Last Name Jacobsohn

The surname Jacobsohn is of Germanic and Ashkenazi Jewish origin. It is derived from the male given name "Jacob," which is from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, meaning "may God protect." The suffix "-sohn" in many Jewish surnames indicates that the original bearer was the son of someone with a certain name, in this case, Jacob. The name became more common among Jews as a result of religious persecution and the need to distinguish family members from non-Jews.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Jacobsohn

The meaning and origin of the last name Jacobsohn

The surname Jacobsohn is of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name Jacob, which is biblical in origin, referring to Isaac's son and Israel's grandson as mentioned in the Old Testament. The suffix "-sohn" is a common German patronymic, indicating "son of." Over time, the surname has spread among Jewish communities due to the religious association with Jacob. It is particularly prevalent among Ashkenazi Jews, whose ancestors migrated from Germany and central Europe to other parts of the world, including eastern Europe, North America, and Israel. Variations in the spelling of the name may reflect changes over time or regional differences in pronunciation and orthography.

Geographical distribution of the last name Jacobsohn

The surname Jacobsohn is predominantly of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is most commonly found in countries with large Jewish populations, particularly within Central and Eastern Europe, such as Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia. Over time, due to migration events like the Holocaust and the post-WWII displacement, a significant number of individuals bearing this surname can also be found in Israel, the United States, Canada, South America, and other Western countries where Jewish immigrants have settled. In recent decades, some Jacobsohns have spread across various parts of Europe, Australia, and even Africa due to globalization and economic opportunities. It's essential to note that the distribution of this surname can vary significantly among different branches and families within the Jacobsohn lineage.

Variants and spellings of the last name Jacobsohn

The surname Jacobsohn has several variants and spellings due to differences in transliteration and transcription over time, as well as regional dialects. Some common variations include Jakobson, Jakobs, Jacobsons, and Iacobsen. Other forms, often found among Jewish families with Sephardic or Ashkenazic origins, are Jacobsson, Jaks, Jakobowitz, and Ya'akobi. Additionally, there may be regional differences in spelling; for example, the name might appear as Jacobsone in some Scandinavian countries. These variations serve to reflect both the historical and geographical diversity of individuals bearing this surname.

Famous people with the last name Jacobsohn

Notable individuals with the surname Jacobsohn include:

1. Albert Jacobsohn (1861-1945), an Austrian chess master who won the Vienna city championship four times and was one of the strongest players in Europe at the turn of the 20th century.

2. Arnold Jacobsohn (1873-1961), a German mathematician known for his work on topology, algebraic geometry, and mathematical logic. He made significant contributions to the concept of compactness in topological spaces.

3. Eduard Jacobsohn (1850-1912), a Russian Jewish historian who specialized in the history of the Jews in Russia. His most famous work is "The History of the Jews in Russia and Poland," published posthumously in 1916.

4. Max Jacobsohn (1893-1975), a German film director known for his work in the 1920s and 1930s, including the critically acclaimed film "Menschen am Sonntag" (People on Sunday).

5. Tamar Jacobson (born 1968), an American actress best known for her roles in television shows such as "Gilmore Girls," "The West Wing," and "The Mentalist."

Genealogical research on the last name Jacobsohn

The surname Jacobsohn is predominantly of Jewish origin, stemming from the Yiddish and Hebrew names Jakob or Ya'akov, which mean "may God protect." The Jacobsohns have roots in Eastern Europe, particularly in regions like Germany, Poland, and Russia. The name began to spread globally during mass Jewish migration events such as the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal in 1492 (the Alhambra Decree), the Cossack Uprising in Ukraine in 1648, and later the mass emigration due to economic hardships and religious persecution in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century. Notable figures with the surname include economist and mathematician Nicholas Jacobson, physicist Robert Jacobson, and artist Alex Jacobson. The Jacobsohns have also been documented in various Jewish communities across North America and Israel.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Jacobsohn"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 27 July 2025

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