Jim
A surname that usually began as a nickname or pet form of James, later used in forms like Jimson and Jimpson.
The #9,203 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 87,118 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Jim is best understood as a pet form of the given name James, which ultimately comes from Hebrew via Latin and Old French. In medieval English, short familiar forms like Jim and Jem developed from James and were then used in surnames such as Jimson or Jimpson, meaning "son of Jim." The surname itself is therefore not usually from the word jim in the modern sense, but from the personal name.
History
The historical excerpts point to Jim mainly as a familiar nickname behind later surnames, especially Jimson and Jimpson. Bardsley specifically notes that Jim was a popular colloquial form of James and that -son forms were built from it. As a standalone surname, Jim is comparatively uncommon and may often represent an abbreviated or simplified form of a longer surname or given-name-based family line.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Bardsley grouped Jim with other short medieval pet forms like Jem, noting that these familiar diminutives were used in surname formation earlier than many people expect.
From the historical record
“Kirby'. Quen, p. 1+3. 1678. Jim™ Calt, iMTtor of Graham, CO. Bor4FF. viii. lag. 1691. Bapl,— Avin, d. Thamai Calt; St.JaiClrrkenwell,i-344-”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances