NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaffa

A surname of Arabic origin meaning 'a person from Jaffa', a city in Israel.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Jaffa surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, Christ Church Spitalfields and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Redbridge and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaffa is 162 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 782.4%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2012

162 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaffa had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Jaffa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaffa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaffa 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 41 #29,602
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 132 #23,459
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Jaffas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Redbridge, Manchester, Trafford and Hertsmere. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 032 Barnet
2 Redbridge 001 Redbridge
3 Manchester 004 Manchester
4 Trafford 028 Trafford
5 Hertsmere 010 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaffa

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaffa

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jaffa, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Jaffa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Jaffa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jaffa 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

Jaffa is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jaffa falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jaffa 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Jaffa

The surname Jaffa is of Arabic origin, deriving from the name of the ancient port city of Jaffa (also known as Yafa or Yafo) in modern-day Israel. The name can be traced back to the 16th century, when it first appeared in records of families living in the region.

Jaffa is one of the oldest port cities in the world, with a history dating back to the Bronze Age. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean coast made it an important trading hub for centuries, attracting merchants and settlers from various cultures and backgrounds. It is believed that the surname Jaffa may have been adopted by families who lived in or had close ties to the city.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Jaffa can be found in Ottoman tax records from the late 16th century, which listed several families with this name residing in the area around Jaffa. These records provide valuable insights into the lives and occupations of these early Jaffa families, many of whom were involved in maritime trade and commerce.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Jaffa began to appear in various European records as well, possibly indicating the migration of some families from the Middle East to other parts of the Mediterranean region and beyond. One notable bearer of the name was Haim Jaffa, a Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 17th century and wrote extensively on Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah.

During the 19th century, the surname Jaffa became more widespread as families continued to migrate and settle in different parts of the world. One prominent figure was Solomon Jaffa, a British businessman and philanthropist born in 1801, who made significant contributions to the Jewish community in London.

Another notable bearer of the Jaffa surname was Isaac Jaffa, a Russian-born American engineer and inventor who lived from 1856 to 1938. He is credited with developing several important technologies related to electric motors and generators, and his work played a significant role in the early development of the electrical industry.

In more recent times, the surname Jaffa has been carried by individuals from various fields, including academics, artists, and public figures. One example is Michael Jaffa, a British author and journalist born in 1935, who has written extensively on Middle Eastern affairs and international politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaffa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaffa 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. Middlesex leads with 7 Jaffas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 4.23x
Cheshire 5 13.67x
Lancashire 5 2.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 5 Jaffas recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.87x.

Place Total Index
Everton 5 79.87x
Tranmere 5 373.13x
Hackney London 2 21.53x
Mile End Old Town London 2 56.66x
Spitalfields London 2 160.00x
Edmonton 1 75.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Constant 1
Deborah 1
Elizabeth 1
Esther 1
Eve 1
Florance 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Caleb 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Barnard 1
Charles 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jaffa households.

FAQ

Jaffa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaffa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Jaffa surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaffa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Jaffa a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Jaffa surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning 'a person from Jaffa', a city in Israel.

What does the Jaffa map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jaffa 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.