Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
Jacobson Coat of Arms / Jacobson Family CrestThis English surname of JACOBSON which was derived amazingly from the Hebrew given name Yaakov, via the Latin Jacobus. In the Bible this is the name of the younger twin brother of Esau who took advantage of the lack of hunger and impetuousness to persuade him to part with his birthright 'for a mess of potage'. The name is traditionally interpreted as coming from Hebrew AKEV (heel) and Jacob is said to have been born holding on to Esau's heel. The name has travelled widely and the principal forms of the given name in major European languages are JACOB, JACQUES, JACOBY, GIACOPO and IACOPO. Throughout Eastern Europe Jewish forms of the name were extremely common, ranging from YAAKOV to JANKL. A notable member of the name is Derek JACOBI (l938-), English actor, born in London. He had acted at Cambridge University and with the National Youth Theatre before he made his professional debut in N.F. Simpson's 'One Way Pendulum' at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in l96l. Since then, Jacobi has become one of Britain's most notable classical actors. He joined the National Theatre's inaugural l963 company, making his London debut that year as Laertes in 'Hamlet'. In l972 he joined the Prospect Theatre Company and in l980 he made his New York debut in Nikolai Erdman's 'The Suicide'. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in l982. He made his debut as director in l988, with his production of 'Hamlet' for the Renaissance Theatre Company. He has made several film and television appearances, of which the most famous is the title role in the television adaptation of 'I, Claudius' in l977. It was not until the 10th century that modern hereditary surnames first developed, and the use of fixed names spread, first to France, and then England, then to Germany and all of Europe. In these parts of Europe, the individual man was becoming more important, commerce was increasing and the exact identification of each man was becoming a necessity. Even today however, the Church does not recognise surnames. Baptisms and marriages are performed through use of the Christian name alone. Thus hereditary names as we know them today developed gradually during the 11th to the 15th century in the various European countries. |
