James is a surname in the French language,Albert Dauzat, Noms et prénoms de France, Librairie Larousse 1980, édition revue et commentée par Marie-Thérèse Morlet, p. 340a. and in the English language originating from the given name, itself derived from Old French James, variant form of Jacme, Jame, from Late Latin Jacomus, variant form of Latin Jacobus, itself from Hebrew (). Notable people with the surname include:
A A. P. T. James (c. 1908–1962), better known as 'Fargo' James; Tobagonian politician Aaron James (basketball) (born 1952), American basketball player Aaron James (Australian footballer) (born 1976), Australian rules footballer from Victoria Ada James (1876–1952), American suffragist and reformer Adam James (actor) (born 1972), British actor Adam James (singer) (fl. 2000s–2010s), Australian country singer Aidan James (born 2001), American singer and musician Alan James (1890–1952), American film director and screenwriter Alan James (poet) (fl. 1970s–2020s), South African poet Alec James (cricketer) (1889–1961), Welsh cricketer Aled James (born 1982), Welsh rugby union footballer Alex James (footballer) (1901–1953), Scottish soccer player Alex James (musician) (born 1968), English musician and journalist, member of band Blur Alex James (songwriter) (born 1976), songwriter and producer Alice James (1848–1892), American diarist Allen James (born 1964), American racewalker Andre James (born 1997), American football player Andrea James (born 1967), American writer, film producer, director and LGBT rights activist Andrea James (playwright), Australian playwright, author of Sunshine Super Girl Angela James (born 1964), Canadian ice hockey player Angharad James (poet) (1677–1749), Welsh language poet Ann James (born 1952), Australian illustrator and writer Ann James (artist) (1925–2011), English-born Canadian artist and educator Annie Laurie Wilson James (1862–?), American journalist Anthony James (actor) (1942–2020), American actor Anthony James (artist) (born 1974), English sculptor, painter and performance artist Antonio James (c. 1954–1996), American murderer Antony James (born 1989), British swimmer Archibald James (1893–1980), British politician and Royal Air Force officer Art and Arthur James (disambiguation), multiple people Art James (1929–2004), American game show host Art James (baseball), American baseball player Arthur James (racehorse owner) (1853–1917), British racehorse owner Arthur James (footballer) (1855–1911), English footballer Arthur James (politician) (1883–1973), Governor of Pennsylvania Arthur Lorne James (1903–1964), Air Vice-Marshal in the Royal Canadian Air Force Arthur G. James (1912–2001), American surgeon Arthur James (judge) (1916–1976), English Court of Appeal judge Ashley James (curator), American curator Augustus James (1866–1934), Australian politician Aurora James (born 1984), Canadian creative director, activist, and fashion designer Aziaha James (born 2002), American basketball player
B Barbara James (1943–2003), Australian author, historian, journalist, political adviser and activist Barry James, English stage actor Becky James (born 1991), Welsh cyclist Benjamin James (disambiguation), multiple people Benjamin James (Nova Scotia politician), farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia Benjamin F. James (1885–1961), Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania Benjamin James (American football) (1912–2015), head football coach for the Dickinson College Red Devils, 1942 Benjamin James (Nova Scotia politician), farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia Bernard James (born 1985), American basketball player Bernie James (baseball) (1905–1994), American baseball player Bernie James (born 1958), English–born, American soccer player Bert James (disambiguation), multiple people Bert James (baseball) (1886–1959), American baseball player Bert James (1914–2006), Australian politician Betty James (1918–2008), American businesswoman who named the slinky Bill James (disambiguation), multiple people Bill James (pitcher, born 1887) (1887–1942), baseball player Bill James (pitcher, born 1892) (1892–1971), baseball player Bill James (novelist) (1929–2023), novelist Bill James (American politician) (1930–2022), American politician Bill James (rower), New Zealand rower Bill James (Australian footballer) (born 1937), Australian rules footballer Bill James (born 1949), American baseball writer and historian Billy James (disambiguation), multiple people Billy T. James (1948–1991), New Zealand comedian Billy James (basketball) (born 1950), American professional basketball player Billy James (rugby player) (born 1956), Welsh rugby union player Billy James (1960–2025), American publicist, musician, and author known as Ant-Bee Billy James (publicist), American publicist and talent scout Bob James (disambiguation), multiple people Bob James (musician) (born 1939), jazz musician Bob James (rock singer) (1952–2021), singer of Montrose, 1974–1976 Bob James (baseball) (born 1958), baseball player for the Expos, Tigers, and White Sox Brad James (born 1981), American actor Bradley James (disambiguation), multiple people Bradley James, English actor Bradley James (1961–2012), American professional wrestler better known as Brad Armstrong Brandon James (born 1987), American footballer Bree James, Australian politician Brendan James (born 1979), American singer/songwriter Brett James (footballer) (born 1972), Australian Rules footballer from South Australia Brett James (1968–2025), American singer, songwriter and record producer Brian James (disambiguation), multiple people Brian James (actor) (1918–2009), Australian TV actor Brian James (cricketer, born 1934) (1934–2000), English cricketer Brian James (cricketer, born 1941) (1941–2002), English cricketer Brian James (rugby league) (1943–2020), Australian rugby league footballer Brian James (guitarist) (1955–2025), British punk musician, former member of The Damned Brian James (basketball) (born 1956), American basketball coach Brian d'Arcy James (born 1968), American actor and musician Brian Girard James (born 1969), better known as Road Dogg, American professional wrestler Brian R. James (born 1974), American game designer and software engineer Brion James (1945–1999), American character actor Bronny James (born 2004), American basketball player and son of LeBron James Bushrod Washington James (1836–1906), American surgeon, homeopath, educator, writer, and philanthropist Butch James (born 1979), South African rugby player
C C. L. James (1846–1911), American anarchist writer and journalist C. L. R. James (1901–1989), Trinidadian essayist and historian of the Haitian Revolution Carl James (1925–2005), American collegiate sports executive Carlos James (born 1971), American college baseball coach Carol James, New Zealand footballer Carol-Ann James, West Indian cricketer Carole James (born 1957), Canadian politician Carwyn James (1929–1983), Welsh rugby player Casey James (born 1982), American singer and guitarist Cecil James (1913–1999), English bassoonist Cedric James (born 1979), American footballer Charlene James, British playwright and screenwriter Charles and Charlie James (disambiguation), multiple people Charles Tillinghast James (1805–1862), U.S. Senator from Rhode Island Charles James (MP) (1817–1890), British politician Charles Pinckney James (1818–1899), U.S. federal judge Charles James (chemist) (1880–1928), British–born discoverer of lutetium Charles James (footballer) (1882–1960), English footballer for Stoke Charles James (rugby league) (1891–1917), New Zealand rugby league footballer Charles Holloway James (1893–1953), British architect Charles James (designer) (1906–1978), British–American fashion designer Charles James (attorney) (born 1954), U.S. assistant attorney general Charles James (American football) (born 1990), American football cornerback Charlie James (baseball) (born 1937), American baseball player Chris James (baseball) (born 1962), American baseball player Chris James (racing driver) (born 1978), British auto racing driver and businessman Chris James (footballer) (born 1987), New Zealand soccer player Christine James (born 1954), Welsh poet and academic, first female Archdruid of Wales Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne (1926–2019), British farmer and aristocrat Christopher James (poet) (born 1975), British poet Christopher Langford James (1952–2008), South African composer Ciaran James (born 1991), British water polo player Cindy James (1944–1989), Canadian formerly missing person Chuck James (born 1981), American baseball player Clement James (footballer) (born 1981), British footballer Cleo James (born 1940), American baseball player Clifton James (1921–2017), American actor Clive James (1939–2019), Australian writer, poet, essayist, critic, and commentator on popular culture Colette Kreder née James (1934–2022), French engineer, entrepreneur and feminist Colin James (bishop) (1926–2009), Bishop of Wakefield, 1977–1985, and Winchester, 1985–1995 Colin James (journalist) (born 1944), New Zealand journalist Colin James (born 1964), Canadian musician Connor James (born 1982), Canadian ice hockey player Connor James (soccer) (born 1996), Canadian soccer player Cordelia James, Baroness James of Rusholme (1912–2007), British educator and justice of the peace Craig James (disambiguation), multiple people Craig James (born 1941), U.S. Representative from Florida Craig James (running back) (born 1961), American football player and sportscaster Craig James (economist) (born 1962), Australian economist Craig James (English footballer) (born 1982), English footballer
D Dafydd James (born 1975), Welsh rugby union international and British Lion Dai James (1899–after 1929), Welsh forward Dan and Daniel James (disambiguation), multiple people Dan James (1937–1987), American footballer Daniel James (businessman) (1801–1876), one of the co-founders of Phelps, Dodge & Co. Daniel Willis James (1832–1907), American businessman Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) aka "Gwyrosydd" (1848–1920), Welsh poet and hymn-writer Daniel Lewis James (1911–1988), American author Daniel James Jr. aka "Chappie" (1920–1978), African American USAF general Daniel James (historian) (born 1948), British historian and expert in Peronism Daniel James (soldier) (born 1962), British Army Corporal and interpreter, convicted of espionage Daniel James (game developer) (born 1971), British-Canadian video game developer Daniel James (music producer) (born 1975), Australian music producer and songwriter Daniel James (footballer) (born 1997), Welsh soccer player Darren James (broadcaster) (born 1960), Australian radio broadcaster Darren James (born 1964), American pornographic actor Dave James (racing driver) (1928–1987), American racing driver David James (disambiguation) David James (actor, born 1839) (1839–1893), English comic actor and one of the founders of London's Vaudeville Theatre David James (actor, born 1967) (born 1967), Australian television and film actor; and former presenter of ABC's Play School David James (actor, born 1972) (born 1972), South African film, theater, and television actor known for playing Koobus Venter in the 2009 film District 9 David James (bishop) (born 1945), current bishop of Bradford David James (cell biologist) (born 1958), cell biologist who discovered the glucose transporter GLUT4 David James (cricketer, born 1921) (1921–2002), Welsh cricketer David James (footballer, born 1917) (1917–1981), Welsh forward David James (footballer, born 1942) (born 1942), Scottish forward David James (footballer, born 1970) (born 1970), English goalkeeper David James (politician, born 1843) (1843–1921), member of the Wisconsin State Senate