JAMES: (1) (British): Form of Jacob made popular by the two Apostles.
(2) (English and Welsh): patronymic derived from the New Testament name James (the Old Testament Jacob) both meaning 'the supplanter' or 'may God protect'; British James is from Old French Jacomus-Gemmes-James.
The above information taken from: Family Chronicle - Surname Origin List Note: The above depicted Coat of Arms does not necessarily reflict this surname's ancestry.