This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of James.' The purely English Jamison and its variants are almost entirely confined to North England, and indeed the great majority are of Lowland Scottish descent. On the other hand, James as a surname is as often South English as North, which accounts for the multitude of its modern representatives. It is particularly strong in the West country.

James Jacobus Audithleg, Salop, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Walter James, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Jacobus Maldeson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus Jamessson, (sic) 1379: ibid.

Johannes Jamesman (i.e. the servant of James), 1379: ibid.

Alicia James, doghter, 1379: ibid.

Henricus Jamsman, 1379: ibid.

Johannes James, 1379: ibid.

1566-7. Robert Mowlde and Alice James: Marriage Lic. (London).

1769. Married — William Jamison and Mary Smith: St. George, Hanover Square.

Thomas Jameson, of Alnwick, and Ann Wilson: ibid.

From the personal name. Three persons named James took an active part in the foundation of the early Christian church: (1) James the Elder, (2) James the Younger, or the Little, and (3) James the Great. St. James was the patron saint of the Fitzalans, hence doubtless the popularity of the name among the Stewart kings, and Gaelic Seumas, which see. The current surname probably of recent introduction from England.

For Jameson, q.v.

The first appearance of this Christian name in our annals is in Domesday. It afterwards became a common surname, besides giving rise to Jameson, Jamieson, Jempson, Jemmett. and probably through its French form, Jacques, to Jeakes, Jacklin, and the widely-spread Jackson; though John, through its accepted nickname Jack, may have an equal claim to that familiar patronymic.

(Hebrew.) The same as Jacob, he that supplants.

James. —The principal home of this name is in South Wales and Monmouthshire. Lower tells us of a very ancient Pembroke family possessing an estate successively held by thirteen persons bearing the name of William James. The name is also frequent in Shropshire and Herefordshire on the Welsh border, and in the neighbouring counties of Gloucester and Stafford. It is also numerous in the south - west of England, especially in Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall. In the eastern counties it nearly disappears, but it reappears in the north, though in no great numbers. The affix of "son" is rarely found in England in connection with James, except in the northern counties, as in county Durham. Jamieson is a widely - spread Scottish name, but is rare in the north of Scotland.