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Jacobs Family History

Jacobs Name Meaning

Jewish and English: patronymic from the personal name Jacob. As a Jewish surname it has also assimilated various other patronymics from the same personal name, as for example Jacobowitz.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Jacob, Jacobson, Jacobi, Jaros, Jason, Jack, Jabs, Janos, Jacobo

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Jacobs family from?

You can see how Jacobs families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Jacobs family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Jacobs families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 3,008 Jacobs families living in London. This was about 39% of all the recorded Jacobs's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Jacobs families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Jacobs surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Jacobs ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Jacobs. 6% of Jacobs men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Jacobs women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Jacobs were Builders Labourer and Private Means. .

View Census Data for Jacobs | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Tailor
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Private Means
    3%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Jacobs family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 692,000 census records available for the last name Jacobs. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Jacobs census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Australian census records for Jacobs

Passenger Lists

There are 91,000 immigration records available for the last name Jacobs. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Australia, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Jacobs immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 113,000 military records available for the last name Jacobs. For the veterans among your Jacobs ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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You've only scratched the surface of Jacobs family history

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What is the average Jacobs lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Jacobs life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Jacobs in 1940 was 34, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Jacobs

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