Surname Job - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'J'
Job: What does the surname Job mean?
The last name Job is an English surname derived from an old French word "jobbe" meaning "plump" or "burly'. It is also believed to be of Latin origin, derived from the Roman Joppius. Traditionally, the name has been used as a patronymic to mean "son of Job" or "descendant of Job", referencing the Biblical figure.
The origins of the name can be traced back to ancient England where it was first as a reference to the Old Testament character Job who was known for his patience and faithfulness. The surname was later adopted by the Normans, and it is recorded in the Doomsday Book as Jobe, Jobele, and Jubbe. It is believed that the name was brought to Britain with the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The Job's are typically known to be advocates of justice as Job from the Bible was known by his faithfulness to God. Job would never sway from his path of righteousness regardless of the adversities he faced in his life. People with the last name of Job often carry these traits in their character.
Overall, the Job surname is believed to have originally been derived from a Latin and French origin with an underlying reference to the Biblical figure of Job. The name carries a sense of piety and justice, and has been in use since ancient England.
Order DNA origin analysisJob: Where does the name Job come from?
The last name Job is most commonly found in South Asia today, especially in India and Bangladesh. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit language, which suggests an origin in India. In India, the name is mainly found amongst Gujarati and Marathi speaking people, although there are also instances of it in northeast and central India.
The name is also found in significant numbers in certain areas of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Within these countries Job usually appears as Jau or Job, but in southern India it often appears as Jobby or Jobby.
The name is also found in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, where it is believed to be of African origin, likely derived from the Wolof language spoken in West Africa. Outside of the Caribbean, the surname is also not uncommon in the United States and Canada, where it is thought to have been brought over by English and French-Canadians.
Overall, the name Job can be found in a range of cultural contexts and today is quite widespread. Though it is most prominent in South Asia, it has different ethnic origins in various countries and has gained traction in other regions of the world through immigration.
Variations of the surname Job
The surname Job is thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name, Job or Jod, which originated in the Middle Ages. It is most commonly found in German-speaking countries and in England, where it was introduced by immigrants from Germany during the 17th and 18th centuries. Common variants of the name include Joob, Joobe, Jobe, Jobb, Jobs, Jop, and Jupp. In Germany, Job is sometimes spelled without the 'b', as Jo.
In other countries, such as the United States, there are also more unique variants of the surname Job. Examples include Joobest, Joh, Johens, Jouhans, and Juben. There are also some spelling variants that are specific to a particular region, such as Joban, Johan, Johen, and Jouhan in Denmark; Jobez, Jobeck, Jobes, and Jobecksen in Holland; Jobitch, Jobinovic, Jobitch, Joboy, and Jobysky in Croatia; Jobczyk, Jobek, and Jobina in Poland; and Javda, Jovda, Jovd, Jovda, and Jovden in Slovenia.
In addition to the various spelling variants, the surname Job also has a number of different surnames derived from it. These include Jebb, Jebbing, Joppe, Jobe, and Joeb. It is also used as a given name in some countries, particularly in India and the Middle East, but this usage is not as common as in other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Job
- Steve Jobs: American businessman, entrepreneur, inventor, and investor; founded Apple Inc.
- Rob Job: A professional baseball player who pitched for many teams, including the Montreal Expos and the Houston Astros.
- Arnold Job: A Dutch professional basketball player who played for four teams in the Dutch Basketball League.
- Mark Jobs: An American cinematographer who worked on the Academy Award nominated movie Lion.
- David Job: A British actor best known for his roles in Gravity, Green Mile and Blade Runner 2049.
- Paul Job: An American retired professional golfer who achieved multiple victories over a career spanning from 1980-2006.
- Jax Job: A professional surfer who five times won the Australasian Masters Surfing Championship.
- Allison Job: An American singer and actress who has appeared on the television series So You Think You Can Dance and in many movies including Selma.
- Bud Job: An American politician and former negotiator who served as a United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2008-2009.
- Harry Job: An American football player who played for the Los Angeles Rams, winning the 1932 NFL Championship.