Meaning & History
Jago is a given name of Cornish origin, functioning as the Cornish form of Jacob. The name is part of a broader family of variants across the British Isles and beyond, linking back through Welsh and Latin to the biblical name.
The name Jago is first recorded in Cornwall, a county in southwestern England with a distinct Celtic heritage. Its origins are debated, but one prevailing theory is that it derives from the Welsh Iago and the Cornish Jago, which ultimately trace back to the Latin Iacomus, a later variant of Iacobus. Through the New Testament Greek Iakob and the Hebrew Yaʿaqov, the name connects to the biblical patriarch Jacob. In the Old Testament (see Genesis 25:26 and 27:36), Jacob was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel, and his name is traditionally interpreted as meaning "holder of the heel" or "supplanter," though other theories suggest it may derive from a longer form meaning "may God protect."
The name Jago has several variant spellings, including Jagoe, Jagow, Jeago, Jego, Jeggo, Jaego, and Lago. While Jago is primarily a first name in Cornwall, it also appears as a surname.
Notable bearers of the name include Jago (born 1979), a British illustrator; Jago (born 1987), the pseudonym of Italian sculptor Jacopo Cardillo; and Jago of Britain, a legendary king of the Britons. In the modern era, Jago Cooper (born 1977) is a British archaeologist known for his work in Latin America, and Jago Eliot (1966–2006) was a British artist and member of the Eliot family (the Earls of St Germans). As a surname, notable figures include Becky Jago (born 1976), a British television presenter; Charles Jago (born 1943), a Canadian historian and university president; and F. V. Jago (1780–1846), an English antiquary. Further related names across cultures include the Arabic Yacoub and Yakub, the Urdu Yaqoob, the Quranic Yaqub, and the Armenian Hagop and Hakob.
- Meaning: "holder of the heel" or "supplanter" (via Jacob)
- Origin: Cornish (from Welsh and Latin)
- Type: First name and surname
- Usage regions: Cornwall, England
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Jago (name)