Jacob m
English (and Dutch) form of the biblical Hebrew name Yaakov. This was borne by perhaps the most important of all the patriarchs in the Book of Genesis. Jacob was the father of twelve sons, who gave their names to the twelve tribes of Israel. He was the son of Isaac and Rebecca. According to the story in Genesis, he was the cunning younger twin, who persuaded his fractionally older brother Esau to part with his right to his inheritance in exchange for a bowl of soup (‘a mess of pottage’). Later, he tricked his blind and dying father into blessing him in place of Esau. The derivation of the name has been much discussed. It is traditionally explained as being derived from Hebrew akev heel and to have meant ‘heel grabber’, because when Jacob was born ‘his hand took hold of Esau’s heel' (Genesis 25: 26). This is interpreted later in the Bible as ‘supplanter’; Esau himself remarks, ‘Is he not rightly named Jacob? for he has supplanted me these two times’ (Genesis 27: 36).
As a given name, Jacob is especially common among Jews, although it has also been used by Christians. The usual Christian form James and its cognates in other languages arose from a Late Latin byform, Iacomus, of the Latin form Iacobus.
First names dictionary. 2012.