The name Jacoby is a variant of the Hebrew name Jacob, which is derived from the biblical patriarch Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebecca. Jacob was later referred to as Israel, and his twelve sons became the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "one who follows at the heel" in Hebrew.

The name Jacoby likely originated as a patronymic surname, indicating "son of Jacob." It later transitioned into use as a given name in its own right. The earliest recorded instances of the name Jacoby appeared in various European countries during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.

One notable historical figure named Jacoby was Jacoby I of Aragon, who reigned as the King of Aragon and Valencia from 1213 to 1276. He played a significant role in the Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign by Christian rulers to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Moorish rule.

Another prominent individual with the name Jacoby was Jacoby Luria, a renowned 16th-century Jewish mystic and scholar from Safed, Palestine. He was a leading figure in the development of Kabbalah, the esoteric Jewish mystical tradition.

In the realm of literature, Jacoby Grimm, born in 1785, was a German philologist and one of the famous Brothers Grimm. Along with his brother Wilhelm, he collected and published numerous folk tales and fairy tales that have become beloved classics.

Jacoby Ellsworth Jones, born in 1833, was an American businessman and politician who served as the 17th Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1897 to 1901. He played a significant role in the economic development of the region during his tenure.

Jacoby Schmid, born in 1892, was a German-American mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to celestial mechanics and the study of comets. He worked at Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Throughout history, the name Jacoby has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including royalty, religious leaders, scholars, politicians, and scientists. While its origins can be traced back to the biblical Jacob, the name has taken on various cultural influences and interpretations across different regions and eras.