NameCensus.

UK surname

Jakobsen

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Jakob/Jacob".

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Jakobsen surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leuchars and Guardbridge, Knowsley and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jakobsen is 125 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1462.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

2016

125 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jakobsen had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Jakobsen surname distribution map

The map shows where the Jakobsen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Jakobsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jakobsen over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 14 #32,506
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 62 #31,412
1998 modern 68 #31,181
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 77 #30,486
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 73 #31,159
2003 modern 71 #31,393
2004 modern 81 #30,569
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 118 #27,961
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Jakobsens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leuchars and Guardbridge, Knowsley, Stratford-on-Avon, East Dorset and York. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leuchars and Guardbridge Fife
2 Knowsley 014 Knowsley
3 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
4 East Dorset 005 East Dorset
5 York 015 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jakobsen

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jakobsen surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jakobsen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jakobsen, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Jakobsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Jakobsen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jakobsen is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jakobsen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jakobsen falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jakobsen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Jakobsen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jakobsen

The surname Jakobsen is of Danish and Norwegian origin, deriving from the patronymic naming system prevalent in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages. It is a combination of the personal name Jakob, the Scandinavian variant of the Hebrew name Jacob, and the suffix "-sen" which means "son of." Thus, Jakobsen refers to "son of Jakob."

The name Jakob itself has biblical roots, stemming from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, meaning "supplanter" or "he who follows." In the Book of Genesis, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebecca, and the younger twin brother of Esau. The name gained widespread popularity across Europe due to its association with the biblical figure.

The earliest known records of the surname Jakobsen date back to the 16th century in Denmark and Norway. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was Jens Jakobsen, a Danish farmer who lived in the village of Rødby on the island of Lolland in the 1550s.

Another notable figure was Rasmus Jakobsen, a Norwegian priest and scholar born in 1670 in Sunnmøre, Norway. He was known for his contributions to the study of Old Norse literature and language.

In the 17th century, the surname Jakobsen appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and land deeds. For instance, the name was found in the parish records of Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, where several families with the surname Jakobsen were documented.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Jakobsen was Jakob Jakobsen, a Danish linguist and scholar born in 1864 on the island of Funen. He made significant contributions to the study of Faroese language and culture, publishing numerous works on the subject.

Another notable figure was Jens Jakobsen, a Norwegian sailor and explorer born in 1837 in Drammen. He was part of the Gjøa expedition, the first to navigate the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, between 1903 and 1906.

In the 20th century, Arne Jakobsen, a Danish author and journalist born in 1923, gained recognition for his works on Danish history and culture. He was also a prolific translator, rendering works by authors such as Ernest Hemingway into Danish.

While the surname Jakobsen has its roots in Denmark and Norway, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient practice of patronymic naming in Scandinavia, where it signified being the "son of Jakob."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jakobsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jakobsen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 2 Jakobsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.62x.

County Total Index
Durham 2 8.62x
Surrey 2 5.26x
Cheshire 1 5.81x
Lanarkshire 1 3.96x
Middlesex 1 1.28x
Yorkshire 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 2 Jakobsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 208.33x.

Place Total Index
Rotherhithe 2 208.33x
Birkenhead 1 72.99x
Glasgow 1 22.32x
Goole 1 769.23x
Poplar London 1 68.03x
South Shields 1 476.19x
Stranton 1 128.21x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jakobsen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Aarren 1
Gunder 1
Gustav 1
Jakob 1
Johan 1
Mel. 1
Ole 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jakobsen households.

FAQ

Jakobsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jakobsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Jakobsen surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jakobsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Jakobsen a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Jakobsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Jakob/Jacob".

What does the Jakobsen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jakobsen bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.