NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaffray

A Scottish surname derived from the Old French term "jaufre" referring to a yellowish brown color.

In the 1881 census there were 419 people recorded with the Jaffray surname, ranking it #7,703 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 484, ranked #10,218, down from #7,703 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oyne, St. Ninians and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough, Fyvie-Rothie and Bannockburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaffray is 592 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.5%.

1881 census count

419

Ranked #7,703

Modern count

484

2016, ranked #10,218

Peak year

1851

592 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaffray had 419 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,703 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016, ranked #10,218.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 592 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Jaffray surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaffray surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaffray 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 592 #4,322
1861 historical 518 #5,049
1881 historical 419 #7,703
1891 historical 438 #8,234
1901 historical 412 #9,283
1911 historical 69 #25,965
1997 modern 459 #9,920
1998 modern 480 #9,909
1999 modern 466 #10,189
2000 modern 459 #10,261
2001 modern 451 #10,212
2002 modern 483 #9,882
2003 modern 464 #10,003
2004 modern 467 #10,013
2005 modern 468 #9,909
2006 modern 480 #9,772
2007 modern 493 #9,662
2008 modern 494 #9,738
2009 modern 509 #9,712
2010 modern 525 #9,692
2011 modern 497 #9,997
2012 modern 486 #10,073
2013 modern 481 #10,315
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 480 #10,311
2016 modern 484 #10,218

Geography

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Where Jaffrays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oyne, St. Ninians, Edinburgh, Strichen and Lonmay. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough, Fyvie-Rothie, Bannockburn, Alness and Inverurie South. 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 Oyne Aberdeen
2 St. Ninians Stirling
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Strichen Aberdeen
5 Lonmay Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
2 Fyvie-Rothie Aberdeenshire
3 Bannockburn Stirling
4 Alness Highland
5 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaffray

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaffray

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Jaffray surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Jaffray household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Jaffray is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jaffray is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jaffray falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jaffray is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jaffray

The surname Jaffray has its origins in medieval Scotland, with records showing its use as early as the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French name "Geoffrey," which itself comes from the Germanic words "gau" (district) and "frid" (peace), essentially meaning "peace from the district."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of written submissions of homage to King Edward I of England. This document lists a "Johannes de Jafferay" from the county of Lanark in Scotland.

In the 14th century, the Jaffray name can be found in various charters and land records across the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Lanarkshire. Variants of the spelling include Jaffray, Jaffrey, Jeffray, and Jeffery.

The Jaffray family played a notable role in the Scottish Reformation of the 16th century. Reverend John Jaffray (1597-1672), a Presbyterian minister and religious writer, was a prominent figure in this movement and served as the chaplain to the Earl of Lauderdale.

Another notable Jaffray was Alexander Jaffray (1614-1673), a Scottish merchant, diarist, and one of the founders of the Quaker movement in Scotland. His detailed diaries provide valuable insights into the social and religious landscape of 17th century Scotland.

In the 18th century, the Jaffray name can be traced to the town of Kilwinning in Ayrshire, where a branch of the family owned land and property. Robert Jaffray (1732-1801), a descendant of this line, was a prominent merchant and served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1786 to 1788.

The name also has a connection to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where a family of Jaffrays established themselves as wealthy plantation owners in the late 17th century. One of their descendants, Sir William Jaffray (1756-1838), was a prominent British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

As the Jaffray family spread across Scotland and beyond, the name evolved into various spellings, including Jaffray, Jaffrey, Jeffray, and Jeffery. Despite these variations, the name's roots can be traced back to its medieval Scottish origins, with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaffray families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaffray 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 228 Jaffrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.81x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 228 60.81x
Stirlingshire 43 28.80x
Angus 33 8.80x
Middlesex 21 0.52x
Kent 12 0.87x
Lanarkshire 12 0.92x
Midlothian 12 2.21x
Perthshire 12 6.60x
Banffshire 9 10.72x
Surrey 9 0.46x
Buteshire 7 28.54x
Kincardineshire 5 10.14x
Leicestershire 3 0.67x
Warwickshire 3 0.29x
Morayshire 2 3.18x
Channel Islands 1 0.83x
East Lothian 1 1.87x
Royal Navy 1 2.07x
Shetland 1 2.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 57 Jaffrays recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.25x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 57 81.25x
Lonmay 40 1176.47x
St Ninians 35 236.49x
Aberdeen Old Machar 26 33.21x
Peterhead 15 75.64x
Meldrum 14 443.04x
Ellon 13 251.94x
Tannadice 10 571.43x
Monquhitter 9 231.96x
St Fergus 9 424.53x
St Pancras London 9 2.76x
Cruden 8 165.63x
Islington London 7 1.78x
Rothesay 7 58.92x
Fraserburgh 6 56.87x
Kirriemuir 6 64.86x
Rattray 6 141.84x
Richmond 6 21.71x
South Leith 6 9.83x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.69x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.29x
Liff Benvie 5 8.78x
New Monkland 5 12.92x
Oyne 5 375.94x
Rathen 5 127.23x
Stirling 5 26.57x
Stracathro 5 735.29x
Bromley 4 19.00x
Bromley London 4 4.49x
Bervie 3 102.74x
Dundee 3 2.14x
Dyce 3 185.19x
Frowlesworth 3 1000.00x
Glasgow 3 1.29x
Logie 3 46.01x
Madderty 3 410.96x
Midmar 3 206.90x
Tarves 3 84.51x
Tyrie 3 63.69x
Balfron 2 108.70x
Banchory Ternan 2 46.95x
Barony 2 0.60x
Betchworth 2 82.30x
Edgbaston 2 6.32x
Govan 2 0.62x
Kincardine O Neil 2 74.63x
Monymusk 2 124.22x
Newhills 2 26.04x
Old Deer 2 28.17x
Airlie 1 83.33x
Boharm 1 60.61x
Chapel Of Garioch 1 37.45x
Craig 1 27.62x
Crimond 1 86.96x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 9.36x
Foveran 1 35.21x
Fyvie 1 16.34x
Gargunnock 1 103.09x
Greenwich 1 1.55x
Innerwick 1 92.59x
King Edward 1 23.15x
Kinloss 1 67.11x
Lambeth 1 0.28x
Longside 1 22.32x
Margate St John Baptist 1 3.95x
Montrose 1 4.40x
New Deer 1 14.73x
New Machar 1 47.39x
Slains 1 57.14x
St Helier 1 2.56x
St Marylebone London 1 0.46x
St Vigeans 1 4.94x
Strichen 1 30.67x
Studley 1 22.94x
Unst 1 33.11x
Woolwich 1 1.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 3
William 3
Henry 2
A. 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Jaffray households.

FAQ

Jaffray surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaffray surname in 1881?

In 1881, 419 people were recorded with the Jaffray surname. That placed it at #7,703 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaffray surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 484 in 2016. That gives Jaffray a modern rank of #10,218.

What does the Jaffray surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Old French term "jaufre" referring to a yellowish brown color.

What does the Jaffray map show?

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