The name Jakub is derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows". It is a biblical name that appears in the Old Testament as Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham. The name is also found in the New Testament, where it is written as Iakobos in Greek.

The name Jakub is the Polish, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Slovene form of the name Jacob. In these Slavic languages, the name is pronounced with a distinct "ya" sound at the beginning, similar to the Russian variation, Yakov. The name's popularity in these regions can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when Christianity spread throughout Eastern Europe.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jakub is Jakub de Voragine, an Italian chronicler and archbishop of Genoa who lived from around 1230 to 1298. He is best known for his compilation of saints' lives, the Legenda Aurea or Golden Legend.

Another notable figure with the name Jakub is Jakub Wujek, a Polish Jesuit priest and translator who lived from 1541 to 1597. He is famous for his translation of the Bible into Polish, known as the Wujek Bible, which greatly influenced the development of the Polish language.

In the 17th century, Jakub Sobieski was a Polish nobleman and father of King Jan III Sobieski, who is renowned for his victory over the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. Jakub Sobieski played a significant role in his son's military campaigns and was a respected figure in his own right.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Jakub Arbes was a Czech novelist, journalist, and playwright who lived from 1840 to 1914. He is considered one of the pioneers of Czech realism and is known for his works that criticized social injustice and hypocrisy.

In more recent times, Jakub Blaszczykowski is a Polish professional football player who was born in 1985. He has represented Poland in various international tournaments and is regarded as one of the country's most talented and successful footballers.