NameCensus.

UK surname

Jacks

Derived from the Middle English given name Jacke, a diminutive form of John, or referring to someone who made jacks.

In the 1881 census there were 677 people recorded with the Jacks surname, ranking it #5,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,081, ranked #5,404, down from #5,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Westbury, London parishes and Ludlow St Lawrence. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Havering and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jacks is 1,087 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.7%.

1881 census count

677

Ranked #5,320

Modern count

1,081

2016, ranked #5,404

Peak year

2002

1,087 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jacks had 677 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,081 in 2016, ranked #5,404.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 908 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jacks surname distribution map

The map shows where the Jacks surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Jacks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jacks over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 452 #5,452
1861 historical 493 #5,294
1881 historical 677 #5,320
1891 historical 743 #5,358
1901 historical 908 #5,113
1911 historical 907 #4,916
1997 modern 1,011 #5,446
1998 modern 1,067 #5,381
1999 modern 1,069 #5,400
2000 modern 1,083 #5,330
2001 modern 1,059 #5,330
2002 modern 1,087 #5,322
2003 modern 1,040 #5,425
2004 modern 1,046 #5,409
2005 modern 1,037 #5,383
2006 modern 1,040 #5,397
2007 modern 1,024 #5,503
2008 modern 1,011 #5,605
2009 modern 1,026 #5,648
2010 modern 1,047 #5,661
2011 modern 1,034 #5,662
2012 modern 1,017 #5,665
2013 modern 1,041 #5,652
2014 modern 1,083 #5,478
2015 modern 1,073 #5,462
2016 modern 1,081 #5,404

Geography

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Where Jacks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Westbury, London parishes, Ludlow St Lawrence, Chirbury and Eccles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Havering, Powys, Nottingham and Herefordshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Westbury Shropshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ludlow St Lawrence Shropshire
4 Chirbury Montgomeryshire
5 Eccles Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
2 Havering 007 Havering
3 Powys 003 Powys
4 Nottingham 007 Nottingham
5 Herefordshire 002 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jacks

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jacks surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jacks

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jacks, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Jacks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jacks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jacks is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jacks is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jacks falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jacks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Jacks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jacks

The surname Jacks is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the medieval English given name "Jack," which was a diminutive form of the name John. It was initially used as a nickname or descriptive surname to identify someone who was the son or servant of a person named John.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Jacks surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Jackes." This historical document was a survey of landholders in England compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The surname is also mentioned in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, indicating its presence in the northern regions of England.

In the 14th century, the Jacks surname was often associated with places or localities bearing similar names. For instance, there are references to individuals from the village of Jacks Arbor in Oxfordshire, which may have influenced the surname's spelling and pronunciation over time.

Several notable individuals throughout history have borne the Jacks surname. One of the earliest recorded was Robert Jacks (c. 1350 - 1420), a prominent merchant and landowner from Somerset. Another historical figure was Sir William Jacks (c. 1510 - 1584), a English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Jacks surname gained prominence with the birth of Richard Jacks (1628 - 1708), a renowned English clergyman and theologian who served as the Dean of Worcester. Another significant individual was Samuel Jacks (1785 - 1853), a British banker and philanthropist who contributed significantly to the development of educational institutions in London.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Jacks surname spread beyond England, with several individuals making their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Thomas Jacks (1743 - 1819), a Scottish-born merchant and industrialist who played a crucial role in the development of the cotton industry in Manchester, England.

Over the centuries, the Jacks surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Jackes, Jackis, and Jakes, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained largely unchanged, tracing its roots back to the medieval English given name John.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jacks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jacks surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Shropshire leads with 162 Jacks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.23x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 162 28.23x
Lancashire 79 1.00x
Middlesex 65 0.98x
Surrey 45 1.39x
Staffordshire 43 1.92x
Nottinghamshire 28 3.13x
Cheshire 27 1.84x
Kent 27 1.19x
Pembrokeshire 24 11.37x
Montgomeryshire 15 9.85x
Denbighshire 14 5.58x
Durham 14 0.71x
Devon 13 0.94x
Warwickshire 13 0.78x
Yorkshire 13 0.20x
Lanarkshire 10 0.47x
Berwickshire 9 11.19x
Derbyshire 8 0.77x
Lincolnshire 8 0.75x
Essex 6 0.46x
Norfolk 6 0.59x
Sussex 6 0.54x
Worcestershire 6 0.69x
Hampshire 5 0.37x
Oxfordshire 5 1.22x
Perthshire 5 1.68x
Hertfordshire 4 0.87x
Northamptonshire 4 0.64x
Wiltshire 4 0.68x
Royal Navy 3 3.79x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.50x
Northumberland 2 0.20x
Channel Islands 1 0.51x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.37x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Suffolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haverfordwest St Thomas in Pembrokeshire leads with 23 Jacks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 545.02x.

Place Total Index
Haverfordwest St Thomas 23 545.02x
Worthen 17 278.69x
Chirbury 16 473.37x
Ludlow St Lawrence 15 131.35x
Bermondsey 14 7.08x
Condover 14 346.53x
Minsterley 13 613.21x
St Pancras London 12 2.24x
Clifton 11 186.13x
Westbury 11 371.62x
Widnes 11 19.35x
Bromley London 10 6.84x
Deptford St Paul 10 5.72x
Kensington London 10 2.71x
Kirkdale 10 7.54x
Lambeth 10 1.73x
Ruabon 10 28.99x
Nenthorn 9 865.38x
Salford 9 3.88x
Worsley 9 18.52x
Blacon Cum Crabwall 8 1481.48x
Bromfield 8 625.00x
Bulwell 8 41.09x
Chatham 8 12.83x
Church Gresley 8 48.34x
Glasgow 8 2.10x
Islington London 8 1.24x
Monks Coppenhall 8 14.46x
Nottingham St Mary 8 3.45x
Shrewsbury St Chad 8 39.72x
Altofts 7 96.29x
Aston 7 1.52x
Birkenhead 7 5.99x
Churchstoke 7 243.90x
Clungunford 7 526.32x
Darlaston 7 22.59x
Pontesbury 7 100.29x
St Martin 7 109.03x
Stone 7 24.41x
West Bromwich 7 5.45x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.54x
Cannock 6 15.33x
Guilsfield 6 108.50x
Hammersmith London 6 3.67x
Liverpool 6 1.25x
Plymouth Charles The 6 9.85x
Radford 6 13.19x
Rotherhithe 6 7.31x
Snenton 6 17.06x
Tavistock 6 38.10x
Cardington 5 381.68x
Dudley 5 4.74x
Fowlis Easter 5 704.23x
St Maryle Wigford 5 60.61x
Toxteth Park 5 1.87x
Westoe 5 4.46x
Wrockwardine 5 39.62x
Beckenham 4 13.50x
Chelsea London 4 2.00x
Cheshunt 4 24.98x
Dawley 4 19.16x
Hordley 4 606.06x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.83x
Norwich St Margaret 4 251.57x
Rugeley 4 24.86x
Rusholme 4 19.03x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 17.66x
Southampton St Mary 4 4.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.99x
St George In East London 4 6.40x
Wednesbury 4 7.14x
West Ham 4 1.38x
Blackburn 3 1.43x
Brighton 3 1.33x
Conside Knitsley 3 19.52x
Hove 3 6.11x
Oxford St Thomas 3 15.67x
Plumstead 3 3.97x
Sculcoates 3 2.87x
Wrexham Abbot 3 47.54x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jacks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jacks surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 49
Thomas 42
John 35
James 20
Richard 15
Charles 13
George 13
Robert 13
Alfred 10
David 9
Joseph 8
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Henry 5
Alexander 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Job 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Ebenezer 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Leonard 2
Philip 2
Saml. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Archer 1
Arhinus 1
Cieasey 1
Cobbett 1
Cornelius 1
Elias 1
Geo. 1
Hanry 1
Harold 1
Harrold 1
Harry 1
Martyn 1
Michael 1
Noah 1
Pryce 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Jacks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jacks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 677 people were recorded with the Jacks surname. That placed it at #5,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jacks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,081 in 2016. That gives Jacks a modern rank of #5,404.

What does the Jacks surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English given name Jacke, a diminutive form of John, or referring to someone who made jacks.

What does the Jacks map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jacks bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.