Iacobus

Iacobus is the Latin form of the given name James or Jacob. It derives from the Hebrew Ya’akov, often interpreted as “holder of the heel” or “supplanter,” and entered Latin through early Christian Latin literature. In Latin texts, Iacobus was used for biblical figures and for secular names, and it served as the root for many European variants.

In religious contexts, Iacobus designates the Apostle James, commonly distinguished as Iacobus Maior (James the Greater) and Iacobus Minor (James the Lesser) when needed. The form also appears in the Latin Vulgate Bible and in patristic writings as a standard rendering of the New Testament name.

Beyond scripture, Iacobus functioned as a common Latin given name among clerics, scholars, and officials in the Middle Ages and early modern period. From this Latin nucleus, vernacular forms spread widely: James and Jacob in English, Jacques in French, Giacomo in Italian, Jakob in German and Scandinavian languages, Jacobo in Spanish, and related equivalents used in other languages. In modern usage, Iacobus persists mainly in historical, academic, or liturgical contexts as a formal Latin variant.