman for one term, in Indiana Andrew Jacobs Jr. (1932–2013), lawyer, Indiana state legislator, and Congressman Andy Jacobs (born 1952), British sports radio personality Anja Jacobs (born 1974), German film director Anthony Jacobs, Baron Jacobs (1931–2014), British businessman and politician Ariël Jacobs (born 1953), Belgian football player and manager Arnold Jacobs (1915–1998), American orchestral tuba player Arnold Jacobs (cricketer) (1892–1974), Argentine cricketer Art Jacobs (1902–1967), American baseball pitcher Arthur Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Arthur Jacobs (1922–1996), English musicologist Arthur Jacobs, New Zealand cricketer known as Bert Jacobs (cricketer) Arthur I. Jacobs (1858–1918), American drill-chuck innovator Arthur P. Jacobs (1922–1973), American film producer
B Bárbara Jacobs (born 1947), Mexican writer Ben Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Ben Jacobs (American football) (born 1988), American football player Ben Jacobs (Australian rules footballer) (born 1992), Australian rules footballer Ben Jacobs (journalist), U.S. journalist Ben Jacobs (rugby union) (born 1982), Australian rugby player Benjamin Jacobs (dentist) (1919–2004), Polish Jew, Auschwitz survivor Benjamin R. Jacobs (1879–1963), American biochemist Bert Jacobs (1941–1999), Dutch football player and manager Beverley Jacobs (born 1965), Canadian First Nation lawyer and activist Bobby Jacobs (born 1965), Dutch bassist and composer for the prog-rock group Focus Brad Jacobs (born 1985), Canadian curler Brandon Jacobs (born 1982), American football player Brian Jacobs (actor), American actor Bruce Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Bruce Jacobs (radio host) (born 1964), American talk radio host Bruce Jacobs (field hockey) (born 1975), South African field hockey player J. Bruce Jacobs (1943–2019), American-born Australian academic
C C. Scott Jacobs, American communication theorist Cameron Jacobs (born 1989), South African rugby player Carrie Jacobs-Bond (1862–1946), American singer, pianist, and songwriter Charles Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Charles Fenno Jacobs (1904–1974), American photographer Charles Jacobs (activist), with American Anti-Slavery Group Charlotte Jacobs (1847–1916), Dutch feminist and pharmacist Chris Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Chris Jacobs (politician) (born 1967), American politician Chris Jacobs (swimmer) (born 1964), American swimmer Chris Jacobs (television host), American co-host of Discovery Channel television show Overhaulin''' Christian Jacobs (born 1972), American musician, television producer, voice actor and former child actor Christianne Meneses Jacobs (born 1971), Nicaraguan American writer, editor, and teacher Clare Jacobs (1886–1971), American pole vaulter Clare Jacobs, New Zealand general practitioner Curtis Jacobs (born 2002), American football player
D Daniel Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Dan Jacobs (trumpeter) (born 1942), American jazz trumpeter Dan Jacobs (born 1982), American metal guitarist with the band Atreyu Danie Jacobs (1904–1999), South African Olympic athlete Daniel Jacobs (boxer) (born 1987), American professional boxer Danny Jacobs (actor) (born 1968), American voice actor Danny Jacobs (footballer) (born 1980), Australian rules footballer Dave Jacobs (born 1957), American football player David Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: David Jacobs (broadcaster) (1926–2013), BBC radio and television presenter and actor David Jacobs (cricketer, born 1989), South African cricketer David Jacobs (gymnast), American gymnast David Jacobs (Ontario politician), Canadian lawyer and politician David Jacobs (sociologist), American sociologist David Jacobs (steroid dealer) ( 1973–2008), American personal trainer David Jacobs (table tennis) (born 1977), Indonesian table tennis player David Jacobs (Welsh athlete) (1888–1976), Welsh sprinter David Jacobs (writer) (1939–2023), American creator/writer of the television series Dallas and Knots LandingDavid Anthony Jacobs, Baron Jacobs (1931–2014), British businessman and Liberal Democrat politician David M. Jacobs (born 1942), American UFO and abduction phenomenon researcher Davy Jacobs (born 1982), South African cricketer Debbie Jacobs (born 1955), American disco singer Demontrey Jacobs (born 1998), American football player Dennis Jacobs (born 1944), American judge Denny Jacobs (born 1937), American politician Dolly Jacobs (born 1957), American circus aerialist Dore Jacobs (June 27, 1894 – March 5, 1979) Teacher of rhythmic education
E Edgar P. Jacobs (1904–1987), Belgian comic book writer and artist Édouard Jacobs (1851–1925), Belgian cellist Elizabeth Jacobs (anthropologist) (1903–1983), American anthropologist Elsy Jacobs (1933–1988), Luxembourgish road bicycle racer Elmer F. Jacobs (died 1945), American architect Ethel D. Jacobs (1910–2001), American racehorse owner/breeder Eva E. Jacobs (1921–2015), American statistician
F Ferdinand Jacobs ( 1713–1783), English Hudson's Bay Company officer Ferne Jacobs (born 1942), an American fiber artist Ferris Jacobs Jr. (1836–1886), American (New York) politician and Union Army general Francis Jacobs (born 1939), British jurist Franklin Jacobs (born 1957), an American high jumper Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Jacobs known as Friedrich Jacobs (1764–1847), German classical scholar
G Garry Jacobs (born 1946), American sociologist Gary Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Gary Jacobs (boxer) (born 1965), Scottish boxer Gary Jacobs (solicitor) (c. 1946–2002), British lawyer Gary Jacobs (writer) (born 1952), American television comedy writer and producer Gary E. Jacobs (born 1962), American businessman and philanthropist George Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: George Jacobs, Sr. ( 1620–1692), hanged for witchcraft in Salem witch trials George Jacobs (inventor) (1877–1945), American inventor George Jacobs (basketball) known as "Doc" Jacobs (died 1968), American basketball coach Georges Jacobs (born 1940), Belgian businessman Gerald Jacobs, British author Gidi Jacobs (1935–2016), Dutch football player and manager Gillian Jacobs (born 1982), American actress Glenn Jacobs (born 1967), American professional wrestler known as "Kane" Graeme Jacobs (born 1944), Australian rules footballer
H Hannah Jacobs, British illustrator and animator Hans Jacobs (1907–1994), German sailplane designer and pioneer Harold Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Harold M. Jacobs (1912–1995), Jewish and civic leader in New York Harold R. Jacobs (born 1939), American author and teacher of mathematics Harriet Jacobs (1813–1897), African-American writer and abolitionist Harry Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Harry Jacobs (American football) (1937–2021), American football player Harry Jacobs (Australian footballer) (1913–2000), Australian rules footballer Harry Jacobs (conductor) (1888–1988), Australia musician Harry Jacobs (tug of war) (fl. 1904), American tug of war athlete Harry Allan Jacobs (1872–1932), American architect Heidi Hayes Jacobs (born 1948), American educator and businesswoman Helen Jacobs (1908–1997), American tennis player ranked world #1 Helen Sheldon Jacobs Smillie (1854–1926; née Helen Sheldon Jacobs) American painter Helene Jacobs (1906–1993), German Resistance member Henry Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Henry Jacobs (1924–2015), American humorist Henry Jacobs (priest) (1824–1901), first Dean of Christchurch, New Zealand Henry Jacobs (1924–2015), American sound artist and humorist Henry Barton Jacobs (1858–1939), American physician Henry Eyster Jacobs (1844–1911), American religious figure and writer Henry S. Jacobs (1827–1893), Jamaican-American rabbi Herbert Jacobs, (1903–1987), American journalist and inventor of method of crowd measurement Hirsch Jacobs (1904–1970), American horse trainer Howard Jacobs, American sports lawyer
I Irwin M. Jacobs (born 1933), American co-founder of Qualcomm Israel Jacobs (1726–1796), colonial Pennsylvania politician
J Jack Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Jack Jacobs (1919–1974), American and Canadian football player Jack Jacobs (cricketer) (1909–2003), New Zealand cricketer Jack B. Jacobs, Delaware judge Jack H. Jacobs (born 1945), American Medal of Honor recipient Jaco Jacobs (born 1980), South African children's book author Jacob Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Jacob Jacobs (painter) (1812–1879), Belgian painter Jacob Jacobs (theater) (1890–1977), Yiddish theater and vaudeville director, producer, etc. James Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: James Jacobs (game designer), American game designer James B. Jacobs (1947–2020), American law professor Jamie Jacobs, second individual to assume identity of American western hero Phantom Rider Jamie Jacobs (footballer) (born 1997), Dutch (soccer) football player Jane Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Jane Jacobs (1916–2006), American-Canadian urbanist Jane Jacobs (baseball) (1924–2015), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Jane M. Jacobs (born 1958), Australian geographer Janet Jacobs (born 1928), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player Janice L. Jacobs (born 1946), American Foreign Service Officer Jay Jacobs (disambiguation), several people, including: Jay Jacobs (broadcaster) (born 1938), American sports announcer Jay Jacobs (businessman) (1911–2013), American founder of Jay Jacobs clothing retailer Jay Jacobs (politician) (born 1953), American politician Jay Jacobs (athletic director) (born 1964), American athletic director Jean-Charles Jacobs (1821–1907), Belgian physician and entomologist Jerry Jacobs (disambiguation), multiple people Jill Jacobs (born 1951), American educator and wife of President Joe Biden Jill Jacobs (rabbi) (born 1975), American Conservative rabbi Jim Jacobs (born 1942), American composer, lyricist, and writer