Versions of the name James

Rosina Lila BlaroliaAOL.COM
Fri Sep 6 08:26:11 PDT 2002


Hello,
    Jaime is indeed the Spanish version of Jacobus, derived presumably from
the arab "haim" , a form of salutation which the Spaniards associated with
their Patron Saint. (As everyone knows, much of Spain was occupied by Arabs
-"Moors"- for more than seven centuries, and their influence perdures in many
sounds and words in the Spanish language.)
    Another Italian version is Iago, derived from Giacomo that became Giaco,
then Iaco, and later Iago. Iago is also used as a name in Spain, more and
more frequently as it seems. The first references to the Apostle were as
Santo Iago, later shortened to to the present one word Santiago.
    In Portuguese the name is either  Iago or Tiago; both are quite popular
in Portugal as well as in Brasil, although Tiago seems to be used with
greater frequency.
    Does anyone here know the etymology of the English version "James"?
Regards,
Rosina.



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