NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaffrey

A surname derived from the English placename "Jaffray" originating from Normandy.

In the 1881 census there were 281 people recorded with the Jaffrey surname, ranking it #10,175 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 243, ranked #17,131, down from #10,175 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St. Fergus, Dundonald and St. Ninians. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock and Inverurie South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaffrey is 508 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.5%.

1881 census count

281

Ranked #10,175

Modern count

243

2016, ranked #17,131

Peak year

1851

508 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaffrey had 281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,175 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016, ranked #17,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 508 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Jaffrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaffrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaffrey 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 508 #4,924
1861 historical 497 #5,262
1881 historical 281 #10,175
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 228 #16,723
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 213 #17,744
2008 modern 229 #17,092
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 243 #17,100
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 243 #17,131

Geography

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Where Jaffreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St. Fergus, Dundonald, St. Ninians, 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 Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Inverurie South, Ellon East and Kingston upon Thames. 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 St. Fergus Aberdeen
2 Dundonald Ayr
3 St. Ninians Stirling
4 Strichen Aberdeen
5 Lonmay Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunecht, Durris and Drumoak Aberdeenshire
2 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
3 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
4 Ellon East Aberdeenshire
5 Kingston upon Thames 001 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaffrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaffrey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Jaffrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Jaffrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Jaffrey is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jaffrey is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jaffrey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jaffrey 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Jaffrey

The surname Jaffrey has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Galfridus," which was a Norman form of the Germanic name "Gaufrid." This name was composed of the elements "gau," meaning a district or territory, and "frid," meaning peace or protection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Geffrei" and "Geoffrei." This comprehensive survey of landholdings in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

The name Jaffrey has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Jaffray, Jaffrey, Jeffery, and Jeffray. These variations reflect regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping practices throughout history.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Jaffrey was Sir Roger Jaffrey, a knight who fought in the Crusades and was granted lands in Lincolnshire for his service. Another historical figure was Sir John Jaffrey, a member of the English Parliament during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century.

During the 16th century, the Jaffrey family established roots in Scotland, with a branch settling in the town of Muirhouse, near Edinburgh. One prominent member of this Scottish lineage was Alexander Jaffrey, born in 1619, who served as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1676 to 1678.

In the 17th century, the Jaffrey surname gained recognition in colonial America. George Jaffrey (1624-1702) was a successful merchant and politician who served as the President of the Province of New Hampshire from 1686 to 1689. His son, also named George Jaffrey (1677-1749), followed in his footsteps and held the position of Lieutenant Governor of New Hampshire.

Another notable figure was Robert Jaffrey (1701-1784), a merchant and landowner in colonial Massachusetts. He was a prominent member of the Jaffrey family and owned extensive properties in the town that now bears his name, Jaffrey, New Hampshire.

Throughout history, the Jaffrey surname has been associated with various professions, including military service, politics, business, and landownership. While the name has evolved in spelling over time, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped surnames across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaffrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaffrey 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 67 Jaffreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.39x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 67 26.39x
Renfrewshire 35 16.48x
Stirlingshire 22 21.76x
Ayrshire 21 10.24x
Lanarkshire 16 1.80x
Angus 12 4.73x
Midlothian 11 3.00x
Cheshire 10 1.65x
Lancashire 8 0.25x
Middlesex 8 0.29x
Morayshire 8 18.78x
Banffshire 7 12.31x
Berwickshire 7 21.09x
Dunbartonshire 7 9.50x
Clackmannanshire 6 26.50x
Essex 6 1.11x
Selkirkshire 6 24.19x
East Lothian 5 13.77x
Kent 5 0.53x
Staffordshire 5 0.54x
Yorkshire 4 0.15x
Surrey 3 0.22x
Derbyshire 1 0.23x
Kincardineshire 1 3.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbey in Renfrewshire leads with 35 Jaffreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.99x.

Place Total Index
Abbey 35 107.99x
Irvine 21 368.42x
Aberdeen Old Machar 18 33.96x
St Ninians 17 169.66x
Oyne 14 1555.56x
Govan 10 4.56x
Logie Buchan 9 1232.88x
Chorley In Macclesfield 8 434.78x
Edinburgh St Johns 8 344.83x
Kinloss 8 792.08x
Brechin 7 70.14x
St Fergus 7 486.11x
Alloa 6 54.64x
Leyton Low 6 54.55x
Melrose 6 96.15x
Haddington 5 93.28x
Nenthorn 5 1162.79x
New Kilpatrick 5 71.33x
Barony 4 1.78x
Leeds 4 2.61x
New Machar 4 279.72x
Prestwich 4 49.32x
Strichen 4 181.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 6.32x
Croydon 3 4.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 3.06x
Tullynessle Forbes 3 322.58x
Alva 2 41.49x
Arbroath 2 23.75x
Belhelvie 2 114.94x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.35x
King Edward 2 68.26x
Matley 2 1052.63x
Mucklestone 2 224.72x
Paddington London 2 1.98x
Ramsgate 2 13.10x
Row 2 20.99x
Stirling 2 15.69x
Stretford 2 11.17x
Swinton 2 219.78x
Tarves 2 83.33x
Baldernock 1 185.19x
Banchory Devenick 1 32.05x
Bradwell 1 104.17x
Chelsea London 1 1.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.94x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.39x
Everton 1 0.96x
Fraserburgh 1 13.99x
Fyvie 1 24.15x
Glasgow 1 0.64x
Harrow 1 23.87x
Hendon 1 10.14x
Kirkden 1 62.89x
Lanark 1 14.03x
Longside 1 33.00x
Maidstone 1 3.59x
Monymusk 1 91.74x
Old Deer 1 20.79x
Rathen 1 37.59x
South Leith 1 2.42x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.07x
St Marylebone London 1 0.68x
St Vigeans 1 7.29x
Swanscombe 1 23.81x
Tannadice 1 84.75x
Willesden 1 3.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Caroline 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
H. 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
William 4
Francis 2
John 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Godfrey 1
Leonard 1
Richd.Edwd. 1
Septimus 1
Wm. 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 Jaffrey households.

FAQ

Jaffrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaffrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 281 people were recorded with the Jaffrey surname. That placed it at #10,175 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaffrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016. That gives Jaffrey a modern rank of #17,131.

What does the Jaffrey surname mean?

A surname derived from the English placename "Jaffray" originating from Normandy.

What does the Jaffrey map show?

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