Jakab

Jakab is a name of Hungarian origin used both as a given name and as a surname. As a given name, it is the Hungarian form of the biblical Jacob and, by extension, of James. The name derives from the Hebrew Ya’akov, commonly interpreted as “supplanter” or “holder of the heel,” though the exact meaning is debated. In Hungarian usage, Jakab is a traditional, widely recognized male given name and has appeared in various historical and cultural contexts.

As a surname, Jakab is found throughout Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities in neighboring countries such as Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia. It typically indicates descent from an ancestor named Jakab and ranks as a common Hungarian family name. The surname can appear in different phonetic and orthographic forms in related languages and regions.

Variants and cognates include Jakub in several Slavic languages, Jakov in some South Slavic and Balkan languages, Iacob in Romanian, and Jacobo in Spanish-speaking contexts. These forms reflect the broader historical spread of the name across Europe and the Middle East, adapted to local language systems.

Notable people with the name Jakab span various fields, including politics, science, and the arts, with many examples concentrated in Hungary and Central Europe. The name also appears in fictional, literary, and historical contexts, illustrating its enduring presence in the region.