James (surname) explained
James is a surname in the French language,[1] and in the English language originating from the given name, itself derived from Old French James, variant form of Jacme, Jame, from Late Latin Jacomus, variant form of Latin Jacobus, itself from Hebrew Yaʿaqōḇ.[2] Notable people with the surname include:
A
- A. P. T. James (c. 1908–1962), better known as 'Fargo' James; Tobagonian politician
- Aaron James (basketball) (born 1952), American basketball player
- Aaron James (Australian footballer) (born 1976), Australian rules footballer from Victoria
- Ada James (1876–1952), American suffragist and reformer
- Adam James (actor) (born 1972), British actor
- Adam James (singer) (fl. 2000s–2010s), Australian country singer
- Aidan James (born 2001), American singer and musician
- Alan James (1890–1952), American film director and screenwriter
- Alan James (poet) (fl. 1970s–2020s), South African poet
- Alec James (cricketer) (1889–1961), Welsh cricketer
- Aled James (born 1982), Welsh rugby union footballer
- Alex James (footballer) (1901–1953), Scottish soccer player
- Alex James (musician) (born 1968), English musician and journalist, member of band Blur
- Alex James (songwriter) (born 1976), songwriter and producer
- Alice James (1848–1892), American diarist
- Allen James (born 1964), American racewalker
- Andre James (born 1997), American football player
- Andrea James (born 1967), American writer, film producer, director and LGBT rights activist
- Andrea James (playwright), Australian playwright, author of Sunshine Super Girl
- Angela James (born 1964), Canadian ice hockey player
- Angharad James (poet) (1677–1749), Welsh language poet
- Ann James (born 1952), Australian illustrator and writer
- Ann James (artist) (1925 – 2011), English-born Canadian artist and educator
- Annie Laurie Wilson James (1862–?), American journalist
- Anthony James (actor) (1942–2020), American actor
- Anthony James (artist) (born 1974), English sculptor, painter and performance artist
- Antonio James (c. 1954–1996), American murderer
- Antonio D. James (born 1985), American film director
- Antony James (born 1989), British swimmer
- Archibald James (1893–1980), British politician and Royal Air Force officer
- Arnold James (born 1974), international footballer from Antigua and Barbuda
- Art and Arthur James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Ashley James (curator), American curator
- Augustus James (1866–1934), Australian politician
- Aurora James (born 1984), Canadian creative director, activist, and fashion designer
B
- Barbara James (1943–2003), Australian author, historian, journalist, political adviser and activist
- Barry James, English stage actor
- Becky James (born 1991), Welsh cyclist
- Benjamin James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bernard James (born 1985), American basketball player
- Bernie James (baseball) (1905–1994), American baseball player
- Bernie James (born 1958), English–born, American soccer player
- Bert James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Betty James (1918–2008), American businesswoman who named the slinky
- Bill James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bill James (pitcher, born 1887) (1887–1942), baseball player
- Bill James (pitcher, born 1892) (1892–1971), baseball player
- Bill James (novelist) (1929–2023), novelist
- Bill James (American politician) (born 1930), American politician
- Bill James (rower), New Zealand rower
- Bill James (Australian footballer) (born 1937), Australian rules footballer
- Bill James (born 1949), American baseball writer and historian
- Billy James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Bob James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brad James (born 1981), American actor
- Bradley James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brandon James (born 1987), American footballer
- Brendan James (born 1979), American singer/songwriter
- Brett James (footballer) (born 1972), Australian Rules footballer from South Australia
- Brett James (born 1968), American singer, songwriter and record producer
- Brian James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Brian James (actor) (1918–2009), Australian TV actor
- Brian James (cricketer, born 1934) (1934–2000), English cricketer
- Brian James (cricketer, born 1941) (1941–2002), English cricketer
- Brian James (rugby league) (1943–2020), Australian rugby league footballer
- Brian James (guitarist) (born 1955), British punk musician, former member of The Damned
- Brian James (basketball) (born 1956), American basketball coach
- Brian d'Arcy James (born 1968), American actor and musician
- Brian Girard James, better known as Road Dogg (born 1969), American professional wrestler
- Brian R. James (born 1974), American game designer and software engineer
- Brion James (1945–1999), American character actor
- Bronny James (born 2004), American basketball player and son of LeBron James
- Butch James (born 1979), South African rugby player
C
- C. L. James (1846–1911), American anarchist writer and journalist
- C. L. R. James (1901–1989), Trinidadian essayist and historian of the Haitian Revolution
- Carl James (1925–2005), American collegiate sports executive
- Carlos James (born 1971), American college baseball coach
- Carol James, New Zealand footballer
- Carol-Ann James, West Indian cricketer
- Carole James (born 1957), Canadian politician
- Carwyn James (1929–1983), Welsh rugby player
- Casey James (born 1982), American singer and guitarist
- Cecil James (1913–1999), English bassoonist
- Cedric James (born 1979), American footballer
- Charlene James, British playwright and screenwriter
- Charles and Charlie James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Charles Tillinghast James (1805–1862), U.S. Senator from Rhode Island
- Charles James (MP) (1817–1890), British politician
- Charles Hamilton James, Count of Arran, Anglo-Scottish Soldier and Author
- Charles Pinckney James (1818–1899), U.S. federal judge
- Charles James (chemist) (1880–1928), British–born discoverer of lutetium
- Charles James (footballer) (1882–1960), English footballer for Stoke
- Charles James (rugby league) (1891–1917), New Zealand rugby league footballer
- Charles Holloway James (1893–1953), British architect
- Charles James (designer) (1906–1978), British–American fashion designer
- Charles James (attorney) (born 1954), U.S. assistant attorney general
- Charles James (American football) (born 1990), American football cornerback
- Chris James (baseball) (born 1962), American baseball player
- Chris James (racing driver) (born 1978), British auto racing driver and businessman
- Chris James (footballer) (born 1987), New Zealand soccer player
- Christine James, Welsh poet and academic; Archdruid of Wales
- Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne (1926–2019), British farmer and aristocrat
- Christopher James (poet) (born 1975), British poet
- Ciaran James (born 1991), British water polo player
- Chuck James (born 1981), American baseball player
- Clement James (footballer) (born 1981), British footballer
- Cleo James (born 1940), American baseball player
- Clifton James (1921–2017), American actor
- Clive James (1939–2019), Australian writer, poet, essayist, critic, and commentator on popular culture
- Colin James (bishop) (1926–2009), Bishop of Wakefield, 1977–1985, and Winchester, 1985–1995
- Colin James (journalist) (born 1944), New Zealand journalist
- Colin James (born 1964), Canadian musician
- Connor James (born 1982), Canadian ice hockey player
- Connor James (soccer) (born 1996), Canadian soccer player
- Cordelia James, Baroness James of Rusholme (1912–2007), British educator and justice of the peace
- Craig James (disambiguation), multiple people
D
- Dafydd James (born 1975), Welsh rugby union international and British Lion
- Dai James (1899–after 1929), Welsh forward
- Dan and Daniel James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dan James (1937–1987), American footballer
- Daniel James (businessman) (1801–1876), one of the co-founders of Phelps, Dodge & Co.
- Daniel Willis James (1832–1907), American businessman
- Daniel James (Gwyrosydd) aka "Gwyrosydd" (1848–1920), Welsh poet and hymn-writer
- Daniel Lewis James (1911–1988), American author
- Daniel James Jr. aka "Chappie" (1920–1978), African American USAF general
- Daniel James (historian) (born 1948), British historian and expert in Peronism
- Daniel James (soldier) (born 1962), British Army Corporal and interpreter, convicted of espionage
- Daniel James (game developer) (born 1971), British-Canadian video game developer
- Daniel James (music producer) (born 1975), Australian music producer and songwriter
- Daniel James (footballer) (born 1997), Welsh soccer player
- Darren James (broadcaster) (born 1960), Australian radio broadcaster
- Darren James (born 1964), American pornographic actor
- David James (disambiguation)
- David James (actor, born 1839) (1839–1893), English comic actor and one of the founders of London's Vaudeville Theatre
- David James (actor, born 1967) (born 1967), Australian television and film actor; and former presenter of ABC's Play School
- David James (actor, born 1972) (born 1972), South African film, theater, and television actor known for playing Koobus Venter in the 2009 film District 9
- David James (bishop) (born 1945), current bishop of Bradford
- David James (cell biologist) (born 1958), cell biologist who discovered the glucose transporter GLUT4
- David James (cricketer, born 1921) (1921–2002), Welsh cricketer
- David James (footballer, born 1917) (1917–1981), Welsh forward
- David James (footballer, born 1942), Scottish forward
- David James (footballer, born 1970), English goalkeeper
- David James (politician, born 1843) (1843–1921), member of the Wisconsin State Senate
- David James (politician, born 1919) (1919–1986), British politician and member of the Conservative Party
- David James, Baron James of Blackheath (born 1937), British corporate trouble-shooter, former chairman of the Millennium Dome, and author of the Conservative Party's James Report
- David James (rugby, born 1866) (1866–1929), Welsh international rugby player
- David James (rugby, born 1906) (1906–1981), Welsh rugby union and professional rugby league footballer
- David James (rugby, born 1985) (born 1985), Welsh rugby league player
- Deborah Lee James (born 1958), United States Secretary of the Air Force
- Deborah James (disambiguation)
- Dennis James (1917–1997), American actor and game show host
- Dennis James (musician), American musician prominent in the revival of silent films
- Dennis James (bodybuilder) (born 1969), African-American bodybuilder
- Derwin James (born 1996), American football player
- Devin James Stone, American lawyer and YouTuber
- Diane James (born 1959), Ukip MEP
- Dick James (1920–1986), music publisher
- Dick James (American football) (1934–2000), American footballer
- D. J. James (born 2001), American football player
- Dominic James (born 1986), American basketball player
- Don and Donald James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Dorothy James (1901–1982), American composer
- Doug James (born 1962), American footballer and broadcaster
- Doug James (musician) (born 1953), American musician
- Duncan Airlie James (born 1961), Scottish kickboxer and actor
- Duncan James (born 1978), British singer (Blue)
- Duncan James (Australian singer) (fl. 2003–04), Australian singer
E
- E. L. James (born 1963), British author (Fifty Shades of Grey)
- E. O. James (1888–1972), anthropologist in the field of comparative religion
- Ed, Eddie and Eddy James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edgerrin James (born 1978), American football player
- Edison James (born 1943), Prime Minister of Dominica
- Edmond James (1874–1952), British colonial administrator
- Edward James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Edward James (martyr) (c. 1557–1588), English Catholic priest and martyr
- Edward James (clergyman) (1569–1610?), Welsh clergyman and translator
- Edward James (judge) (1757–1841), judge and politician in Nova Scotia
- Edward James (barrister) (1807–1867), English barrister
- Edward James (Nova Scotia politician) (1825–1909), politician in Nova Scotia, Canada
- Edward Holton James (1873–1954), American socialist
- Edward James (cricketer) (1896–1975), Welsh cricketer
- Edward James (1907–1984), British poet and art patron
- Edward James (historian) (born 1947), Professor of medieval history at University College Dublin
- Edwin James (scientist) (1797–1861), American botanist, geographer, geologist and explorer
- Edwin James (lawyer) (c. 1812–1882), English lawyer, Member of Parliament and would-be actor
- Edwin Leland James (1890–1951), American newspaper editor
- Eleanor James (born 1986), English actress
- Elinor James (1644–1719), British printer and writer
- Elizabeth James-Perry (born 1973), American artist and restoration ecologist
- Elmore James (1918–1963), American blues singer, songwriter and musician
- Emrys James (1928–1989), Welsh actor
- Eric James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Erica James (born 1960), British novelist
- Etta James (1938–2012), American R&B and gospel singer
- Eugene James (1913–1933), American jockey
- Evan James (disambiguation), multiple people
F
- Faruq Mahfuz Anam (born 1964), Bangladeshi singer, known as James (musician)
- Florence James (1902–1993), Australian author and literary agent
- Fob James (born 1934), American politician; 48th Governor of Alabama
- Frances James (soprano) (1903–1988), Canadian soprano
- Frances James (ecologist) (born 1930), American ecologist
- Francesca James (born 1949), American actress
- Francis James (congressman) (1799–1886), U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania
- Francis James (missionary) (1851–1900), British Christian missionary in China
- Francis James (1918–1992), Australian publisher
- Frank James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Fred James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Freddie James (born 1937), American football coach
- Frederic James (1915–1985), American artist
- Frederick James (artist) (1845–1907), American artist
- Frederick Seton James, (1870–1934), British colonial administrator
- Frederick Alexander James (1884–1957), Australian merchant and litigant
G
- Gareth James (born 1984), English cricketer
- Gary James (born 1960), English drummer
- Garry James (born 1963), American footballer
- Gee Gee James (1902 or 1903–1971), American actress
- Gene James (1925–1997), American professional basketball player
- Gerald James (1917–2006), British actor
- Geraldine James (born 1950), English actress
- Gerard Luz James (born 1953), United States Virgin Islander politician, funeral director and businessman
- Gérard James, American set decorator
- Gerry James (born 1934), Canadian football, and ice hockey player
- Gill James (born 1934), Australian politician
- Glenicia James (born 1974), West Indian cricketer
- Glyn James, Welsh footballer
- Gordon James (actor) (1878–1949) English actor
- Gordon C. James, American political consultant
- Graham James (disambiguation)
- Greg James (disambiguation)
H
- H. Evan James (fl. 1908–1920), British Olympic fencer
- Hannah Packard James (1835 – 1903), American library pioneer
- Harold and Harry James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Harriet Wright O'Leary James (1916-1999), American teacher and politician and first woman to serve on the tribal council of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Helen F. James (born 1956), American paleornithologist
- Helen G. James, American equality activist
- Henry James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Henry James (British Army officer) (1803–1877), director-general of the Ordnance Survey
- Henry James, Sr. (1811–1882), American theologian
- Henry James, 1st Baron James of Hereford (1828–1911), English lawyer and statesman
- Henry James (1843–1916), American author and critic
- Henry Evan Murchison James (1846–1923), British officer in the Indian Civil Service, explorer and writer
- Henry James (priest) (1864–1949), Dean of Bangor Cathedral, 1934–1940
- Henry James (biographer) (1879–1947), winner of the 1931 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
- Henry James (basketball) (born 1965), American basketball player
- Hilary James, British musician
- Hilda James (1904–1982), British Olympic swimmer
- Horace James (born 1984), Jamaican footballer
- Hugh James (disambiguation)
I
J
- Jack James (Australian rules footballer) (1892–1977), played for St Kilda and Richmond in Victoria
- Jack James (rocket engineer) (1920–2001), American who worked on NASA's Mariner program
- Jackie James, Scottish musician
- Jaime Martín James (born 1994), Argentine musician better known as Louta
- James James (1833–1902), Welsh musician (composer of 'Land of my Fathers')
- Jamie James (born 1953), Canadian guitarist and singer/songwriter
- Jason James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Jay James (Bullet for My Valentine) (born 1981), Welsh musician
- Jeff James (baseball) (1941–2006), American baseball player
- Jeff James (musician) (born 1988), American singer and songwriter
- Jeffrey James, Australian news anchor
- Jennifer James (born 1977), English actress
- Jeremy James (sculptor) (born 1964), British sculptor
- Jeremy James (singer/songwriter) (born 1978), American musician
- Jesse James (disambiguation)
- Jewell James (born 1953), Lummi master wood carver, activist
- Jill James, American biochemist
- Jim James (born 1978), American musician
- Joe James (disambiguation)
- John James (disambiguation)
K
L
- L. Dean James (1947–2018), American writer
- Larry James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Laura James (nurse) (1880–1969), New Zealand nurse in World War I
- Laura James (born 1990), American model
- LeBron James (born 1984), American basketball player
- Lee James (politician) (born 1948), member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Lee James (weightlifter) (1953–2023) American weightlifter
- Lee S. James (born 1973), English golfer
- Lee James (BBC) (fl. 2009), British sports broadcaster
- Leela James (born 1983), American singer
- Leighton James (born 1953), Welsh footballer
- Lennie James (born 1965), English actor
- Leon James (born 2001), Thai footballer
- Les James (1890–1917), Australian rules footballer
- Letitia James (born 1958), American lawyer, activist, and politician in Brooklyn
- Lily James (born 1989), English actress
- Lionel James (1962–2022), American football player
- Linda James (born 1951), British–born New Zealand artist
- Liz James, British art historian
- Louis N. James, (1882–1935) American golfer
- Louis Robert James (1920–1996), Australian painter
- Louisa James (born 1979), English journalist and newsreader
- Luke James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Lulu James (born c. 1992), British electronic and soul singer
M
- Mabel Moir James (1917–2010), Dominican politician
- Mansell Richard James (1893–?), Canadian-born aviator
- Margaret Calkin James, fashion designer
- Margot James (born 1957), British politician
- Maria James (1793–1868), Welsh-born American poet
- Marion James (1934–2015), American blues singer and songwriter
- Mark James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Martin James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Marty James, American singer/songwriter
- Marvin James (born 1989), Swiss snowboarder
- Mary James (educator), associate director of Research at the University of Cambridge
- Mathew, Matt, Matthew and Matty James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Max James (born 1951), Australian rules footballer from South Australia
- Mel James, Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer
- Melville James (1877–1957), Australian Anglican bishop
- Merlin James (born 1960), British artist
- M. E. Clifton James (1898–1963), British actor, impersonator of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
- Michael, Mickie and Mike James (disambiguation), multiple people
- Miles James (1829–1871), American soldier and Medal of Honour recipient
- Miss James (1830–1910) English philanthropist
- Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936), British mediaeval scholar and writer
- Morgan James (born 1981), American singer/songwriter and actress
N
O
P
- P. D. James (1920–2014), British crime writer
- Paul James (disambiguation)
- Percy James (1917–1993), Welsh footballer
- Peter James (historian), British historian
- Peter James (writer) (born 1948), British writer
- Peter Wilfred James (1930–2014), British botanist
- Pilli Alfred James (1931–1983), Indian academic
- Polly James - multiple people
- Philip Frederick Wright James (1890–1975) an American composer, conductor and music educator.
- Philip Seaforth James (1914–2001) a barrister, academic, author and soldier.
- Philip J. K. James (born 1978) is a British entrepreneur, adventurer and CEO of Penrose Hill
- Phil Nyokai James (born 1954) is a teacher, performer and avant-garde composer
R
-
- Richie James (born 1995), American football player
- Rick James (1948–2004), African-American funk and soul musician
- Rob, Robbie and Robert James (disambiguation)
- Rob James (singer) (born 1977), Canadian pop singer
- Rob James (guitarist), member of The Clarks
- Robbie James (1957–1998), Welsh soccer player
- Robert James (physician) (1703–1776), English physician
- Robert S. James (1818–1850), father of the American outlaw Jesse James
- Robert James (headmaster) (1905–1982), headmaster of St Paul's School and of Harrow School
- Robert James (actor) (1924–2004), Scottish actor
- Robert Rhodes James (1933–1999), British historian and Conservative Member of Parliament
- Robert G. James (born 1946), United States District Court judge
- Robert James (defensive back) (born 1947), played in the National Football League, 1969–1974
- Robert James (linebacker) (born 1983), drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, 2008
S
T
V
- Val James (born 1957), American ice hockey player
- Victor James (1897–1984), Australian Unitarian minister and pacifist
W
- Walter James (1863–1943), Premier of Western Australia from 1902 to 1904 and supporter of the federation movement
- Sir Walter James, 1st Baronet (1759–1829), British Baronet and last warden of the Royal Mint
- Walter James, 1st Baron Northbourne (1816–1893), British Member of Parliament
- Walter James, 2nd Baron Northbourne (1846–1923), British Peer and Liberal politician
- Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne (1896–1982), British olympic rower and agriculturist
- Wendy James (born 1966), British singer
- William James (disambiguation)
Y
Fictional characters
Other
See also
Notes and References
- [Albert Dauzat]
- Web site: Surname Database: James Last Name Origin. surnamedb.com. 2014-03-13.
