Find out how popular the last name Job is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Job.

Job, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Job surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Job in America

Job is the 12541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Job surname appeared 2,470 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Job.

We can also compare 2010 data for Job to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Job

The surname Job is of English origin, deriving from the Old French personal name "Job" or "Jobe," which itself comes from the Latin name "Job," meaning "persecuted" or "afflicted." The name ultimately traces its roots back to the Hebrew name "Iyyov," which is the name of the biblical figure Job, known for his resilience in the face of suffering.

The surname Job is first recorded in England in the late 12th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being Adam Job, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1191. The name was particularly prevalent in the eastern counties of England during the Middle Ages.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a record of a Richard Job in Oxfordshire, suggesting the name's early presence in various parts of the country. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 list a John Job, further reinforcing the name's widespread use in medieval England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Job with a documented date of birth is Thomas Job, born around 1555 in Chittlehampton, Devon. Another notable early bearer was John Job, born in 1610 in Taunton, Somerset, who later emigrated to America and settled in Virginia.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Job have achieved notable accomplishments or gained recognition in various fields. One such figure is Samuel Job, a 17th-century English composer and organist who was born in Lydd, Kent, in 1628 and died in 1717.

Another prominent bearer of the surname was Thomas Job, a British military engineer and surveyor who was born in 1742 in Nottinghamshire and served in the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in the defense of Fort Stanwix in New York during the Siege of 1777.

In the realm of literature, Gertrude Job, an English novelist and playwright, was born in 1888 and is known for her works such as "The Unborn Child" and "Arabella the Romany."

Sir Salomon Job, born in 1826 in London, was a prominent British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Bath and its educational institutions.

Lastly, Vere Job, born in 1910 in Sydney, Australia, was a renowned Australian artist and printmaker known for his depictions of urban and industrial landscapes, particularly those of Sydney.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Job

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Job.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Job was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Job has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Job was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Job, please contact us.

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