NameCensus.

UK surname

Jam

A surname derived from the word "jam," which means a fruit preserve or confection.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Jam surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham, Kensington and Chelsea and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jam is 122 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6000.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2016

122 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jam had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Jam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jam 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 27 #28,467
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 9 #33,154
1997 modern 23 #35,484
1998 modern 27 #35,148
1999 modern 26 #35,320
2000 modern 27 #35,188
2001 modern 25 #35,248
2002 modern 31 #34,866
2003 modern 30 #35,046
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 42 #34,395
2006 modern 45 #34,491
2007 modern 49 #34,422
2008 modern 52 #34,381
2009 modern 56 #34,278
2010 modern 61 #34,143
2011 modern 54 #34,563
2012 modern 75 #33,263
2013 modern 80 #33,058
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Jams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barking and Dagenham, Kensington and Chelsea and Croydon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barking and Dagenham 016 Barking and Dagenham
2 Barking and Dagenham 015 Barking and Dagenham
3 Kensington and Chelsea 011 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Croydon 038 Croydon
5 Kensington and Chelsea 015 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jam

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jam

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Jam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Jam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Jam is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jam 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

Jam falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
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 Jam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jam

The surname JAM originated in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, which lasted from the late 8th century to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "jamr," meaning "twin" or "one of a pair." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who had a twin sibling or was part of a pair of children.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JAM can be found in the Landnámabók, an Icelandic book detailing the settlement of Iceland in the 9th and 10th centuries. The book mentions a settler named Jamr, who is believed to have lived in the late 9th century.

In the 11th century, the name JAM appeared in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book lists a landowner named Jam in the county of Norfolk, England.

During the Middle Ages, the name JAM was often spelled in various ways, such as Jamme, Jame, and Iamme. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable individual with the surname JAM was Sir John Jam, a Scottish knight who lived in the 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Wars of Independence and fought alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

Another historical figure bearing the name JAM was Laurence Jam, an English clergyman and scholar who lived in the 16th century. He served as the Archdeacon of Cleveland and was known for his translations of religious texts.

In the 17th century, Thomas Jam was a renowned English surgeon and author of medical treatises. He is credited with introducing several innovative surgical techniques and was a pioneer in the field of obstetrics.

Anne Jam, born in 1685, was a notable English playwright and poet. Her works, which often explored themes of love and tragedy, were well-received during her lifetime and helped pave the way for future female writers.

Lastly, William Jam was a Scottish explorer and naturalist who lived in the 19th century. He is best known for his expeditions to the Arctic regions and his contributions to the study of polar flora and fauna.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jam 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. Surrey leads with 1 Jams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.65x.

County Total Index
Surrey 1 10.65x
Sussex 1 30.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 1 Jams recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.52x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 1 151.52x
Cheam 1 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Saml. 1
William 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 Jam households.

FAQ

Jam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Jam surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Jam a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Jam surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "jam," which means a fruit preserve or confection.

What does the Jam map show?

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