The name Jason originated from the ancient Greek Iason, which is derived from the verb iaomai, meaning "to heal." It first appeared in Greek mythology, where Jason was the leader of the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece. The earliest known reference to the name dates back to the 8th century BC in Hesiod's epic poem, the Theogony.

In Greek mythology, Jason was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos in Thessaly. He was sent on a dangerous mission by his uncle Pelias to retrieve the Golden Fleece from Colchis, guarded by a dragon. With the help of the sorceress Medea, Jason succeeded in his quest and eventually returned to claim the throne of Iolcos.

The name Jason was later adopted by the Romans, who spelled it as Iason or Iaso. It became popular in the Christian tradition, as it was associated with the healing powers of the name's Greek root. Saint Jason, a disciple of Saint Paul, is celebrated in the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jason was in the 6th century BC, with the Athenian statesman Jason of Pherae. Another notable figure was Jason of Cyrene, a Jewish historian from the 2nd century BC, who wrote a history of the Maccabean Revolt.

In the Middle Ages, the name Jason was relatively rare, but it saw a resurgence during the Renaissance period. One famous bearer of the name was Jason de Mayno (1435-1519), an Italian jurist and professor of law at the University of Pavia.

In the modern era, several notable individuals have borne the name Jason. These include Jason Lee (1803-1845), an American Methodist missionary and founder of the city of Salem, Oregon; Jason Robards (1922-2000), an American actor who won two Academy Awards; and Jason Kidd (born 1973), a former NBA player and current head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

Other famous Jasons throughout history include Jason Voorhees, the fictional villain from the Friday the 13th horror film series; Jason Bourne, the protagonist of the Bourne novels and films; and Jason Mendoza, a character from the television series The Good Place.