The Jacobsen surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 18,820 people carried this name — #1,914 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 15,700 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (18,831).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Jacobsen surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Originally a patronymic from Jacob + -sen.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Jacobsen» (Danish), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 463 people named Jacobsen live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 284
Misiones 57
Chubut 35
Entre Ríos 28
Santa Fe 23
City of Buenos Aires 22
Chaco 14

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

74 people named Jacobsen live in Switzerland.

They live in 10 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 35
St. Gallen 8
Bern 7
Vaud 5
Aargau 4
Solothurn 3
Ticino 3
Geneva 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 46 people named Jacobsen.

Most of them — 30 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 10 départements, most often Paris.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 30
Paris 5
Ain 3
Ille-et-Vilaine 1
Morbihan 1
Finistère 1
Calvados 1
Seine-Maritime 1
Yvelines 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Poland’s population register

30 people named Jacobsen have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 99 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 8 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Pomeranian.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Pomeranian 9
Masovian 7
Greater Poland 3
West Pomeranian 3
Lower Silesian 2
Kuyavian-Pomeranian 2
Lesser Poland 2
Warmian-Masurian 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In the Nordic population registers

12,517 people named Jacobsen are counted in Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Norway publishes only surnames with 200 or more bearers. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.

Counted, by country

Norway (2025) 11,354
Sweden (2022) 1,119
Finland (2026) 44

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Statistics Norway (SSB, ssb.no), table 12891, 2025 — CC BY 4.0 · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.

In print

Jacobsen in American newspapers,
1918–1924.

Newspaper page from The Record-courier carrying the name Jacobsen
The Record-courier 1918-08-23
Newspaper page from The Record-courier carrying the name Jacobsen
The Record-courier 1922-10-27
Newspaper page from The Record-courier carrying the name Jacobsen
The Record-courier 1924-10-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 46,051 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Jacobsen in Australian newspapers,
1850s–2010s.

10,372 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Jacobsen. The most, 2,381, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 4,532
New South Wales 2,121
South Australia 1,314
Victoria 1,229
Western Australia 891
Tasmania 103
ACT (Canberra) 84
Northern Territory 32

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Jacobsen.

Who carried it

People named Jacobsen,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Peder Jacobsen d. 1225 · Catholic bishop
  • Jan Jacobsen d. 1667 · privateer
  • Neville Jacobsen d. 2026 · volunteer firefighter
  • Niels Oluf Jacobsen d. 1931
  • Brechtgen Jacobsen d. 1668
  • Anders Jacobsen Lunge 1360–1429 · Steward of the Realm

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Jacobsen,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States4,474 records

4,474 records of the Jacobsen name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 1,303
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 1,081
  • Other U.S. records 2,090
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Roy H. Jacobsen

    Born 1916 in Iowa. Enlisted 1944 at Camp Dodge Herrold; store manager from Brown County, Kansas. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2000, buried at Reinbeck Cemetery, Iowa.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Donald James Jacobsen

    Born 1933; from Montevideo, Minnesota. U.S. Army; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Emil Jacobsen

    Arrived at New York in 1904 aboard the Graf Waldersee from Hamburg, aged 49; horse dealer. From Berlin, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 4,474 records for Jacobsen in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Ramsey County, Minnesota (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands8,752 records

8,752 records of the Jacobsen name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 5,815
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1,830
  • Dutch population registers 1,107
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Berend Jacobsen

    Married in 1848 in Barneveld; farmhand. Died 1893 in Kallenbroek, aged 71; day labourer.

    Open Archives, Gelders Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Fennetje Jacobsen

    Married in 1851 in 's-Graveland; domestic servant. Died 1887 in 's-Graveland, aged 81.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Johannes Jacobsen

    Married in 1919 in Haarlem; commercial traveller. Died 1948 in Amersfoort, aged 56.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0); Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8,752 records for Jacobsen in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Germany732 records

732 records of the Jacobsen name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Dethlef Jacobsen

    From Buhrkallfeld, Tondern. Reported dead in the Prussian casualty list of 30 July 1918.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)
  2. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Heinrich Jacobsen

    From Börm, Schleswig. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 31 August 1917.

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Showing 2 of 732 records for Jacobsen in Germany.

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Australia515 records

515 records of the Jacobsen name in Australia
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 216
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 214
  • Other Australian records 85
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Nils Jacobsen

    Arrived in Victoria in 1865 aboard the Zephyros, aged 26; German.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Donald Leonard Jacobsen

    Carpenter of Burwood, Victoria; died 1989.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Thomas Jacobsen

    Died 1917 in Abroad On Active Service, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 515 records for Jacobsen in Australia.

Counts: Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Canada48 records

48 records of the Jacobsen name in Canada
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 23
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 14
  • Other Canadian records 11
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Maria Jacobsen

    Buried in 1987 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 86.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gerda Tove Jacobsen

    Died 1998, aged 80; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Ingeborg Jacobsen

    Died 1943; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 48 records for Jacobsen in Canada.

Counts: City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

New Zealand24 records

24 records of the Jacobsen name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 19
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 5
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Jacob Jacobsen

    Died 1974, aged 81; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Francis Johannes Jacobsen

    Died 1959, aged 88; buried at Addington Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Gertrude Vida Jacobsen

    Died 1956, aged 72; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Jacobsen in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

France17 records

17 records of the Jacobsen name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Carl Ib Steen Jacobsen

    Born 1923 in Denmark; died 1996 in Antibes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Thorgunna Victoria Jacobsen

    Born 1905 in Denmark; died 1993 in Nogent-le-Rotrou (Eure-et-Loir).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 17 records for Jacobsen in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway14 records

14 records of the Jacobsen name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Johanes Jacobsen

    Census of 1910: Rogn nordre, Bamle; farm labourer, born 1878 in Bamle.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Kaspara Johanne Jacobsen

    Census of 1910: Vaalerenggaten, Kristiania; factory worker, born 1884 in Trygstad.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 14 records for Jacobsen in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

United Kingdom1 record

1 record of the Jacobsen name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record T. G. Jacobsen

    Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Jacobsen.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Jacobsen is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Jacobsen volume
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